Mazda Australia has suggested the next MX-5 may be the last with petrol power, with the subsequent sixth-generation model in line to adopt an electric (EV) powertrain.
“One of the executives who visited us early in the year said ‘yes, there will be a new one. When? We can’t comment‘,” Mazda Australia CEO Vinesh Bhindi told CarExpert at the local launch of the Mazda 6e electric liftback.
“He also hinted at it possibly being the last ICE (internal combustion engine) version.”
Development of the fifth-generation ‘NE’ MX-5 remains ongoing, with a global reveal still years away according to Mazda Europe design director Jo Stenuit.
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However, the next MX-5 is still expected to retain a combustion engine, potentially supported by some form of electrification, likely in the form of a mild-hybrid system.
Key decision-makers have also previously committed to a lightweight body, naturally aspirated engine, and a manual transmission – attributes synonymous with the MX-5 nameplate.
Yet all could be under threat for the following model, should a fully electrified MX-5 come to fruition.
This may seem abrupt, but each generation of MX-5 has been sold for at least seven years, and the current ‘ND’ model is in its 12th year of production.
As such, the sixth-gen – possibly coined the ‘NF’ – is unlikely to arrive before 2035, by which point an ICE MX-5 mightn’t be viable due to tightening emissions regulations in Europe and other key markets.
Still, the prospect of an electric MX-5 is unlikely to please enthusiasts, especially given Mazda’s efforts to preserve the traditional formula for the upcoming fifth-gen.
“I would say the most important thing is that it is lightweight, and that the second most important thing is that it is lightweight,” Mazda head of design Masashi Nakayama told Road and Track last year.
“When we consider the next-generation MX-5, we are considering making it less than one tonne in weight, and less than four metres in length.”
For context, the current ND MX-5 measures 3915mm long and weighs between 1063-1115kg in 2.0-litre, manual transmission guise, depending on whether it has a fabric soft-top (Roadster) or targa-style retractable metal roof (RF).
A sub-1000kg kerb weight would also see the NE MX-5 come in lighter than the preceding NC and NB generations – an impressive feat given modern safety standards.
At the same time, Mazda faces an uphill battle to create a light MX-5 EV.
The cheapest EV currently on sale in Australia is the BYD Atto 1 Essential city hatch, which tips the scales at 1294kg, while Alpine’s upcoming ‘lightweight’ electric sports car will weigh around 1450kg.
That said, future advancements in EV battery tech could make the challenge easier.
It’s unclear whether Mazda will follow Toyota’s lead by developing a manual transmission for the electric MX-5.
The MX-5 currently stands as the best-selling two-seat sports car in history, with 1.26 million produced and sold as of August last year, so Mazda will be keen to protect its icon.
Either way, the Japanese automaker appears to be preparing for a future in which the MX-5 lives on without a combustion engine under the bonnet.
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