Mazda may switch the MX-5 to electric power, though the internal combustion engine option will remain.
The Japanese company is thinking about developing a next-generation two-door model, as well as a new sports car that would sit one step above the Miata in the brand’s hierarchy.
Mazda began producing its sports model called the MX-5 in 1989, and the current fourth-generation car appeared more than ten years ago – in 2014. In one of the key markets for this niche model, the United States, the two-door is sold with the Miata name added. Here, the model is currently “in the black”: in the first half of 2026, American dealers sold 5,010 units, which is 5% more than in January-June of last year.
Obviously, the company is already thinking about the next-generation Mazda MX-5. However, the new model will have to wait: according to foreign media reports, it will appear no earlier than 2028. The first information about the next two-door was shared by the German publication Auto Motor und Sport, whose editorial team spoke with Mazda CEO Masahiro Moro.
It is reported that the next-generation Mazda MX-5 will have versions with internal combustion engines, in particular, the model is expected to feature a new 2.5-liter four-cylinder Skyactiv-Z engine. There is a possibility that the new model will also receive a hybrid setup. For reference, the MX-5 Miata currently offered in the States is equipped with a 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine producing 184 hp (maximum torque – 205 Nm), paired with a six-speed manual transmission.
At the same time, the new Mazda MX-5 is expected to have a fully electric version as well, despite the fact that sales volumes of “EVs” are not as high as manufacturers had calculated (as a result, some have scaled back a number of their “green” projects). However, as Masahiro Moro noted, the model may have to exist in an era when the use of internal combustion engines becomes impossible due to regulatory obstacles.
By the way, discussions about a potential “green” two-door at Mazda were already underway back in 2019. And both then and now, the need to preserve one of the model’s key features – its modest weight – is being discussed. The task facing engineers is ambitious: not to exceed the 1000-1200 kg mark while having a traction battery (which is usually quite heavy). It is also noted that the base structure should become lighter “without the use of carbon fiber,” so as not to inflate the price tag further.
According to the German publication, Mazda’s CEO also let slip that the Japanese brand does not plan to stop at developing the next-generation two-door. It is expected that the model lineup will later be joined by some new sports car that will occupy a place one step above the MX-5 in the brand’s hierarchy. It is not ruled out that this could be a low-volume model, built to order and mostly by hand. Details will likely emerge later.
Meanwhile, things are generally going well for the brand’s current mass-market models. For instance, last month it became known that the new-generation Mazda CX-5 crossover, contrary to expectations, is enjoying huge demand in Japan, with the top trim level being the most sought-after.