The next Mazda Miata is drawing more attention as the current generation reaches its 10th year, but Mazda executives have indicated that the successor could remain focused on the lightweight, engaging formula that has defined the sports car.
Customers Are Asking About the Next Miata
Vinesh Bhindi, who oversees Mazda’s Australian operations, told Australian car news site CarExpert that customers are not asking whether they will soon be able to buy an electric Miata. Instead, they are asking when they can get a “pure analog version of the next generation.”
That interest reflects the formula Mazda has followed through four main generations of the Miata: light weight, classic styling, engaging handling and a lively, if not powerful, engine.
The current Miata continues to attract buyers despite being a decade old. Mazda has sold about 7,600 Miatas this year, up 4.1% over the same period last year. The Miata is also outselling the Toyota GR 86 and Subaru BRZ individually, despite both competitors being more powerful, newer and more practical.
With buyers continuing to choose the current model, there is clear interest in keeping the next-generation Miata close to the established formula.
Electrification Remains an Open Question
Concerns about the next Miata have grown partly because Mazda CEO Masahiro Moro has said the next generation needs to be capable of handling electrification. However, Moro has not specified whether that would involve a hybrid powertrain or a fully electric setup, nor has he said when electrification would become a factor.
That leaves Mazda’s long-term strategy for the Miata open. The company appears to be considering how future powertrains can meet its goals for low weight and driver engagement while also addressing reduced emissions.
The long development timeline could be important because the current Miata has already reached the 10-year mark and is expected to remain in production for some years. Mazda’s approach suggests that the next platform needs to account for changing customer and government requirements over a decade or potentially longer.
Mazda Still Wants a Lightweight Miata
Despite putting electrification on the table, Moro has also confirmed that Mazda remains focused on keeping the next Miata extremely light. The stated target is between around 2,200 pounds and 2,650 pounds, ranging from slightly lighter than the current model to somewhat heavier.
Even at the upper end of that range, the next Miata would remain lighter than the Toyota GR 86 and Subaru BRZ mentioned earlier.
Other Mazda executives have also suggested that combustion will probably remain the starting point for the next Miata as the company works to achieve its low-weight target. Patents have also shown ways Mazda is attempting to meet safety requirements while keeping weight down.
Mazda Continues to Explore Unconventional Solutions
Mazda’s approach to the Miata also reflects the company’s willingness to continue developing technologies despite significant challenges. The automaker is still working on rotary engines and managed to bring one into production in the last couple of years with the range-extended MX-30.
That effort came despite the significant obstacles involved in making the powertrain meet efficiency, emissions and reliability requirements. For Miata enthusiasts concerned about the next generation, Mazda’s continued focus on lightweight design and its willingness to pursue unconventional solutions remain central to the car’s future.
