The iconic sports car has a future.
“Mazda wants to electrify MX-5 Miata to make sure all models have some form of electrification before 2030. To meet customers’ needs, we will make it an affordable, lightweight, two-seater sports vehicle. ”
The future of Mazda is electric. This means that Mazda must move away from internal combustion engines. Although the Japanese brand has not been as aggressive in electric vehicles as other brands, Mazda’s recently revealed electric strategy. The question that remains for many is how this strategy will impact the beloved MX-5 Miata.
Although this question isn’t yet answered definitively by Kuruma_news Japan, a recent report sheds some light on the future of the roadster. Mazda announced that it would have global electrification by 2030. However, this doesn’t necessarily mean that all electric vehicles will be available. Mazda is aiming to have an EV portfolio of 25%, with hybrids that combine electric and internal combustion power at the remaining 75%. Mazda claims that the MX-5 will either be an EV or a hybrid if it lives beyond 2030.
According to the report Mazda executives were asked straight-forward about this. However, their response was predictable and hesitant. Although there was some confirmation that the Miata was included in Mazda’s electrification plans, the nature of electrification was not. Although there are many electric vehicles on the roads today, the Miata’s light weight is its greatest asset. A heavier Miata is almost inevitable, regardless of whether it’s hybrid or all-electric.
A hybrid Miata is the most likely option over a dedicated electric vehicle, according to the odds. The hybrid powertrain will be available in 75 percent of Mazda’s 2030 models. While it would add weight, it would not weigh nearly as much as going completely electric. Mazda has plenty of room to develop an electric roadster that will take the MX-5 forward. An electric version may be better suited for the 25 percent of Mazda’s total sales since the Miata accounts for such a small percentage.