Mazda boss confirms all-electric MX-5 is on the table

Mazda’s CEO has confirmed that the next-generation MX-5 is being built to support an all-electric powertrain in a first for the iconic roadster.

Masahiro Moro said the upcoming version of the famous convertible “must also be ready for a scenario without a combustion engine” in remarks made to Germany’s Auto Motor Und Sport outlet.

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‘The challenge for us is to make the basic structure lighter without using exotic materials like carbon fibre reinforced plastic,’ Moro continued, adding that the target weight for the new MX-5 is ‘between just under 1000 and 1200kg’.

Asked to confirm the addition of an electric MX-5, Mazda USA danced around the issue in a statement.

“We are currently considering the development of the next-generation MX-5. It is true that we are considering a weight target (between 1000 kg and 1200 kg) to realize the ‘Jinba ittai’ [horse and rider as one] driving experience that is the MX-5’s appeal,” it reads. 

“Regarding the powertrain, we are also exploring various possibilities while considering regulations and other factors.”

In February, two Mazda executives told the Dutch publication AutoRAI that the company wants to retain an internal combustion engine of some sort in the MX-5 range, and there has been speculation that using synthetic fuel could be on the table.

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At last year’s Tokyo Motor Show, Mazda told WhichCar by Wheels that alternative fuels were an option in order to keep a combustion motor in play, but synthetic fuels remain costly and the production infrastructure isn’t developed enough to support their use on a large scale.

Mazda’s European design head Jo Stenuit told AutoRAI that the company is “still trying to figure out what to do with the powertrain, but he believes it will likely include some form of electrification”.

Moro’s comments on the weight of the next MX-5 are telling, as fans of the world’s most successful roadster will be very wary of a heavy battery pack’s impact on the car’s character.

The current version comes in at 1070kg in its most slimmed-down form, making it one of the lightest cars on the market, with Moro’s mention of a 1200kg ceiling likely to raise concerns about whether an electric version would retain the handling the MX-5 is famous for.

It’s been around a decade since the MX-5 has been revamped and the challenges posed by ever-tightening emissions regulations, combined with Moro’s comments, make it highly likely that the upcoming version will feature significant changes to how it puts its power to the road.