Euro 7 emission standards made Mazda reconsider its plans for the next generation of the MX-5/Miata. According to Which Car citing Yasuhiro Aoyama, one of the executives of the carmaking brand, drivetrain changes are unavoidable and will most likely turn the model into a hybrid.
We are told that the company decided to prioritize the weight of the car over all other considerations: the hybrid will have to weigh about as little as the original despite heavier tech. As well, Mazda promises us to make sure that none of the changes disappoint the fans of the original car or ruin their expectations.
Aoyama admitted that the management still hadn’t reached a clear understanding in this matter, but stressed that everyone agreed: electrification was inevitable. Asked about the concept car revealed not long ago (featured in the gallery here), he said the new MX-5 would not be its exact copy, but rather loosely inspired by it. Mazda Chief Designer Akira Tamatani called upon the brand fans to treat the concept as a ‘message’ of sorts and said that a car looking exactly like that was not in the plans.
The new MX-5 may debut around mid-2025, when the Euro 7 comes into power.