Mazda could switch the MX-5 to electric power, although the combustion-engine version will remain

The Japanese company is thinking about developing a new-generation two-door, 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, the MX-5, in 1989, and the current fourth-generation car arrived more than a decade ago – in 2014. On one of the key markets for this niche model, the United States, the two-door is sold with the Miata suffix added to its name. The model is currently "in the black" there: in the first half of 2026, American dealers sold 5,010 units, which is 5% more than in January-June last year.

Clearly, the company is already thinking about the next-generation Mazda MX-5. However, the new model will be worth the wait: according to foreign media reports, it will not appear before 2028. The first details about the next two-door were shared by the German publication Auto Motor und Sport, whose editorial team spoke with Mazda's CEO, Masahiro Moro.

It is reported that the next-generation Mazda MX-5 will offer internal combustion engine versions, with the model tipped to receive a new 2.5-litre four-cylinder Skyactiv-Z engine. There is also a possibility that the new model will feature a hybrid setup. For reference, the MX-5 Miata currently offered in the US is powered by a 2.0-litre four-cylinder engine producing 184 bhp (with peak torque of 205 Nm), paired with a six-speed manual gearbox.

At the same time, the new Mazda MX-5 is expected to have a fully electric version, despite the fact that sales volumes of EVs are not as high as manufacturers had anticipated (as a result, some have shelved 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 hurdles.

Incidentally, talk of a potential "green" two-door at Mazda was already underway back in 2019. Both then and now, the discussion centres on the need to preserve one of the model's key characteristics – its modest weight. The task facing engineers is ambitious: not to exceed the 1,000-1,200 kg mark while accommodating a traction battery (which is typically very heavy). It is also noted that the base structure should be made lighter "without the use of carbon fibre", so as not to push the price up further.

According to the German publication, Mazda's boss also let slip that the Japanese marque does not plan to stop at developing the next-generation two-door. It is expected that the model line-up will later be joined by a new sports car that will sit one step above the MX-5 in the brand's hierarchy. It is not out of the question that this could be a low-volume model, built to order and largely by hand. Further details will likely emerge later.

Meanwhile, things are going reasonably well for the brand's current mainstream models. Last month, for instance, it emerged that the new-generation Mazda CX-5 crossover is, contrary to expectations, enjoying huge demand in Japan, with the top-spec trim being the most sought-after.