We’re finally getting an ‘electrified’ Miata in 2026

Mazda has confirmed that the next-generation MX-5 Miata will are available 2026 and shall be “electrified.” Although the automaker stopped wanting saying what degree of electrification that can entail – hybrid, plug-in hybrid, or full electrical.

The affirmation is mild on particulars, although Mazda stated it will work with Rohm Semiconductor to develop electrical motors and with Envision AESC for batteries.

Again in 2019, we reported that Mazda was considering electrifying the next Miata. At the moment, it wasn’t clear whether or not it was speaking about totally electrical or hybrid – and with this information, it nonetheless isn’t. However we suspect that it’ll most likely be a standard or plug-in hybrid, relatively than totally electrical.

Mazda’s branding and R&D chiefs on the time acknowledged that the automobile and model wanted to shift in the direction of being extra eco-friendly, however that the principle aim of the MX-5 is to stay light-weight, which is a problem with the burden of electrical automobile batteries.

Since then, Mazda has acknowledged that the Miata would ultimately be electrified, however now we’ve received a date: 2026 mannequin 12 months, which implies the automobile will doubtless be on the highway in mid-2025.

The Miata is an exceptionally light-weight automobile – the 2023 MX-5 mannequin has a curb weight of round 2,400lbs. For comparability to some mild EVs, the unique Tesla Roadster, which employed costly and light-weight carbon fiber extensively, weighed ~2,800lbs, and the same Caterham Project V concept will weigh ~2,600.

Not solely that, however the Miata is an reasonably priced automobile, not only a light-weight one. Each of the aforementioned EVs are priced within the six determine vary, whereas the MX-5 begins for below $30k.

However there are different lower-priced light-weight EVs, like the three,000lb Mini Cooper SE at $30k and the defunct 2,900lb BMW i3 which first began at $42k.

So there’s actually a problem right here, however it’s not unachievable, particularly as EV batteries proceed to enhance in vitality density. With trendy batteries, a shorter-range, light-weight Miata could possibly be doable.

However regardless, given Mazda’s historical past with electrification, we suspect this shall be a hybrid mannequin relatively than totally electrical.

Mazda has been one of many slowest within the trade to undertake EV know-how. Japanese automakers on the whole have been laggards on EV tech, and Mazda has the least-ambitious 2030 EV goal within the US. Its first EV, the MX-30, was not a great effort, and only sold 505 cars in its preliminary run (it came back this year, however has solely offered 66 models).

Then again, Mazda has claimed it needs to promote only EVs and hybrids by 2030, and extra just lately, Mazda did pull back the curtain on its EV plans and confirmed a really cool “Imaginative and prescient research” idea, a glossy, low, two-door roadster which appeared prefer it could possibly be the evolution of the Miata:

Whereas that idea is mild on particulars, it clearly appears to be like loads like a Miata, and was launched alongside a dialogue on Mazda’s EV plans, so most thought that it will flip into some kind of electrified Miata.

As for the MX-30, one motive it wasn’t nice is as a result of its clear that the automobile was designed to be a PHEV, and solely made into an EV for compliance with California’s emissions guidelines. The MX-30 ultimately came out as a PHEV overseas, and it’d truly be fairly good as a PHEV.

Whereas hybrids and PHEVs are extra complicated than EVs – stuffing two powertrains right into a automobile as a substitute of 1 – the discount in battery weight can lead to decrease general weight for the automobile however nonetheless give a number of the advantages of electrification, like partial zero-emission operation (within the case of a PHEV) and faster acceleration from electrical motors (for each hybrids and PHEVs).

So having an electrical motor onboard in any type will certainly assist the Miata’s well-known enjoyable issue, which has all the time been slightly bit held again by its small 2L 4-cylinder engine.

Electrek’s Take

Longtime readers could know that any time Mazda comes up, there’s precisely one factor that we at Electrek need to hear: that the Miata goes electrical. It comes up each time anybody talks about Mazda in our newsroom. And we get a variety of feedback right here saying the identical.

So clearly, this comes as nice information to us. We’ve been begging for it for years, and it’s lastly right here (nicely… in 2026).

Nonetheless, Mazda is being cagey right here through the use of the phrase “electrified.” This can be a little bit of a weasel phrase within the automotive trade, to make automaker electrical automobile efforts look extra superior than they’re. PHEVs don’t actually lower emissions as much as they claim, as we’ve seen in multiple studies, and traditional hybrids nonetheless get 100% of their vitality from gasoline, and thus don’t actually assist a complete lot in getting us off of fossil fuels, which is required within the face of local weather change.

We’re certain {that a} hybrid Miata shall be extra enjoyable than a gasoline model, so long as Mazda doesn’t deliberately gradual it right down to really feel extra like a gasoline automobile… as it did with the MX-30.

However we’re additionally certain {that a} correct all-electric Miata could be much more enjoyable than the hybrid, and less complicated too as a result of it doesn’t have to suit two powertrains into the identical automobile.

Whereas weight is actually a priority, and so is price, these each will be solved through the use of a smaller battery. As a lot because the market appears to assume it wants huge vary numbers on each automobile, the Miata isn’t a automobile you’re going to take the household on a roadtrip in anyway, and quick charging could be enough to permit folks to get out and stretch their legs each every so often.

As a Tesla Roadster proprietor myself (I really like small cars), folks typically ask if I want the automobile had extra vary, or Supercharging functionality, and my reply is: the automobile is so tiny that I wouldn’t take it on a roadtrip anyway, and albeit, I’d relatively have a lighter battery than extra vary.

So Mazda might make use of this feature – a smaller, cheaper, lighter battery, mounted low within the automobile, with an engine within the rear (and thus no driveshaft tunnel, saving weight and complexity and inside area).

It most likely received’t be 2,400lbs, and it most likely received’t be $30,000 (no less than within the manufacturing numbers Mazda would doubtless goal), however I’ve religion that Mazda might get within the ballpark of these two numbers, whereas providing a very distinctive and improved driving expertise from the basic Miatas.

I received’t maintain my breath, trigger I nonetheless doubt we’ll see it, however I’d like to be stunned.