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The End of an Era Appears Somewhat Near for Everyone’s Favorite Japanese Sports Car

The next-gen Miata may be the last to run on refined dead dinosaur juice.

Close-up of a red Mazda MX-5 rear taillight with illuminated circular brake light.Mazda
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By Chris Chin

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Welp, it seems the inevitable writing is on the wall as the next MX-5 Miata may be the last gas-powered one. Australia’s CarExpert reports Mazda is preparing an all-electric model.

But don’t bust out the pitchforks and axes just yet. Because thankfully, said electric Miata won’t happen immediately. Instead, the new fifth-gen model will stick to gas power.

Though, it’ll apparently be the last one to do so.

Mazda remains gung-ho about electrification

Three Mazda MX-5 convertible sports cars in gray, silver, and red parked on a rocky cliffside with people nearby.
The current fourth-gen “ND” MX-5 Miata will likely stick around for another few years as Mazda continues developing its successor.
Mazda

Despite other major automakers already pivoting away from aggressive electrification strategies, Mazda supposedly remains steadfast with its trajectory. And that includes fully electrifying the Miata’s successor after the upcoming fifth-gen replacement.

“One of the executives who visited us early in the year said ‘yes, there will be a new one. When? We can’t comment’,” Mazda Australia’s CEO, Vinesh Bhindi, told the Australian auto pub in a recent interview.

“He also hinted at it possibly being the last ICE (internal combustion engine) version,” Bhindi continued, citing the unnamed executive’s remarks.

Dark gray Mazda MX-5 convertible with beige leather seats viewed from above on a concrete surface.
The fifth-gen Miata will most likely retain internal combustion power, but with a hint of mild-hybridization.
Mazda

The remarks come after Mazda began sharing some clues in regards to the sports roadster’s future. Currently, the automaker and its product planning team are still in the midst of hashing out the Miata’s plan for both the incoming fifth-gen model and the sixth-gen after it.

Today, however, supposedly marks the point where Mazda and its executives need to solidify their plans. And such plans include making the decision for an electrified Miata.

There will be plenty of time to still get a gas-powered Miata

Red Mazda convertible sports car and silver convertible sports car on city street with historic buildings.
Mazda’s planning to roll out an all-electric Miata by the time the sixth-gen successor is ready.
Mazda

The current fourth-generation “ND” MX-5 Miata has been with us for eleven years at this point. Meaning, it’s very much due for a successor as the average series production lifecycle for the Miata is around a decade.

But the fifth-gen model also remains a few years away, according to the latest report. When it does arrive, however, it’ll likely stick around for another decade. Or up till about the mid-2030s, which also gives fans ample time to scoop up the last of the gas-powered models.

Car dashboard with three circular gauges showing temperature, tachometer with warning lights, and speedometer in mph and km/h.
Don’t worry, you’ll still have plenty of time to get a gas-powered Miata.
Mazda

While the new fifth-gen model skips the electric powertrains, for now, rumors are still indicating the next-gen Miata will still gain electric propulsion assist to some degree.

That will supposedly happen in the form of gas-electric hybridization. The latest rumors, however, suggest the fifth-gen Miata will incorporate a mild-hybrid setup, versus a more conventional system like the one found in a Toyota Prius.

Silver convertible sports car driving on a road at sunset with mountains in the background.
It’ll be interesting to see how Mazda’s engineers deal with the added weight of electrification as the Miata continues evolving.
Mazda

Weight, however, remains the biggest challenge for electrifying the Miata. That’s because keeping the MX-5 lightweight has been a part of the model’s ethos since day one.

It’s no mystery electric propulsion systems add a considerable amount of weight to any vehicle. And for one where every ounce matters, needless to say, Mazda’s engineers have their work cut out for them.

Availability and pricing

The current fourth-gen Mazda MX-5 Miata remains in production and is still available in both soft top and folding hardtop “RF” form. Pricing starts at $30,430 for the base soft top model.

About the Author: Chris Chin is an associate editor at Gear Patrol, covering cars, trucks and anything else with four wheels. He has over a decade of experience writing news and reviews but considers himself an enthusiast first, with a passion for classics and European cars. His daily driver is a 1987 Mercedes-Benz 560SEL with nearly 250,000 miles (87,000 are his).

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