There's been endless speculation about the future of the Mazda MX-5 Miata. As this generation quickly ages, Mazda needs a new one to replace it and there have been many rumors about what will power the next generation. And while no specific powertrains have been confirmed for the next-gen Miata, Mazda CEO Masahiro Moro was very clear that electrification is in its future.
"The successor must also be ready for a scenario without a combustion engine," he told German magazine Auto Motor und Sport.
That sounds to me like Moro is saying that the new MX-5 will come with a piston engine at first but be designed to eventually support an electric version. When you consider the rumors that have surrounded the future drop-top sports car, that makes some sense.
Back in March, Mazda's GM of global sales and marketing told Australia's GoAuto “Eventually, in the future, if the technology is there, then we will think about it. But at this moment, the internal combustion engine is the way (forward).”
However, in 2025, Auto Express found patents of a Mazda MX-5 with batteries in its transmission tunnel. That would indicate Mazda using a typical combustion car chassis but one that's capable of housing batteries for future powertrains.
