Unveiled last November, the sleek Vision Study concept pictured here highlights Mazda’s longstanding commitment to building fun cars. This may or may not be an early look at the next-generation Miata, but fans need not worry as the MX-5 will be a permanent fixture in the lineup. We mean literally since the CEO of the company in Europe, Martijn ten Brink, told Car at the 2023 Brussels Motor Show, sports cars “never die”.
When asked what Zoom-Zoom company has in store for its beloved rear-wheel drive convertible, ten Brink said: “How do you stay true to a concept car that takes it to the next generation of technology? That hasn’t been decided yet. But I think for Mazda it would be fair to say that The MX-5 will never die.”
He went on to mention it was “definitely going to remain part of the lineup” and was curious to see the direction the next generation would take. Meanwhile, ND survives. Normally, selling most of the same car for eight years (and counting) meant risking it becoming obsolete, but those who bought the Miata appreciated it for its simplicity: naturally aspirated engine, RWD, and one of the best manual gearboxes in the industry. .
It’s also one of the most affordable sports cars money can buy, although the price has increased in recent years. Any form of hybridization for the NE will likely come at a premium due to the added complexity of the powertrain. To comply with Euro 7 regulations in EU countries, a partial electric setup was suggested by Yasuhiro Aoyama, Mazda senior managing director and executive officer.
Initial test mules of the Miata NE may have been spotted in September 2022. Even if that is true, the production-ready vehicle is unlikely to go on sale for the foreseeable future. Whenever that happens, Mazda has promised to maintain the RWD+ICE formula for the fifth-generation model. The electric MX-5 was inevitable but we don’t imagine it will be anytime soon. Maybe with NF?