I have never been so relieved about a vehicle I was probably never going to buy. It looks like the fifth-generation Mazda Miata will have an internal combustion engine as god intended.
My nightmares began when Mazda Europe’s Design Director, Jo Stenuit, and Director of Technology Research and Technical Regulation Compliance, Christian Schultze, started filling my head with visions of a disturbing, deformed mutant of a Miata with a hybrid powertrain. I tried to make it all stop, but it was like a Jigsaw trap of the worst kind. Pressing “Play” on the recorder left behind by that weird puppet, I heard them speak of driving this haunting monster through a forest, “and not having engine noise.” What kind of sick game was this?
Nothing was confirmed, but it felt like I was being threatened. I kept envisioning happier times, driving my 1993 Mazda Miata through a winding road, feeling as if I was in a go-kart that could easily whip around any corner thanks to its 50-50 weight distribution, lightweight design, and responsive steering. Honestly, there’s nothing else like it. I can safely say that the NA Miata is the only car I have driven that makes me smile the entire time, even on a commute to the gym. There’s a sense of freedom the Miata provides, maybe even a dangerous feeling that you can do anything. With the right tires, of course.
The idea of a hybrid Miata seemed to defeat the entire purpose. Why would you make the Miata heavy? Just make an entirely new hybrid sports car and leave the Miata alone. It’s not like it would carry any of the same values, feelings, or experiences. It’d just be stealing its name.
Well, luckily I have been snapped out of this nightmare. I may have reacted a bit too quickly to the revolting words of Schultze and Stenuit, who were apparently alone in their strange desire for a silent, overweight Miata.
The fifth-generation Miata could be lighter than the ND Miata
Mazda’s General Manager of Global Sales and Marketing, Manabu Osuga, recently told GoAuto that the Miata won’t be hybrid after all. The biggest reason being its added weight. In fact, Osuga noted that it will be less than 2,204 pounds, which is lighter than the current ND model’s 2,366 pounds. So they’ve really thought about this. Down to the pound. They get it.
Right now, the added components of a hybrid setup are too heavy to fit into Mazda’s “gram strategy.” Said Osuga: “I am not going to say there isn’t any possibility [for a hybrid version]. But right now, that technology is very heavy, and if we apply that to the MX-5, we will not satisfy our fans. 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].”
It shows the importance of a vehicle’s heritage, feel, and design to Mazda, something I can appreciate. They’re even confirming the return of a six-speed manual gearbox, really solidifying a gas-powered engine and continued focus on performance. While over $30,000 in the United States now, the Miata is still one of the few remaining affordable sports cars we have. It’s an iconic car that shouldn’t be silenced.
Mazda’s commitment is even more impressive when you realize that the current generation’s 2.0-liter engine doesn’t meet the EU’s continuously stricter emissions regulations and was previously removed. Despite the complexities of remaining gas-powered, Mazda is fighting for the Miata’s integrity. Some are even wondering if the Miata will get even more horsepower thanks to the carmaker’s upcoming Skyactiv-Z engine. Would this give the Miata more than 200 horsepower? I don’t know. If the Miata remained as is, I’d be more than happy already. I don’t want to ask for too much.
