The Mazda Miata is one of the most beloved sports cars of all time. It’s currently the best-selling two-seat convertible in history, with over 1 million sales. While prices are slowly creeping upward, the Miata has been known as good, cheap fun for decades. But I’m willing to see the Miata die before it ever becomes electric.
Mazda has not revealed the next-generation Miata yet — we still have about four more years with the ND. However, there is allegedly an NE prototype out there, and it needs to be killed with fire before it sees the light of day. In an interview with Auto Rai, Mazda Europe’s Design Director, Jo Stenuit, and Director of Technology Research and Technical Regulation Compliance, Christian Schultze, have disturbing, blasphemous fantasies about the Miata that sound like clips from the dark web. TRIGGER WARNING here, but Schultze stated: “I can […] imagine driving through the woods with an MX-5 and not having any engine noise when driving with the top down.”
Yes, Mazda is having totally taboo thoughts about the MX-5 Miata and its powertrain.
Mazda’s disturbing vision of a hybrid Miata will haunt me for the next four years
The Mazda Miata is perfect. Can my 1993 Mazda Miata go up a hill without the check engine light turning on? No. Can it make it more than two weeks without its battery dying? Sometimes. But you bet it just feels completely amazing to drive. You will find yourself smiling the entire drive, even if you’re stuck in traffic, since you’re basically in a peppy, responsive go-kart with eyeballs.
Throughout every generation, the Miata has been known for being light, fun, and extremely nimble. According to Stenuit, that won’t change with the NE. However, nothing has been confirmed about what’s under the hood of this new Miata, just that it won’t feature the long-requested 2.5-liter V6 and will instead have “some form of electric power assistance.” Stenuit believes that the Miata can still be lightweight with incredible balance and handling with some sort of electrification. The confusing part of this, however, is that hybrid vehicles exist to improve mileage — and to do so, hybrids use lower-horsepower electric motors and smaller gasoline engines.
And the Miata already has basically no horsepower, making this already seem pretty troublesome and less zippy. Hybrids are also heavier due to the added battery pack and electric motors, which would make the Miata heavier, along with its reduced horsepower. I just don’t see how this would keep the Miata nimble and go-kart-like in its driving feel.
Stenuit has more faith than I: “The MX-5 isn’t about maximum horsepower. You don’t need extreme power to experience driving pleasure. Even with a relatively small engine, you can have a tremendous amount of fun. Hybridization would therefore only be interesting if it contributes to efficiency or regulatory compliance, without compromising weight and character.”
While I agree that Miata doesn’t need excessive horsepower, it still needs some to keep it feeling zippy and fun. If you reduced the horsepower, it could still drive slowly, yes, but I think it’s untrue to claim that it would be the same car with the same essence. Luckily, Mazda doesn’t want to make a fully electric MX-5, but I rebuke the hybrid one as well.
You know when you have a favorite older movie that you constantly quote? That trusty standby movie that you always enjoy watching when you want to relax and smile? Then Hollywood announces it will bring that film back with new actors, new CGI, and a new story. And this sequel took away what made that movie feel special, leaving you wondering why they didn’t just leave it alone as a fond memory. That’s how I feel about the Miata. We don’t need a reimagined Miata. We don’t need to mess with what made the previous generations so great.
I think Mazda should just make a brand-new hybrid sports car instead of stripping the Miata’s essence just to profit off its name. Just let the MX-5 rest. Stop destroying it with your sick visions of a silent drive in the woods.
And let me avoid hills with my derpy go-kart in peace.
