Skip to main content

Next Mazda MX-5 Miata: lighter, meaner, and more Mini-like?

2013 Mazda MX-5 Miata
Image used with permission by copyright holder

Many an automotive journalist carries a soft spot for the Mazda MX-5, also known as the Miata. Its lightweight construction, front-engine, and rear-wheel-drive layout made it one of the most exciting cars to drive since it began rolling off the assembly line at the tail end of the 1980s – a legacy that carries on even today. Essentially, it was the Japanese’s take on the fabled two-seater British sports cars of swingin’ sixties, like the Lotus Elan, Triumph Spitfire, and the mother of them all, the Jaguar E-Type.

So bearing that in mind, there is a lot of buzz, excitement, and expectation surrounding the next generation of Miata – and rightfully so. Last May, Mazda Motors and Fiat Group Automobiles S.P.A. unveiled a cooperation program for a next-generation roadster. This roadster would be co-developed with Alfa Romeo, be based on Mazda’s next-generation MX-5 rear-wheel drive architecture, and manufactured in the Japanese automaker’s Hiroshima plant. There is also a little tidbit added by What Car? which suggest that – on top of an expected weight drop of around 220 pounds for what is already an extremely lightweight frame (2,200 pounds) – Mazda will add a Mini-like level of vehicle customization similar to what can been seen in the Mini Cooper and Fiat 500, giving consumers the option to trim, style, and deck out their Miatas in a way that has, up until now, been nonexistent.

And with past and present Mazda MX-5s so near and dear to their owner’s hearts, we anticipate  that bond will be further solidified between man and machine once owners are encouraged and given license to truly customize their cars.

For now, Miata lovers will need to console themselves with the current crop on offer, but that doesn’t mean they can’t get excited over what’s to come. As it stands, the 2012 Miata is available in two engine types: a 1.8-liter inline four-cylinder (Europe only) and a 2.0-liter variation (U.S.) which pumps out an impressive 167 horsepower and 140 pound feet of torque. For the upcoming venture, power is said to derive from a 1.3-liter turbocharged four-cylinder that would see a boost in horsepower to 200. That might not seem like much right off the bat, but coupled with the Miata’s supple handling and feather-like frame, this recipe for roadster success is practically complete.

According to What Car? The official arrival date has yet to be confirmed, but that hasn’t stopped the site from predicted 2015 as a possible debut date. We’ll definitely be keeping a close eye on how this develops, so watch this space.

Editors' Recommendations

Amir Iliaifar
Former Digital Trends Contributor
Associate Automotive Section Editor for Digital Trends, Amir Iliaifar covers the ever increasing cross-section between tech…
Alpine sale: Up to $160 off speakers and subs for your car
alpine speaker sale crutchfield march 2024 car and amp setup on table

If you’re looking to kit your car out with some superior speakers or a subwoofer, Crutchfield is the place to go today. Right now, there’s a huge sale on Alpine subwoofers and speakers with nearly 50 different items forming the sale. As there are so many options, the best idea is to hit the button below to see what’s around. If you don’t know where to start though, read on while we take you through some great items in the sale.

What to shop for in the Alpine sale
Buying the best aftermarket car speakers are important for anyone who spends a lot of time on the road and is currently dealing with a mediocre sound system. One good starting point in the Alpine sale is the 2-way speakers for $104 instead of $130. You get two 2-way speakers with a polypropylene/glass fiber/mica woofer with a specialized rubber surround. There’s a one-inch silk dome tweeter with speakers able to handle up to 80 watts RMS with 240 watts peak power. The grilles aren’t included but the factor ones should be fine for most purposes.

Read more
Mercedes to trial humanoid robots for ‘low-skill, repetitive, demanding’ jobs
Apptronik's Apollo robot at work in an auto plant.

Humanoid robots have been coming on leaps and bounds in recent years, and some major companies are starting to take note.

Mercedes-Benz, for example, has just entered into an agreement with Texas-based robotics specialist Apptronik to collaborate on identifying applications for highly advanced robots that the auto giant could deploy. The deal will involve a trial that will see Apptronik's Apollo humanoid robot work alongside Mercedes' human workers on the factory floor.

Read more
Hyundai Ioniq 9: price, release date, range, and more
Hyundai Ioniq 9 Front

Hyundai has been at the forefront of EV development for a while now, largely thanks to the success of the crossover-sized Hyundai Ioniq 5. But the company is readying another new EV that could be even more popular than the Ioniq 5 -- or at least more desirable in the U.S., the land of big cars.

The upcoming Ioniq 9, previously set to be called the Ioniq 7, will be Hyundai's take on an electric SUV. It will be to Hyundai what the Kia EV9 is to Kia. It will have three rows and carry over design elements from the Ioniq 5.

Read more