Mazda Confirms All-Electric MX-5 Next Gen, Plans Premium Flagship Sports Car

Mazda has confirmed that the next-generation MX-5, codenamed NE, will be engineered from the earliest development stages to accommodate a fully electric powertrain. The company aims to keep the vehicle’s weight between 1,000 and 1,200 kg without resorting to expensive materials like carbon fiber, preserving the lightweight character of the current internal combustion engine (ICE) model. Mazda stated this approach is intended to meet increasingly stringent regulatory requirements and ensure the model can fully transition away from internal combustion engines. In addition to the all-electric variant, the next-generation MX-5 is expected to feature Mazda’s newly developed 2.5-liter Skyactiv-Z four-cylinder engine and may also introduce a hybrid powertrain, potentially delivering up to 164 kW of maximum output—provided it doesn’t compromise the car’s lightweight design. Details on how multiple powertrains will be integrated onto a single platform have not yet been disclosed. The new model is expected to debut as early as 2028, meaning the current ND generation will have a lifecycle exceeding 13 years. Furthermore, Mazda plans to launch a flagship sports car positioned above the MX-5, designed to embody the brand’s core values. This model will not be sales-driven and could be produced using hand-built methods.