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Hyundai plans to make the humble hatch great again next year with the arrival of its all-electric Hyundai Ioniq 3.Hyundai's local sales boss David Rodda has locked in a 2027 launch date for the new EV Down Under.“Our existing EV lineup already covers 85 per cent of the market, and with the introduction of the STARIA Commercial Van later this year and Ioniq 3 hatch early next year, we expect to reach 96 per cent overall EV market coverage," he said.The Hyundai Ioniq 3 is actually officially dubbed an 'aero hatch' by the Korean brand, as the BYD Dolphin or MG4 rival has an ultra-low, class-leading 0.26Cd drag coefficient, which helps unlock a range of up to 500km.The new Ioniq 3 will serve as an indirect replacement for the old i30 hatch that was axed in Australia over the high costs involved with sourcing it from Europe.The first Hyundai to be designed under the brand's Art of Steel design language, the Ioniq 3 blends a sleek front end, rakish lines and some unashamed classic Alfa Romeo styling elements at the rear.The version we saw in the flesh was the sporty N Line variant that added larger 19-inch alloy wheels, a more prominent ducktail rear spoiler, diffuser, side skirts and aggressive front bumper that are all finished in gloss black.The four LED light elements within the slimline grille, meanwhile, are said to signify an 'H' in morse code.All future Hyundais will draw plenty from the Ioniq 3's styling that when applied to a small hatch handily also provide plenty of space within.Built on the Korean car giant's 400-volt E-GMP platform, the small Hyundai measures in at 4155mm long (4170mm for the N Line), 1800mm wide and stands 1505mm tall with a 2680mm wheelbase that delivers head- and legroom on par with the old larger i30 hatch, while in the rear boot there's up to 441 litres of luggage-swallowing potential.Inside, the good news continues as there is a either a large 12.9-inch or even more generous 14.6-inch infotainment that runs the brand's latest Android-based software.High grade material, tactile physical buttons, plus general high levels of attention detail all shame budget rivals.Comfort within is boosted by the firm's heated and ventilated 'Relaxation Seats, which said to employ fabric inspired by 1970s Italian furniture that is recycled and said to be bio-based. There's also a powerful Bose premium sound system, dual-zone climate control and ambient LED lighting.When it lands in Australia, the Ioniq 3 is expected to come with either a 42kWh lithium-iron-phosphate (LFP) battery that provides for more than 335km of range or a bigger 61kWh nickel-manganese-cobalt (NMC) that engineers are confident will see the Dolphin rival travel up to 500km on the Euro WLTP test cycle.Plug into a DC fast-charger and Hyundai says the Ioniq 3's standard battery takes 29 minutes for a 10-80 per cent refill, with 30 minutes for the same charge on the long-range NMC battery.AC charging is limited to 11kW, but a 22kW capability will be offered as an option from launch. Vehicle-to-load (V2L) is standard on all models, allowing the Hyundai to charge laptops or e-bikes.Whichever Ioniq 3 you plump for, the small battery-powered hatch comes with a single e-motor that drives the front wheels and produces either 108kW or 99kW in the long-range version.Both produce 250Nm of torque, with the entry Ioniq 3 accelerating from 0-100km/h in 9.0 seconds, while the heavier less powerful long-range variant takes 9.6 seconds to reach the same benchmark. Top speed is limited to 165km/h.Designed to achieve a five-star ANCAP rating, all versions of the new EV hatch comes with bright LED headlamps, seven airbags, a blind-spot monitor, a 360-degree camera, adaptive cruise control and remote auto parking.Available with the choice of eight exterior paints and four interior colour combinations, the Hyundai Ioniq 3 has yet to be officially locked in for a launch Down Under, but once confirmed, expect the striking all-electric hatch to be priced from around $42,000 plus on-roads when sales start in Q1 of 2027.

Mercedes-Benz has unveiled a new pure-electric version of its mid-size C-Class sedan, boasting a sleek coupe-like profile, dual-motor all-wheel drive and a range of up to 762 kilometres (WLTP).Launched in a single C400 4Matic electric grade, the newcomer’s dual permanent magnet synchronous motors combine to deliver 360kW and 800Nm which is enough to propel the circa 2.5-tonne five-seater from 0-100km/h in just four seconds.A 94kWh battery is onboard and an 800-volt electric architecture allows DC fast-charging at 330kW, which enables the car to charge from 10 to 80 per cent in 22 minutes.At just under 4.9 metres end-to-end, close to 1.9m wide and a fraction over 1.5m tall with a 2962mm wheelbase, the C400 4Matic electric is appreciably larger in every key dimension than its internal-combustion counterpart.    Energy consumption on the combined (urban/extra-urban) cycle ranges from 14.1 to 18.5 kWh/100km which is impressive for a car of this size and weight.Tech highlights include rear-axle steering and a new air suspension system managed by the car’s main operating system, now delivering predictive damping and automatic ride height control based on Car-to-X and Google Maps data.Inside, a seamless 39.1-inch MBUX ‘Hyperscreen’ covering media, car function and instrumentation spans pillar-to-pillar across the dash, there are 162 stars illuminated in the ‘Sky Control’ panoramic roof and the front sports seats, trimmed in ‘Twisted Diamond’ nappa leather, feature lumbar support, massage, seat ventilation and 4D sound.A fourth-generation ‘MBUX’ media and car interface combines multiple AI systems to create a powerful ‘Virtual Assistant’ capable of "conducting complex dialogues between the vehicle and driver.”Other stand-out standard features include ‘Surround Navigation’, an AR head-up display, Burmester 3D surround sound and a newly developed climate control system claimed to heat the interior “twice as fast as in combustion-powered models.”Boot space is a useful 470 litres with another 101 litres available in the front boot and braked trailer towing capacity is a worthwhile 1.8 tonnes.Introducing the new model, Mercedes-Benz Group AG Chairman of the Board of Management Ola Källenius said, “The all-new electric C-Class is redefining the mid-size segment for electric vehicles. “It is the most powerful and sportiest C-Class we’ve ever built, offering pure driving pleasure and outstanding real-world range,” he said.Mercedes-Benz Australia expects the C400 4Matic electric to hit local showrooms in early 2027.

There is a new limited edition Range Rover Sport, which has just been announced in Australia. With only 25 units available for the car, it will start from $233,200 (before on-road costs). This means it is roughly $6000 cheaper than the previous cheapest V8 variant of the car. The ‘Twenty’ Edition is to celebrate 20 years of the Range Rover Sport. It shapes up as a rival for the V8-powered BMW X5 M60i and M Competition, with price tags of $177,900 and $247,800 (before on-road costs). It also takes on other high-end luxury performance SUVs such as the Audi SQ7 and the Porsche Cayenne, which are also nearer to the $200K mark. The most noticeable changes come elsewhere in the car, with it offered in exclusive ‘Ostuni’ white and ‘Santorini’ black paint options.It also includes a blacked out exterior package to give the car a sleek and stealthy look. There are 23-inch wheels finished in a glossy silver featuring a ‘Twenty’ etching, along with other branding such as on the treadplates and the centre console. On the inside, there are forged carbon veneers and a black suedecloth headlining, while the high-quality leather seats have been lifted out of the up-spec SV variant.It will be powered by Land Rover’s 4.4-litre twin-turbo V8 engine, producing 390kW and 750Nm. This is the same amount of power as in the base V8 Sport variant, which can shift from 0-100km/h in under five seconds. The Range Rover Sport was first introduced in 2005 and is now in its third generation. During its time on the sales charts, the car has been part of several high-profile stunts, such as the 999 steps to Heaven’s Gate in China back in 2020. The ‘Twenty’ Edition is available for order now. 

There aren’t many cars that are getting the critical acclaim and sales strength as the Zeekr 7X, except maybe the new Zeekr 8X.The Zeekr 8X is a bigger version of the 7X mid-size electric SUV currently on sale in Australia. The 7X has been a hit with Aussie buyers, with it being the third best-selling EV in March.Zeekr Australia Managing Director Frank Li confirmed the 8X’s arrival to CarsGuide earlier this year.“We’ll have the 8X official launch event in April in China,” he said. “Three models will come across next year, 7GT, 9X and 8X, but we haven’t had the final date for which one will come first, or in which month or what quarter.The 8X will take on household premium names such as the Range Rover Sport, Audi Q8 and Lexus RX.If we look to China, where preorders just opened, you may need to get in early to get your hands on one.The brand is claiming it secured more than 10,000 orders in just 30 minutes.Zeekr ditches electric power for the 8X and installs a plug-in hybrid (PHEV) set-up.The flagship uses a monster tri-electric motor set-up with a 2.0-litre turbocharged four-cylinder petrol engine to make a astounding total system outputs of 1030kW and 1410Nm.The standard version uses a more conventional dual-motor set-up, which still tallies up whopping outputs of 660kW and 935Nm.The 8X uses either a 55kWh or 70kWh battery pack with a 900-volt architecture allowing ultra-fast charging and either a 320km or 410km EV driving range, respectively, according to China's lenient CLTC testing procedure.It’ll be dripping in luxury and high-tech inside too, with big screens across the dash, holographic head-up display and a premium fit-out.It will likely be substantially more expensive than the 7X, with prices expected to start north of $85,000 when it arrives in Australia.

BYD’s Atto 3 mid-sized SUV is getting a cabin redesign which will have a more conservative look resembling the interiors of the rest of the model’s in the brand’s line-up according to leaked spy images.The spy shots surfaced in China and show a more toned-down cabin in the Atto 3 with the curved and free-flowing feel of the current model’s dashboard replaced with horizontal lines that bring a broader, more refined look.Gone, too, are the quirky, circular elements with the rotating interior door handles replaced by more conventional pull type. The gill-like central air vent design has been switched to regular slat styling and fans of the guitar-string door pockets will be sad to hear they're now gone in favour of regular plastic-moulded versions.BYD will likely launch a new version of the Atto 3 in China next month. Along with this redesigned interior the vehicle will also have new-generation batteries along with rear-wheel drive variants.Whether or not this Atto 3 from the spy images will be sold in Australia is not clear.What appears more likely is that Australia will get the version of the Atto 3 which went on sale this month in the United Kingdom. Known as the Atto 3 Evo it's an updated version which has the same cabin as our current car but with overhauled engineering - the biggest change being a switch from front-wheel drive to rear- and all-wheel drive.A larger 74.8kWh battery in the Atto 3 Evo gives a longer driving range of 510km and 800V architecture allows DC changing at up to 220kW. Australia’s current Atto 3 is offered only in FWD with two batteries - the largest being 60.48kWh with a maximum DC charging rate of 88kW.Power output is also much higher in the UK versions with the top grade producing up to 330kW. The most powerful Australian Atto 3 variant makes 150kW. CarsGuide reached out to BYD Australia for clarity regarding which Atto 3 would arrive locally - the Evo sold in the UK or the Chinese Atto 3 with redesigned cabin - but was told it was too early to speculate.Given the approval compliance documents for the import of a BYD Atto 3 with an output of 330kW were published in February this year on the Australian Federal Government's road vehicles standards website it appears likely the Evo is coming here soon. 

A new budget small SUV player has just emerged, with Chery sub-brand Jaecoo officially unveiling its petrol-powered J5 variant.It will start from $25,990 (drive-away), with the top trim level of the car an extra $4000 at $29,990. This represents a decent price drop on the well-received electric version of the car already on sale in Australia, which starts from $36,990 (drive-away).The new petrol option is $2000 more than the base variant of the popular Chery Tiggo 4, which shares much of the same underpinnings, including the T1X platform.It will be tasked with taking on the likes of the other Chinese rivals, such as the GWM Haval Jolion and the MG ZS which have similar price tags when comparing trim levels. The J5 will also tackle rivals from established brands, including the Mazda CX-30 and petrol variants of the Hyundai Kona, which carry higher price tags.The car comes with Chery’s 1.5-litre turbo-petrol engine, producing 108kW and 210Nm, with power directed to the front wheels via a continuously variable transmission.In addition, a hybrid version of the J5 is due towards the end of this year as part of a staggered roll-out for the small SUV's range.While sharing a similar wheelbase as the Chery Tiggo 4 at 2620mm, the J5 is towards the bigger end of the small SUV scale, measuring at 4380mm long, 1860mm wide and 1650mm tall.On the inside, there is a 13.2-inch central touchscreen display and an 8.8-inch digital driver display, along with cloth seating as standard. The up-spec version of the J5 introduces features such as a panoramic glass roof and a power tailgate, as well as synthetic leather seats.The J5 will arrive in showrooms from early June of this year.2026 Jaecoo J5 pricing Australia 2026 Jaecoo J5 engine and efficiency 2026 Jaecoo J5 standard features Other standard features: Auto headlightsAuto wipersPush button startRemote engine startSummit grade addsPanoramic glass roofPowered sunshadePower tailgateDual zone climate control8-speaker sound system50W wireless phone chargerSynthetic leather seatsPower adjustable front seatsHeated and ventilated front seats2026 Jaecoo J5 safetyThe Jaecoo J5 has not been crash tested yet, but Omoda Jaecoo said it is working on securing a rating for the car. The related Tiggo 4 has a five-star ANCAP rating.Standard safety features: 7 airbagsAuto emergency brakingEmergency lane keep assistAdaptive cruise controlForward collision warning360-degree camera2026 Jaecoo J5 warranty and servicing The J5 comes with an eight-year/unlimited-kilometre warranty. It will be available with an eight-year capped price servicing plan, occurring at intervals of 12 months. A full eight-year plan costs a total of $3,326.09  Servicing plan  

GWM has unveiled its upgraded Haval H6 GT plug-in hybrid mid-size SUV in Australia.It will start from $52,990 (drive-away), which is $1000 less than the outgoing H6 GT, and $2000 more than the most expensive regular H6.The H6 is a rival for several other Chinese PHEV alternatives, such as the MG HS and the Chery Tiggo 7, but the GT’s sportier posturing sees it line up closely to the BYD Sealion 6.Another of the car’s rivals is the Jaecoo 7, which is Chery’s premium sub-brand, and also comes as a plug-in hybrid.It will also be a new competitor for the incoming Toyota RAV4 PHEV due to arrive in showrooms later in the year.It comes in cheaper than the base all-wheel-drive variant of the Sealion 6 after adding on-road costs, while the front-wheel-drive J7 is priced from $43,990 (drive-away).The AWD H6 GT continues to be powered by a 1.5-litre turbo-petrol and electric motor set-up, producing 321kW and 642Nm. This represents a boost in power compared to standard H6 PHEV models, but it is pumping out less torque in contrast.The new set-up means the car can shift from 0-100km/h in 4.6 seconds, which is 0.3 seconds faster than the outgoing model.It has a 35kWh battery, offering an electric-only driving range of 183km, according to more generous NEDC standards. Total driving range sits at nearly 1200km, with fuel consumption of 0.6L/100km, both those numbers have also been calculated using NEDC.Upgrades continue inside, with the 14.6-inch central touchscreen utilising a new snappier operating system. There is also now a wireless phone charger, with the car now featuring the same re-designed interior from the recently-upgraded H6.The H6 has proven to be a popular choice in the mid-size SUV segment, with its petrol and hybrid options outselling the likes of the Chery Tiggo 7 and PHEV-exclusive BYD Sealion 6.

Nissan is still on the road to financial recovery and it’s looking for ways to strategically beef up its model line-up, especially as emission regulations crunch, without adding more complexity and cost.The Japanese carmaker already has a long-standing relationship with Dongfeng to produce Nissan models for the Chinese market.Highlight models include the Frontier Pro plug-in hybrid ute, N7 large battery electric (EV) sedan, N6 plug-in hybrid (PHEV) sedan, as well as the recently launched NX8 EV and range-extender (REEV) SUV among others.As a result, Nissan is looking to export these Chinese-produced vehicles to a number of markets and Australia could very soon be on the menu. For our market the Frontier Pro and N7 have been earmarked, followed by the NX8.Nothing is confirmed, but we got the chance to drive the Chinese-specification Nissan N6, N7 and NX8 on a closed test track in Japan.First let’s discuss the NX8, which is the newest of the bunch. While it’s offered with EV and REEV (Range Extender Electric Vehicle) powertrains in China, we were only able to sample the former.It’s powered by a single, rear-mounted electric motor that produces 250kW and 310Nm that’s fed by an 81kWh lithium iron phosphate (LFP) battery. It’s worth noting a smaller 73kWh battery pack is also offered.Claimed range in the model tested is up to 630km, according to lenient CLTC testing. The battery operates on an 800V electrical architecture, allowing a 10 to 80 per cent charge in only 12 minutes.While the NX8 is around the same size as the Pathfinder, which has been axed locally, it only offers five seats. This means there’s plenty of space inside including a sizable boot.A main focus of this large SUV is tech. There is a 10.25-inch digital instrument cluster that is complimented by a dual 15.6-inch touchscreens – one in the centre and another for the front passenger.There’s also plenty of flashy bling on the outside, highlighted mainly by the bold lighting signatures that are dynamic and can change. It’s a cool touch but I doubt this would be offered in Australia.While it was hard to get a proper read on the NX8’s driving dynamics on our one-lap test drive, it’s clear this car is aimed at China. It has an isolated cabin feel with soft suspension and light steering.However, Nissan claims this car is focused on offering dynamics and with 250kW/310Nm it has enough punch to get along at a decent pace.Next up is the N7, which was the first model to be based on the so-called 'Tianyan' architecture. Compared to the NX8, however, the N7 is powered by a single, front-mounted electric motor that produces 200kW and 305Nm.This is fed by a 73kWh LFP battery that allows for a claimed range of 625km, according to lenient CLTC testing. A smaller 58kWh LFP battery and less-powerful motor combination is also offered in China.Like the NX8, the N7 has a clean design with flashy tech inside and out. It’s clearly identifiable as Chinese due to the ultra-minimal look and lack of physical switchgear.Driving this electric sedan it similarly feels isolated inside the cabin and even on middle undulations requires a number of body movements to settle. If the N7 does come to Australia it will likely require some form of suspension re-tune to handle our rougher roads.Lastly there’s the N6 PHEV sedan which is arguably the ugly duckling of the trio. It’s the most affordable model of the trio in China. Its starting price is ¥94,900 (~A$19,400) – and it looks like it from the outside.While the N7 and NX8 have at least some form of edge and presence in terms of design, the N6’s silhouette is rather plain with no defined character. One element that adds to this is the small wheels not filling the wheel arches properly. It cheapens the look.From a driving perspective, the N6’s focus is efficiency. It features a PHEV powertrain marrying together a 1.5-litre four-cylinder petrol engine with an electric motor that’s fed by a 21.1kWh LFP battery.Nissan claims this allows for up to 180km of electric range and once you run out of charge you’ll achieve 2.79L/100km, both according to lenient CLTC. We’ll have to wait and see whether these figures are accurate in the real world.The majority of driving in the N6 is done by the electric motor, however from around 50-60km/h in hybrid mode, the petrol engine turns on the assist. While you can’t feel it turn on, its presence can be heard in the cabin.Like the N7 and NX8, the driving experience in the N6 is floaty and distinctly Chinese-feeling. It’s made worse as the skinny Linglong tyres screech easily in the bends.While Nissan hasn’t officially confirmed any of these Chinese-made models for Australia just yet, they can’t come soon enough.The Japanese carmaker currently only offers one EV in Australia, the Ariya mid-size SUV. It has indefinitely delayed the introduction of the new-generation Leaf small electric SUV and there are no plans to launch the new, European-focused Juke EV.This leaves Nissan stuck between a rock and a hard place as the brand is already facing fines of over $10 million thanks to the Australian government’s New Vehicle Efficiency Standard (NVES), which penalises carmakers for selling vehicles producing emissions in excess of CO2 targets which become stricter every year.Hopefully Nissan can make a decision on whether to introduce at least some of these EV or PHEV models soon as many legacy carmakers are ramping up their EV and PHEV offerings Down Under to reduce their fleet CO2 emissions.If these Chinese-made Nissans do launch locally, pricing will be a key factor as many Chinese brands are highly competitive in this space.For now, however, watch this space.

The demise of the Ford F-150 Lightning, the electric version of America’s favourite pick-up truck, is a painful lesson not just for the Blue Oval, but the entire automotive industry.When it was first announced the Lightning made a lot of sense. Ford knew it wasn’t going to convince F-150 buyers to swap into a compact electric SUV, so the company would just make their truck electric.Except, as Ford would find out the hard way, the American market wasn’t ready to shift to electric vehicles (EVs) in the majority, and certainly not the pick-up truck buyers.So the news that the Ford F-150 Lightning would be disappearing from both US and Australian roads was not really a surprise. But it’s the latest demonstration that multiple carmakers may have fallen into the same trap and could pay a similar price to Ford.What is that trap? That would be to build large electric vehicles.“The American consumer is speaking clearly and they want the benefits of electrification like instant torque and mobile power," explained Andrew Frick, President of Ford model e, the brand’s  electric division, about the decision to drop the Lightning.“But they also demand affordability… rather than spending billions more on large EVs that now have no path to profitability, we are allocating that money into higher-returning areas.”It seemed like the right idea only a few short years ago as EVs became more accepted as a concept, but sales were still relatively small due to a lack of choice.Go back five years and most of the EVs on sale were either small cars or SUVs, like the Tesla Model 3 and Model Y, with the rest of the market segments largely ignored. It was a logical move, as a smaller car is more efficient (on average) than a larger one.The problem is that left so much of the new-car market without an EV choice. What would someone looking for an electric ute or electric family-sized SUV do? So, being driven by the need to fit consumer tastes, carmakers tried to cater to them.And thus we had the likes of the F-150 Lightning, Mercedes-Benz EQE SUV, Audi e-tron, Kia EV9 and, more recently, the Hyundai Ioniq 9 all arrive to cater to the audience that wants a ‘big EV’.The problem is, and where this became a trap, is that building a larger EV means a larger asking price, and there simply aren't enough people willing to pay big bucks for an EV. At least not now, especially as the current fuel price drives more demand in EVs.The people have voted with their wallets and it's easy to see where the core EV buyers are spending their money. BYD has already sold 1481 Atto 2s in the first three months of 2026, with another 1082 Atto 1s. The mid-sized BYD Sealion 7 has managed 4468 sales, the Zeekr 7X a healthy 1725 and the Geely EX5 1437.Kia is perhaps the best demonstrator of this trend, the small EV3 has managed 861 sales so far this year, while the mid-sized EV5 has found 1148 buyers. But the bigger EV6 has notched just 77 sales and the huge EV9 has managed to move just 18 units in 2026.And that’s not because Australians don’t want big SUVs, the new plug-in hybrid Denza B8 has already out-sold the EV9 with 75 sales since arriving, while the aging Nissan Patrol is still going strong (1383 sales) and the Toyota LandCruiser shows no signs of slowing down (2857 sales).And this isn’t driven simply by the ongoing fuel crisis. Looking back at the 2025 data it shows the same pattern, Australian motorists looking for an EV are looking for smaller, more affordable models rather than the big ones. In 2025 Kia sold 4787 EV5s and 2597 EV3s but just 348 EV6s and only 269 EV9s.The solution, or so it seems at this point, is the plug-in hybrid (PHEV). Buyers looking for a bigger vehicle but still looking to cut their fuel bill are tending towards PHEVs and other hybrids, such as the BYD Shark 6, BYD Sealion 8 and Chery Tiggo 9.Obviously there will still be more large EVs coming our way, the most high-profile being the new electric Toyota HiLux, but all current signs indicate that this is a small percentage of the market and unlikely to change in the near future.

Mazda has indicated that the incoming, fifth-generation MX-5 will side-step electrification altogether and remain purely petrol-powered – at least, initially.The new MX-5 is expected to be unveiled sometime next year, in contrast to some earlier reports claiming that the long-lived, two-seater convertible will be replaced by an all-electric coupe in the vein of the Iconic SP concept car first seen at the 2023 Japan Mobility Show in Tokyo.According to Mazda Motor Corporation General Manager of Global Sales and Marketing, Manabu Osuga, the next MX-5 will likely not adopt any form of electrification if it is to achieve the goal of weighing as close to, or even under, 1000kg.“At the moment, electric is going the opposite direction of fulfilling the MX-5’s (core) concept, as it needs to remain a lightweight sportscar, and electric means heavier,” he told CarsGuide last month in Melbourne.“We want to make the weight less than one tonne before additional equipment, then with additional equipment 1.1 tonne, but we don’t want it to exceed 1.2 tonne (in total) if it is to be a lightweight sportscar.”However, Osuga-san did indicate that the next MX-5 may be the last of its type, with future iterations likely switching to some sort of electric power, while maintain the basic roadster look and format.“This might be more of an internal conversation, but the MX-5’s model lifecycle is longer than other models,” he admitted. “Then, once we make the fifth-gen, that might be the last model to use internal combustion.“So, our focus on the fifth gen is enormous… there are very deep discussions we are having with the executive team on how to make the fifth-gen MX-5 a pure MX-5. From that viewpoint, our intention is: ‘OK, consider this as the last pure ICE model, then what we can do (next) is our discussion.”Osuga-san believes that it is still possible to refine the combustion process of a naturally-aspirated ICE without the need of heavy hybrid assistance to achieve future emissions and safety regulations within a small, lightweight convertible that’s the same size as today’s ND series.“(Keeping mass low) is what we need to protect for (the NE) to be an MX-5,” he explained. “Any electric device is going against that. And also, the size of the car needs to be (like today’s) lightweight sportscar.“So, from that sense, our first step in our way of thinking is how we can apply pure internal combustion to the car. Then, if it's not the right solution (in the future), then we will think about another solution. But a pure lightweight sportscar is always our starting point.”Furthermore, as well as not gaining weight, the NE will likely not become any larger, either, as it will follow in the footsteps of the latest CX-5 in being a major reskin of the outgoing model, rather than an all-new-from-the-ground-up redesign (like the ND was), retaining the classic shape and stance.“With the (current-generation MX-5) ND, we took the concept back to the original,” Osuga-san said. “A lightweight sportscar to have fun in, engaging the customer, engaging the fan in the best way.“In the fifth-gen, safety protocols, environmental regulations, etc, should make the car heavier.“But we care about power to weight ratio and that Jinba Ittai feel (Mazda’s long-time marketing spin on how a driver should feel connected to a car as a rider is with a horse) should be at the highest level of that feeling in any MX-5. So, we are putting that DNA in. We will never change that philosophy.“That car needs to be a lightweight sportscar. And the side proportion of the MX-5 is iconic. Just like (Porsche’s) 911, it is about proportion. For us, the side proportion of the MX-5 is always the branded message.“Making it a lightweight sportscar is driving everything we are thinking about the fifth gen.”Osuga-san added that the NE’s designers and engineers are laser-focused in making the best-possible version of the MX-5 that they can, even with all the aforementioned limitations bearing heavily on them.“We always want to make a ‘wow’ moment for the fans,” he believes. “With the fourth-gen MX-5, we had the wow moment. We want to exceed the fourth-gen with the wow experience for the fifth-gen for fans to experience.”