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New Mazda MX-5 NE to go electric! But will the next Miata fully embrace electrification or only partially?

The ND MX-5’s successor will feature some form of electrification.

Mazda has confirmed that the next-generation MX-5 sports car, the NE, will be electrified.

Speaking to Motor1, a spokesperson for the brand said: “Mazda is seeking to electrify the MX-5 (Miata) in an effort to have all models feature a form of electrification by 2030.

“We will work hard to make it a lightweight, affordable, open two-seater sports car in order to meet the needs of customers.”

As reported last week, Mazda will reveal its new SkyActiv Multi-Solution Scalable Architecture next year, with it to underpin five hybrids (HEVs), five plug-in hybrids (PHEVs) and three all-electric vehicles (BEVs) by 2025.

The ND-series MX-5 was unveiled in September 2014, so it’s possible the NE will be one of those models, although the brand could instead stick with the series’ current platform and add a mild-hybrid (MHEV) system to achieve its “form of electrification”.

Given the brand’s promise to produce “a lightweight, affordable, open two-seater sports car”, a relatively simple MHEV powertrain makes the most sense for the NE, but time will tell what direction it goes in.

Either way, 75 per cent of Mazda’s model line-up will be hybridised by 2030, while the remaining 25 per cent will be all-electric. Stay tuned.

Justin Hilliard
Head of Editorial
Justin’s dad chose to miss his birth because he wanted to watch Peter Brock hopefully win Bathurst, so it figures Justin grew up to have a car obsession, too –...
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