Would you buy an electric Mazda MX-5?

In great news for car enthusiasts, it looks as though Mazda is committed to future generations of its iconic MX-5 sports car.

During an update on its sustainability plans in November, the Japanese car maker teased a small, lightweight sports car concept it calls the 'Vision Study'. Given its low-slung stance and familiar shape, the whole world has decided that this is a preview of the next-gen MX-5.

With Mazda finally rolling out electrified powertrains, it’s all but confirmed that the next iteration of the peppy roadster will come with some form of electrification, be it mild hybrid, plug-in hybrid or as a full battery electric vehicle.

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Mazda Motor Corporation chief designer, Akira Tamatani, confirmed with Australian journalists that the Vision Study in the video and images is not a physical model - it only exists in the digital world.

"We have this passion to create this kind of vehicle. That styling, whether we are going to make a production vehicle off of that, we still haven't really decided," he said.

Mr Tamatani said he still did not know if the next MX-5 would take inspiration from the Design Study, but did say that electrification would play a part.

"Next-generation MX-5, we may have to think about electrification as well there. If that’s the case, the car has to be lightweight of course, and it has to have MX-5-ness. How can we satisfy both of those things? We need to run a study of that. We don't have a clear answer to that."

The other question is, how will Australian MX-5 fans respond to an electrified, or fully electric version?

One key Mazda Australia executive believes that whatever form the next MX-5 takes, electrification could only enhance the drive characteristics.

When asked if Aussie buyers will be drawn to a future MX-5 with an electrified powertrain, Mazda Australia marketing director Alastair Doak said: “I can't see why not.

“As long as it still handles and does all those things that it does currently. But you know, that will be a challenge. I mean, obviously lightweight is part of that. But there are ways of doing it,” he said.

He added that a shift to electrification could well be a positive thing for keen driving enthusiasts, but cautioned against legislating for one type of green technology over any future developments.

Mazda's 'Vision Study' concept previews what the next-gen MX-5 will look like.

“I think we all understand that EV delivers a pretty exciting driving experience, or it certainly can do. So, I guess that gives you some level of comfort into the future that, as a car enthusiast, it is not the end of cars when you're not allowed to have an internal combustion engine anymore,” Mr Doak said.

“And hopefully there is other technology beyond battery electric - hydrogen, and other things - and we're not legislated out of that thinking, out of that development, because that would be a shame to push it to one direction only and exclude the other things.”

Mr Doak is referring to legislation in regions like Europe and California, and proposed policy positions from minor parties in Australia that push for internal combustion engines to be banned within a certain timeframe - usually the early 2030s.

Companies like Mazda and Toyota believe ICE powertrains can still have a place in a low- and zero-emissions future, through things like rotary and hydrogen.

Despite talk of a new-gen MX-5, the current ND model could have a couple more years to go, with Mazda’s head of product development and engineering in Europe, Joachim Kunz, previously stating that a 10-year lifecycle for a sports car like the MX-5 is not unusual. That means we could see a new one - likely dubbed NE - in 2024.

Mr Kunz told Autocar in April that the MX-5 was an icon of the Mazda brand and that he expected it to live on for some time.

“It’s our brand icon and it is always treated very specially,” he said. “At the moment, it looks like we will have this car forever, with this size and concept and combustion engine. Of course, some day, we will have to electrify it, but we want to keep this pure concept.”

The current MX-5 is powered by a 2.0-litre four-cylinder engine.

Mazda is focusing on mild-hybrid technology for a number of models, including the MX-30 and coming CX-60 SUV, so that could be an option for the next MX-5.

Some reports have suggested it will be a reskin of the current model, which would save Mazda millions of dollars in development costs.

A number of other carmakers have adopted this strategy in recent years in a bid to keep costs down and to ensure they still can offer a sports car in their line-up - think Nissan with its Z, the Toyota GR86 and Subaru BRZ twins, and the Ford Mustang.

Another option is a fully electric MX-5 on a totally new platform. Given Mazda’s slow entry into the EV space, that seems unlikely for the next-gen roadster.

Either way, it is expected to retain its rear-drive dynamics.

The ND MX-5 is now only available with a 2.0-litre naturally aspirated petrol engine delivering 135kW/205Nm, after the 1.5-litre version was dropped. It’s paired with a six-speed manual or auto in convertible and retractable fastback (RF) guise.

Pricing ranges from $37,990 to $51,720 before on-road costs.