Mazda CEO confirmed an electric MX-5 is being prepared

More fuel has been added to speculation that the next-generation Mazda MX-5 will be offered with both an internal combustion engine and full electrification. 

In an interview with German outlet Auto Motor und Sport, Mazda CEO Masahiro Moro said the Japanese brand is preparing the next-generation MX-5’s platform for full electrification.

“The [MX-5] successor must also be ready for a scenario without a combustion engine. The challenge for us is to make the basic structure lighter without using exotic materials like carbon-fibre,” he said. 

While this might read like a concession to sports car diehards, Moro-san assured the publication that Mazda is still aiming to make the next MX-5 as light as possible – saying the brand is aiming for a total weight of “just under 1000kg and 1200kg”. 

It has been tipped that the next-gen MX-5 will still be available with some kind of internal combustion engine, with speculation still pointing to Mazda’s new 2.5-litre Skyactiv-Z four-cylinder petrol engine as the most likely candidate, with some hybrid hardware attached.

The current ND-series MX-5 is one of the oldest models still on sale globally, having been launched all the way back in 2015. Over its 11-year period on sale, it has received limited updates – testament perhaps to its customer base's craving for traditional thrills. 

It is apparent that Mazda has grappled with the concept of electrifying the MX-5 formula for quite some time. 

In an early 2025 interview with Road & Track, Mazda chief technical officer Ryuichi Umeshita spoke about the expectation that the next MX-5 would retain a combustion engine. 

But even then, he noted that the brand might not have a choice but to go all-electric.

“If all internal combustion engines were banned, then we would have no choice, and of course our engineering team is studying both ways – battery EV and ICE [internal combustion-engined] Miata. But whatever we do, the ICE one is lighter,” he said.

More recently, Mazda Australia managing director Vinesh Bhindi told CarExpert the current MX-5 could be the last with a petrol engine – seemingly swerving the notion of a two-powertrain lineup entirely. 

"One of the executives who visited us early in the year said 'yes, there will be a new one. When? We can't comment’. He also hinted at it possibly being the last ICE version,” he said.

MORE: Explore the Mazda MX-5 showroom