We’re still about two years away from the introduction of the next Mazda MX-5 Miata, which means it’s about time to crank up the rumor machine. We know for a fact that Mazda will build the next Alfa Romeo Spider on the MX-5’s platform, under contract to Fiat. We also know (or strongly suspect, based on information from Mazda) that the next MX-5 will have a target weight of just 1,000 kilograms, or 2,200 pounds. That puts it in the ballpark of the original 1989 version, which was significantly smaller than today’s MX-5. Expect the next car to be downsized as well, probably close to the dimensions of the original.
Now, WhatCar (via Left Lane News) is reporting that the next MX-5 will have a level of personalization on par with the MINI Cooper, in order to “help a customer’s relationship with the car,” in the words of Mazda designer Akira Tamatani. Thrust will reportedly come from a 1.3-liter turbocharged four-cylinder, expected to produce around 200 horsepower. There are no torque figures to speculate on just yet, but we certainly hope that the small-displacement, forced-induction engine will match (or beat) today’s 140 pound-feet of torque.
If you think the next Mazda MX-5 is going soft, don’t despair: word is that a stripped-down super-light version, aimed at autocrossers and track-day junkies, is also in the works.
Also, don’t forget that you can get discounted new car pricing with a free quote through qualified local dealer partners.
Kurt Ernst has been passionate about automobiles and driving nearly his entire life. His early years were shaped working in the family service station, though his real passion was auto racing. After graduating from the University of Colorado, Kurt spent a year club racing with the Sports Car Club of America, before focusing on a business career in marketing and project management. Later, his passion for writing and the automotive hobby found him freelancing for a variety of automotive news sites, including Automotive Addicts and Motor Authority, where his work was syndicated and appeared in several national publications. Recognized as an expert in the automotive field, Kurt joined Hemmings Motor News as an Associate Editor in 2013, and in the years since has progressed to Editor, Hemmings Daily; Managing Editor for Hemmings Motor News, Hemmings Classic Car, Hemmings Muscle Machines, and the Hemmings Daily; and now, Managing Editor, Hemmings Auctions. Kurt was instrumental in organizing the Hemmings Motor News Concours d’Elegance from 2013-2019, and has served as a judge at this event and The Vintage Racing Stable Concours d’Elegance. A Skip Barber Racing School graduate and prolific writer, Ernst is also skilled in copyediting, project management, brand development, and public relations.
