Next-Gen Mazda MX-5 To Weigh Less Than A Ton

The fifth-generation MX-5 is probably still a few years away, but that’s not stopping Mazda from talking about the direction in which this iconic roadster will develop.

Speaking to Australia’s GoAuto, Mazda’s chief global sales and marketing officer, Manabu Osuga, mentioned the magic number:

– I can tell you that we are sticking to the goal, a car that will weigh less than a ton…

Weighing in at less than 1,000 kilograms, the next MX-5 would follow in the footsteps of the current entry-level model with a 1.5-liter engine. Osuga was referring to a soft-top model, as a potential future variant with an electrically folding hardtop would inevitably add weight. Mazda knows how crucial low weight is to the Miata and its driving characteristics and is ruling out electrification, at least for now.

Mazda has also confirmed that it will retain the six-speed manual transmission, a key factor in the success of this model in the new times.

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