Saving the Formula
The current Mazda MX-5 Miata (ND) has been on the market for more than a decade, making discussion about its next-generation successor almost inevitable. At the same time, the broader auto industry’s push toward sustainability means some level of electrification is widely expected for the upcoming model. However, Mazda suggests there may be another path. Instead of going fully electric or adopting a hybrid setup, the automaker argues that using sustainable fuels could be the better solution.
Mazda Motor Europe Director of Research & Operations Christian Schultze said in an interview with AutoRAI.nl that synthetic fuel would allow the MX-5 to retain the qualities that define it today, including its light weight and balanced handling. Because this approach would require fewer structural changes than adding a battery pack, it would help preserve the model’s core character, which could otherwise be affected by the added mass of electrification.
Sebastian Cenizo/Autoblog
A Different Kind of Green
Schultze said, “For a model like the MX-5, which relies so heavily on lightness, balance, and mechanical purity, that (the use of synthetic fuel) is a very logical route. The moment you go fully electric, you fundamentally change the architecture of the car.”
He added, “That’s why I say, when it comes to the most direct and technically least drastic way to become more sustainable, synthetic fuels are the most obvious solution.”
Now, as fitting as synthetic fuel may be to the overall character of the MX-5 Miata, turning that idea into reality is easier said than done. Producing synthetic fuel remains expensive — something Porsche, which backs an e-fuel program in Chile, is well aware of. Mazda itself has also invested in the technology and has even raced an MX-5 Miata on synthetic fuel in Japan’s ENEOS Super Taikyu Series.
Cole Attisha
Racing Toward Alternatives
Policy support could help offset some of those costs. However, much of the regulatory momentum in recent years has favored battery-electric vehicles, an area Mazda has approached cautiously.
Mazda isn’t ruling out electrification altogether. In fact, the company even painted a picture of “driving through the woods” without engine noise when the top is down. Mild electrification is also being considered, ideally combined with carbon-neutral fuel, according to Schultze.
However, Schultze noted that Mazda will ultimately move in the direction policies and regulations permit. While some reports suggest the company could collaborate with Toyota on the next-generation MX-5 Miata, nothing concrete has been officially confirmed.
Sebastian Cenizo/Autoblog
