Mazda Promises the Next Miata Will Weigh Less Than One (Metric) Ton

Rejoice, fans of lightweight roadsters, as the NE-gen Miata should maintain the featherweight status of the current car—all while featuring its largest-displacement motor yet.

In an age of 9,000-pound trucks and 5,300-pound "compact" wagons, the current Mazda MX-5 Miata is a breath of fresh air. Weighing in at barely over one metric ton (2,204 pounds) in its purest, 1.5-liter-engined form, the little roadster debuted its ND generation a full decade ago, meaning a replacement is expected any day now. While he wasn't about to spill the beans on the NE model quite yet, Mazda's general manager of global sales and marketing, Manabu Osuga did confirm to GoAuto that the next Miata won't be gaining much weight.

"I can tell you that we are sticking with (the design for) a car that will be under one tonne of weight," Osuga said, "employing our ‘gram strategy’ as we did with the current series." He acknowledged that the one-two punch of global emissions as well as safety standards are the main hurdles. Not only is a high-revving, naturally aspirated engine (with a manual transmission) a self-imposed challenge, but so are the tiny dimensions. And yet, as many who have experienced an ND Miata would argue, those are all integral ingredients in the MX-5 experience.

The "gram strategy" Osuga references is a long-held Miata development process of shaving weight from any and all components. A few grams here, a couple more there—it all adds up, or rather subtracts.

Note that it's unlikely any North American-market NE-generation car would ever hit such a light weight. As mentioned, the current car only approaches that figure with the 1.5-liter engine, which has never arrived on our shores. The 2.0-liter, which has already disappeared from some markets due to emissions regulations, adds roughly 150 pounds to the ND, though it still remains one of the lightest new cars you can buy.

Mazda will be pinning its hopes on its upcoming SkyActiv Z lineup of engines, which will run its Spark Controlled Combustion Ignition system to meet incoming regulations. The four-cylinder will displace 2.5 liters, making this the largest engine to ever slot into the Miata.

Way back in 2021, Mazda said the next generation of Miata would be electrified. Osuga cites weight as the main issue there, suggesting the plan has changed, but that hasn't stopped the Japanese automaker from exploring how it could make a (relatively) lightweight EV roadster.

Whatever form the NE-generation Miata takes, we suspect we'll see it sometime next year, which is when the SkyActiv Z powerplants are expected to debut.

Become an AutoGuide insider. Get the latest from the automotive world first by subscribing to our newsletter here.