Electric Mazda MX-5 hint from patent drawings

The next Mazda MX-5 roadster may be an EV if the latest patent drawings are any indication.

The current ND generation MX-5 is nearing 10 years of age. However, it remains a lightweight sportster in a sea of increasingly heavy electrified offerings. But this might be about to change. Recently, Auto Express discovered patents for a battery-powered MX-5.

The drawings show a battery pack located in the transmission tunnel section. That would be key to maintaining optimal weight distribution. But there are other batteries as well, one ahead of the passenger seat and more behind both seats. Porsche’s forthcoming electric Cayman has a similar set-up.

In the patent filing Mazda says “the gravity center of the vehicle can be close to the center of the vehicle, thereby reducing the yaw moment of inertia.” 

A single electric motor slots in just behind the seats in the middle of the car, powering the rear wheels, it goes without saying. The motor may also slot in behind either seat, to accommodate left- and right-hand drive markets. 

The filings mention both soft and hard tops, much like with the current MX-5. RF features a folding hard top.

The replacement for the current ND-generation MX-5 will arrive later this decade as the NE model. It will likely sport Mazda’s new Skytactiv-Z engine. This mill should debut in the new CX-5 due in 2027. There’s said to be the potential for plug-in hybrid or mild-hybrid assistance. For MX-5, a mild-hybrid set-up would seem the most logical for weight saving reasons. 

Whatever, you can expect the next MX-5 to be electric or ICE powered.