So the iconic Mazda MX-5 roadster will not become an EV any time soon
Masahiro Moro, the CEO of Mazda has recently announced plans for the brand to debut up to seven or eight electric vehicles (EVs) in its lineup by 2030, and believes these will account for about 25 to 40 percent of its global sales. This naturally struck fear in the hearts of enthusiasts as soon as we heard it.
Why? Well, these plans are certainly less aggressive than the rest of the industry, but is apparently an intentional act that stems from the current uncertainty in demand for EVs. Thankfully, an electric version of the Mazda MX-5 roadster, which is what enthusiasts feared, is not included in these plans.
Moreover, further discussion around Mazda’s EV plans, Moro also said these future models will be developed and sold through the new e-Mazda division and built on a scalable EV platform that the automaker plans to introduce in the coming years with the first of these models launching between 2025 and 2027, with crossovers and SUVs (no surprise there) being the first of theses EVs to be launched.
Moro has also said that future e-crossovers will be sporting ‘more of an SUV look,’ adding that Mazda has the technology to decrease the drag coefficient to extend an EVs range as far as possible on a single charge.
Other key details revealed regarding these new EVs are that they will be powered by either one or two drive motors, with production to initially be based in Japan with North America under consideration from 2028.
On top of that, while exact battery and powertrain specs in these future Mazda EVs have yet to be released, we can expect to see some Toyota badges on multiple components in these cars. Unsurprisingly, this completely candid admission by Moro will save Mazda up to 70 to 80 percent of the total investment costs.
While we know the MX-5 will not go all-electric soon, it is worth highlighting that the next-gen roadster will likely get some electrification tech in the form of a hybrid powertrain. Besides, an EV version will only add unnecessary weight to a car that is known for being lightweight anyway.
So what do you guys think? Would you prefer it if the Mazda MX-5 goes all-electric? I surely wouldn’t as it would end up changing the entire identity of the car and seeing as almost every other petrol-powered car I love has also lost its identity by going electric, I wouldn’t want to see it happen another time.
