WHEN the curtain fell on Mazda’s presentation for its Mid-Time period Administration Plan Replace, a glossy, long-nosed hardtop coupe with upwards-hinged doorways broke onto the display.
Although clearly computer-generated, its presence in Mazda’s electrification hype reel shortly bought tongues wagging – was this our first glimpse at Mazda’s subsequent efficiency automotive? Mazda’s official “Imaginative and prescient Examine” title for the thriller mannequin offers no clues.
Some retailers theorised that this automotive represented a extra developed model of Mazda’s seductive RX-Imaginative and prescient idea from 2015, pointing to its hardtop bodystyle, door apertures and the form of its rear hatch glass as being callbacks to Mazda’s final rotary-powered two-seater, the FD RX-7.
Others speculated that the Imaginative and prescient Examine is the truth is the next-generation MX-5, linking the form of the windscreen body, its boat-tailed rear finish, delicate boot lip spoiler and the superimposed circles of its tail gentle graphic to established MX-5 design cues.
It seems that the latter camp is true. Type of.
Talking with GoAuto at a preview occasion for the Mazda CX-60 in Melbourne, firm director and senior managing government officer Yasuhiro Aoyama lifted the lid on the enigmatic white coupe within the presentation’s finish video.
Requested merely what he considered the world’s response to the idea automotive, Aoyama instantly linked it to the MX-5.
“We undoubtedly want to contemplate the continuation of the MX-5 even below the environmental electrification and an eventual shift to an EV someday sooner or later,” Mr Aoyama mentioned.
“And so far as the eagerness for sportscars, we proceed to contemplate how we will arrange the suitable sportscar fashions in our future line-up to answer to the expectations of our passionate followers.
“Now we have plenty of research for what needs to be the longer term MX-5, and all are supported by the eagerness of the previous, nearly, 35 years,” he continued.
Whereas followers hoping for an RX-7 redux could also be disenchanted, the message was clear – it doesn’t matter what the longer term seems to be like, Mazda needs to make sure that the MX-5 will likely be part of it.
“It offers us some form of alternative for the longer term, so we will view the potential improvement of our electrical autos,” Mr Aoyama elaborated.
“It’s to offer our stakeholders some form of expectation for the longer term … It’s solely an instance of how we would leverage our EV devoted platform sooner or later. It doesn’t essentially imply that it represents a future product.”
So there we now have it, straight from the horse’s mouth: The Imaginative and prescient Examine is certainly an all-electric MX-5, however undoubtedly not a sign of manufacturing intent; the MX-5 isn’t going electrical, no less than not for the foreseeable.
But when that’s the case, what’s sooner or later for Mazda’s iconic roadster? The present ND technology MX-5 launched in 2015, and whereas seven years would make it a pensioner within the passenger automotive or SUV world, sportscar generations are inclined to stretch for much longer.
No alternative for the ND MX-5 has been introduced up to now, nonetheless there are rumblings of a brand new supercharged powerplant for Mazda’s rear-drive sportscar and sightings of a chopped-up take a look at mule that implies subtly stretched dimensions for no matter is coming subsequent.
A brand new inside can also be allegedly within the planner, however whether or not these modifications would arrive as a full-model changeover or just type a part of an intensive facelift has but to be confirmed.
Nissan’s execution of its new Z sportscar has demonstrated that utilizing previous structure (it shares vital under-the-skin similarities to the 370Z) with a brand new engine, inside and exterior styling may end up in a automotive that feels nearly totally totally different whereas limiting capital funding in a distinct segment product line, nevertheless it stays to be seen whether or not Mazda will deploy an analogous technique with its personal two-door enjoyable machine.
