Will Mazda Fans See Turbocharged or MPS MX-5 Miata Options?

If you’re one of the many lukewarm fans of Mazda’s roadster who like its appearance but wish there was more buxom under the hood, you may be in luck.

In a recent interview, Mazda‘s head of global public relations, Kudo Hidetoshi, indicated that larger displacement and turbocharged engines were under consideration for the next generation Miata. However, that means it’s unlikely we’ll see Turbocharged or MPS MX-5 versions for another 10 years.

Rumors of Turbocharged or MPS MX-5 Miata Circulating

In Hidetoshi’s interview with Motoring, he said of this fourth generation MX-5, “We will have this ND-series model for maybe ten years, which gives us plenty of time to make many variants–And yes, a turbocharged or MPS variant is one of the options we will definitely consider.”

We’re more likely to see a turbocharged engine than a 2.5-liter machine, as Mazda’s top priority is keeping the MX-5 lightweight (as it shed 50 lbs on its latest edition). “[Generally speaking] turbocharging is preferable, even to a V6 now,” Hidetoshi told Motoring.  “We can use a lighter engine with the same or more power, and achieve [the] emissions and fuel consumption we need.”

Perhaps Mazda’s interest in turbocharging is tepid because of the results of the Mazdaspeed version of the MX-5 ten years ago. Doubling the output of the Miata would likely double its price and take the model in a different direction–away from its target audience.

We recently received confirmation on the 2016 MX-5’s engine specs, all comparable to previous model years’. The redesigned roadster will be able to achieve 155 horsepower and 148 lb-ft of torque on its 2.0-liter four-cylinder SKYACTIV-G engine–slightly less horsepower and more torque than the current 2015 MX-5. The 1.5-liter engine will reach 110 lb-ft of torque and 130 horsepower, less than the current model’s due to the MX-5’s weight loss. Those numbers are undoubtedly leaving fans craving more.

News Source: Motoring