Next-Gen Miata Expected With New Skyactiv-Z Engine
Next-Gen Miata Engine & Performance at a Glance
- A new Mazda Skyactiv-Z engine is expected to power the next MX-5 Miata.
- Mazda intends to offer electrified powertrain solutions across its lineup by 2030, which means the next Miata may also be available with a gas-electric hybrid engine.
- The fifth-gen MX-5 Miata powered by Skyactiv-Z technology has been rumored to arrive by 2027 or 2028, but Mazda has been mum on the NE Miata release date thus far.
- The Skyactiv-Z Miata engine should be similarly sized to the current car’s 2.0-liter Skyactiv-G to keep weight down.
The next-generation Mazda MX-5 Miata roadster is just around the bend, and with its upcoming arrival should come an advanced new powertrain, too. Mazda recently announced its development of a new generation of cleaner, more efficient four-cylinder engines called Skyactiv-Z.
This new engine technology is scheduled to arrive around the same time as the fifth-generation Miata (nicknamed the NE Miata for now), before the turn of the decade.
Here’s our early look at the next MX-5 Miata roadster and the advanced new Mazda engine technology that will propel it.
Skyactiv-Z: Next-Gen Mazda Four-Cylinder Engine to Power the New Miata
What is Skyactiv-Z, and how is it an improvement over the already stellar Skyactiv-G engine powering the MX-5 Miata and other Mazda models?
It’s all about improving efficiency and performance while reducing emissions in the new era of motoring and electrification.
Mazda says its new Skyactiv-Z inline-four engines will “achieve high thermal efficiency by realizing super lean burn combustion over a wide range from low to high rpm, to provide excellent environmental performance and driving performance.”
This will be made possible by the Skyactiv-Z running on the lambda one combustion method, where the air-fuel mixture is precisely balanced and all fuel is burned. The result is efficiency optimization and minimizing the release of harmful airborne pollutants.
Our bet is that the next MX-5 Miata engine will follow the NC and ND models with a displacement of 2.0 liters but with even more power, even better fuel economy, and even lower emissions, thanks to this new Mazda engine tech, Skyactiv-Z.
Even more performance and efficiency might come from an electrified edition of the new Skyactiv-Z engine platform in the form of a Miata hybrid, whether that be a mild or conventional setup.
Mazda has stated that the new Skyactiv-Z technology will first power its next generation of four-cylinder engines. But it said the learnings during development could also be applied to its inline-six turbo engines found in premium midsize models like the Mazda CX-70 and CX-90.
We anticipate the automaker’s current Skyactiv-G four-cylinder 2.0-liter and 2.5-liter engines will both be replaced by powertrains of the same displacement but running on the new Skyactiv-Z lambda one combustion method. A smaller
Will the Next Miata Offer More Power & Performance?
While many MX-5 Miata motorists (including ourselves) would appreciate the added power and performance of a 2.5-liter Skyactiv-Z (or even a turbocharged variant!) under the hood of the next Mazda roadster, we suspect the 2.5-liter engine will once again be reserved for larger models like the next Mazda CX-5.
Any power gains in the next Miata generation will likely come from advancements discovered during the Skyactiv-Z engine development or mild electrification. However, we hope we’re wrong and Mazda treats us all to a high-output Miata option.
Who knows, following the recent creation of the Mazda Spirit Racing division, perhaps a high-performance variant of the next MX-5 Miata model is planned.
For more on Mazda’s next-generation roadster, you can see our additional coverage of the MX-5 Miata NE model.