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Mazda could electrify the next Miata, is trying to figure out how

The next Mazda Miata is at the embryonic stage of development. The men and women in charge of the project are debating whether to electrify the roadster, or if it's better to keep it true to its roots. The Miata is not a high-volume model in any market, so it doesn't need a plug to help Mazda comply with looming emissions regulations. The company explained it's not a matter of compliance; it's about how the definition of a sports car and the expectations of motorists could change in the 2020s. "The preferences of people who enjoy driving sports cars might be changing, so we need to think about what direction society is going in. We want to look at the best powertrain to keep the vehicle lightweight, but because of the diversifying requirements and preferences, we need to explore various options," Ikuo Maeda, Mazda's global design director, in an interview with Autocar. Adding any degree of electrification to the Miata beyond a relatively basic mild-hybrid system is easier said than done. An unusually low weight and a compact footprint defined the original model introduced in 1989, and these attributes continue to characterize the fourth-generation car (pictured) sold in 2019. Electrification requires batteries, batteries add weight and require space, and Mazda doesn't want to end up with a 3,000-pound Miata, or one that's the size of a Mercedes-Benz S-Class Convertible. Keeping its chassis balanced is a delicate task, too. Overcoming this challenge is not impossible, however, and batteries are expected to become lighter and smaller during the 2020s. The next-generation Miata isn't expected out until the middle of the 2020s, so Mazda has time to figure out whether it should go hybrid, arrive as an electric car, or carry on with a rev-happy, naturally-aspirated four-cylinder engine. Maeda stressed a final decision on the matter hasn't been made yet. "I don't have the answer right now, but we need to make a vehicle that people can own without worrying that they are not being eco-friendly," he concluded.

Junkyard Gem: 1990 Mazda 929 S

In the late 1980s, Toyota, Nissan, and Honda were cleaning up in the American market with the Cressida, Maxima, and Legend, respectively. Mazda wanted some of those dollars, so the HC-series Mazda Luce was modified for the US market and sold here as the 929. It had rear-wheel drive, a powerful V6 engine, and lots of luxury features, but not many were sold. Here's a rare '90 that I spotted in a San Francisco Bay Area self-service yard. In 1990, the sporty 929S version got 190 horsepower from its DOHC 3.0-liter V6. Unfortunately for Mazda, American buyers associated the marque with sensible econoboxes and screaming rotary engines, not luxury machinery, at the time. For the 1990 model year, American-market cars were required to have either a driver's-side airbag or automatic seat belts. The 929 had the automatic belts, the less said about the better. The Luce-based 929 became the Sentia-based 929 for the 1992 model year. Meanwhile, the new luxury brands from Honda, Nissan, and Toyota were kicking the crap out of 929 sales; Mazda had planned to launch the Amati brand in the United States, but didn't have the resources to follow through. The last 929s were sold in the United States for the 1995 model year. Related Video: Featured Gallery Junked 1990 Mazda 929 S View 16 Photos Auto News Mazda

Mazda previews new CX-9 ahead of LA debut

Mazda will unveil its new CX-9 crossover at the upcoming Los Angeles Auto Show. The teaser rendering above gives us an idea of what to expect. The CX-9 was launched nine years ago. And though it's undergone a series of updates along the way, it's due for replacement. Fortunately that's just what Mazda has in store. We saw that much ourselves in spy photos and videos of the upcoming new model undergoing testing, and the company whet our appetites with the reveal of the Koeru concept at the Frankfurt Motor Show just a couple of months ago. Judging by the rendering above, it would appear that the new CX-9 will draw heavily from that design study in its production form. Naturally some details will be changed along the road from show stand to showroom, including the usual suspects like the wheel size and wing mirrors. Most notable, however, is that while the Koeru concept incorporated five seats, the CX-9 is a seven-seater – and the new model is confirmed to keep that three-row setup. Beyond that, the new CX-9 is set to apply the latest evolution of the company's Kodo design language – as seen on the aforementioned Koeru and sleek RX-Vision concepts – to a larger form. It also promises to feature Mazda's latest Skyactiv technologies to keep it up with the times. For more than that, however, we'll have to wait – but not too long, as the vehicle is set to debut mere weeks from now at the LA show. Mazda to Unveil All-New CX-9 Three-Row Midsize Crossover SUV at Los Angeles Auto Show HIROSHIMA, Japan, Nov. 4, 2015 /PRNewswire/ -- Mazda Motor Corporation announced today it will premiere the all-new Mazda CX-9 three-row midsize crossover SUV at the 2015 Los Angeles Auto Show, which runs from November 20 to 29. Fully incorporating the latest SKYACTIV technologies and KODO—Soul of Motion design, the all-new CX-9 is a high-end model of Mazda's new-generation lineup. The all-new CX-9 builds on the feeling of life imbued by KODO and moves toward a more premium design execution that befits a three-row midsize crossover SUV.