2024 Mazda MX-5 Miata (NE) Spy Shots: Redesigned Roadster Begins Testing

Mazda engineers were spotted testing what appeared to be an early test mule for the redesigned MX-5 Miata.

A test mule is a vehicle that hides new mechanisms inside a makeshift body during the early stages of testing. In this case, the engineers used a modified body from the current Miata.

A clue to the identity of this vehicle is the subtle fender extensions at the rear. There is also camouflage gear on the front, which may conceal a new intake, although nothing is visible at this time. More will probably be known in six months or so when engineers begin testing the first prototypes with actual bodies.

The current Miata, the ND generation, was introduced in 2015 as a 2016 model; the redesigned version, which would be classified as NE, should appear late next year, but its public release could be delayed to 2024. In other words, it will likely appear as a 2024 or 2025 model.

The car should be supported by an updated version of the current Miata platform. Mazda has a new rear-wheel-drive platform on hand, known as the Skyactiv Multi-Solution Scalable Architecture, but the automaker has said the platform will be dedicated to larger vehicles. Its first application was the CX-60 crossover launched outside the U.S. earlier this year

. Mazda has not said much about the upcoming Miata, but has confirmed that it will be electrified in some form. This news does not come as a surprise, as Mazda stated last year that it aims to fully electrify its lineup by 2030.

The good news is that while Mazda confirmed that the Miata will be electrified, it also said that it will work to keep this vehicle lightweight and affordable. This suggests that the redesigned car will likely use a simple mild hybrid system, as opposed to the kind of plug-in hybrid technology that Mazda is adding to its crossover lineup. A mild hybrid system is essentially a starter motor that functions as a generator, recovers energy when braking or coasting, and stores that energy in a small battery to be used for ancillary functions or sometimes to assist the engine under heavy loads.

The rest of the drivetrain setup should include a low-emission four-cylinder engine, rear-wheel drive, and a choice of manual or automatic transmission.

Stay tuned for updates as development progresses.