Crossing breeds : GT86 and MX-5

[edo111s]

Interesting article, esp the economics

https://www.forbes.com/sites/peterlyon/2025/09/28/...

I am tempted to use some AI to create a picture of the baby

[wong]

As the platform will have to accommodate the 2+2 seating in the 86, the next MX5 will have a longer wheelbase so taller drivers will actually be able to fit.

[otolith]

MX-5 at risk of obesity.

[Sporky]

otolith said:

MX-5 at risk of obesity.

Isn't the GR86 pretty light?

[otolith]

Sporky said:

Isn't the GR86 pretty light?

Relatively. About 30% heavier than an MX-5.

[Sporky]

Ah, fair enough. I'd not realised it was that much more.

I wonder how much is due to the boxer.

[ZesPak]

Sporky said:

Ah, fair enough. I'd not realised it was that much more.

I wonder how much is due to the boxer.

It's just a much bigger car.
A 2+2 rather than a roadster.


The engine and bigger driveshaft and differential will definitely add to that, as it's a 2.4L rather than a 2L.
It's not that far off a Ford Fiesta, considering the RWD and bigger engine.

[S600BSB]

otolith said:

MX-5 at risk of obesity.

Indeed. Not keen..

[skeeterm5]

I think it would be a terrible idea.

But just for fun I asked my AI friend to imagine what it could look like and it came up with this, which isn’t bad looking at all.

[PushedDover]

surely the MX5 sells happily and well enough, wheara a GT86 doesn't.

Do we honestly think the MX5 bcomes more GT86?? or Toyota needs something more MX5 (i.e. back where MR2 customers were)

If the ND were the last of the pure MX5, a great place to put money imho

[ZesPak]

PushedDover said:

surely the MX5 sells happily and well enough, wheara a GT86 doesn't

The MX5 is a problem in that aspect for Mazda.

In the EU, your penalties for emissions are based on the average emissions of the cars you sell.
Mazda sells way too many MX5's relatively for that. It's the reason they've stopped selling the 2L car there, as its nature (NA) makes it relatively high emissions.

In that way Mazda is more a sports car brand than for example BMW.

I did get an MX5 for this reason, it might be the last "pure" one.
But I would love to see Mazda try and make a BEV MX5. I think the market and tech are ripe. There's 1.2 million NDs produced already, plenty to get for decades to come. I'd hate for the MX5 to become a hybrid or, as above, some sort of Frankenstein committee designed thing.
Develop an EV with some key aspects:

1. Lightweight first
2. Roadster
3. RWD
4. 50:50 balance

The lightweight will be a challenge, but people with a welder have already shown that a BEV MX5 doesn't have to be heavier than the ICE one.