New Mazda MX-5 could become a tax luxury in Portugal

The next-generation Mazda MX-5 will stay true to the formula that has made it one of the world’s most loved roadsters: compact dimensions, low weight, and a naturally aspirated engine paired with a manual gearbox.

All good news, then? Not quite. Although enthusiasts have plenty to celebrate, buyers in Portugal have reason to worry. The issue is not emissions, but the country’s tax system.

It appears that the new NE-generation Mazda MX-5, which will replace the ND generation introduced in 2015, will receive a “mega engine” with the largest displacement ever fitted to this model.

Downsizing? Mazda engineers are not laughing…

At a time when manufacturers are rushing towards electrification - some more eagerly than others - and even combustion engines tend to survive only through turbochargers, electric assistance or networks of sensors governing power delivery, Mazda is once again going against the tide.

Ryuichi Umeshita, the manufacturer’s technical director, has confirmed that the forthcoming MX-5 will do without a turbocharger and use a new naturally aspirated 2.5-litre engine. Its name? Skyactiv-Z - here are the first details of this engine.

According to Umeshita, “the power will be very good and fuel economy will be good too”. The supporting technology is a new lambda (λ) combustion process, calibrated to keep fuel consumption in check while meeting future Euro 7 regulations.

This engine promises performance without complexity and with low fuel consumption… except in Portugal. We will return to that shortly, as another significant issue needs explaining first.

Light, light, light

The engine may have grown, but the weight will remain restrained. This is one of the stated objectives of Masashi Nakayama, general manager of Mazda’s design division. The Japanese manufacturer intends to keep the roadster below four metres in length and at around one tonne in weight.

The next generation will remain committed to these principles. That also means cabin space will continue to be limited. Lightness and agility remain the priority, rather than practicality. We can live with that.

Portugal, where engine displacement costs more than pollution

Portuguese buyers face a problem. Portugal’s car taxation system still favours outdated criteria - for instance, the most environmentally friendly Renault Clio sold in Portugal pays 10 times more tax than the petrol version.

Engine displacement is entirely to blame. Consequently, while the new MX-5 may retain competitive positioning in other markets, its 2.5-litre capacity will make it an even more niche car in Portugal.

It is the same tax logic that penalised the Toyota GR86, Gazoo Racing’s most affordable model. In Portugal, its price was comparable with that of the GR Yaris, simply because its 2.4-litre engine attracted far more tax than the 1.6-litre three-cylinder unit. The result was clear: the GR86 had a very limited commercial run in the country.

Portugal’s hope for the Mazda MX-5

Mazda acknowledges that it is considering a fully electric MX-5, but weight remains an almost insurmountable obstacle. Moreover, an electric powertrain is not exactly what most customers want from a model of this kind.

There is a third possibility. A mild-hybrid Mazda MX-5, with a smaller engine assisted by an electrical system, has not been ruled out. However, any system going further than that currently seems unlikely. The company wants the Miata to remain light, simple and true to itself.

Is the wait still long?

Mazda says the first model powered by the new Skyactiv-Z will not arrive until 2027, beneath the bonnet of an SUV - probably the successor to the CX-5. The MX-5 should follow shortly afterwards, meaning the current ND3 generation still has several years on the road ahead.

Until then, all we can do is wait. And keep our fingers crossed that Portugal does not turn another motoring icon into a fiscally unaffordable luxury. The car that democratised roadsters may be about to become even more expensive.