Today, in the automotive industry's grand scheme of crossover, SUV, and truck things, there is so little space for affordable sports cars that every model still surviving should be cherished and protected. Including the iconic Mazda MX-5 Miata roadster and RF coupe, frankly.
Right now, if you want to purchase a Miata in the United States, the choice is simple – the 2023 model year starts at $28,050 for the roadster and $35,750 for the RF model with a retractable hardtop. Naturally, the little thing of sports car glory still has a few rivals – like the 2023 Subaru BRZ and Toyota GR86 twins, which kick off at $28,595 and $27,700, respectively.
The latter have the advantage (or disadvantage, depending on your POV) of only being available with a fixed roof, and Toyota just made the 2024 GR86 twice enticing if you're an Initial D fan with the Trueno Edition that harks back to the 1980s AE86 models – in black and white, of course. Anyway, it seems like the Mazda MX-5 Miata needs a little bit of fresh blood to remain hyped among the shrinking base of little and affordable sports car fans.
Well, no worries, according to the rumor mill. The Halo oto channel on YouTube provides fresh automotive info that is corroborated with their virtual designs, and now there is a CGI take on the next MX-5 Miata iteration. The host explains how they caught whispers from a local Japanese automotive magazine speaking of an upcoming debut of the 2024 Mazda MX-5 Miata. Alas, unlike the 2023 model year, this changeover will arrive with ample novelties.
There is just one problem – though. Although the rumor speaks of the release date – around November this year – for the 2024 model year Mazda MX-5 Miata, there is still no word on whether the Japanese automaker will only update the iconic roadster based on the current, fourth-generation ND underpinnings or if the company has invested heavily and will come out with an all-new fifth iteration.
As such, the channel's pixel master had to do it and worked overtime to provide not one but two unofficial visions of the 2024 Mazda MX-5 Miata – first with a thorough redesign and secondly as an all-new model. Naturally, the CGI facelift is based on the look and feel of the ND version and only updated a few bits and pieces to make it a tad more relevant in its intended markets.
As for the digital all-new generation, it logically draws numerous parallels with the coolest Mazda concepts of late – namely, the RX-Vision rotary sports car concept from 2015 and last year's untitled sports car idea that was mysteriously teased in CGI form during an investor presentation with (modern) pop-up headlights and a styling drawing from both the MX and RX series of sports cars. So, which one is your favorite – and in what color?
Aurel has aimed high all his life (literally, at 16 he was flying gliders all by himself) so in 2006 he switched careers and got hired as a writer at his favorite magazine. Since then, his work has been published both by print and online outlets, most recently right here, on autoevolution. Full profile
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