MX-5 hybrid or EV possible - Motoring
The retiring chief of the MX-5 roadster development program has admitted the iconic roadster could become a hybrid or electric vehicle in the future as emissions regulations tighten, but only if it was still able to deliver fun and pleasure to... "This car is all about fun to drive and having the pleasure of driving," he said via an interpreter during the recent Australian launch of the latest ND MX-5. "Given that is the meaning of its existence then if we are applying a hybrid system or... Yamamoto cited the weight of current alternate propulsion systems, reliability and "performance feel" as turn-offs for MX-5. "If you look at today's [electric] motors I don't think you can get great performance that you want to get with this car. "If you look around the technologies of current hybrid system or today's electric system we cannot find a proper system to match this car, so given that I don't think it's a good idea for now. "MX-5 has such importance and value because so many people if MX-5 disappears from earth then those people maybe get into trouble [Ed: are upset]," he added. Yamamoto confirmed he had sampled high-powered Tesla EVs, but was not convinced electric power would work for the MX-5. "It [Tesla] is kind of totally different from the rest of the electric cars I can tell. Source: www.motoring.com.au
