Mazda Australia eyes CX‑5 hybrid launch and signals end of gasoline MX‑5

Mazda Australia announced that hybrid power will be offered across the new CX‑5 range, aiming to compete with the best‑selling hybrid‑only Toyota RAV4. The company’s in‑house ‘Mazda Hybrid’ system, slated for a 2027 debut, will pair a new petrol engine with a direct‑drive layout and could appear in every CX‑5 grade, though exact timing will follow the U.S. hybrid rollout.

In the same briefing, Mazda hinted that the upcoming fifth‑generation MX‑5 may be the last model equipped with a conventional internal‑combustion engine. The sixth‑generation MX‑5, not expected before 2035, could be fully electric as emissions regulations tighten. Design chief Masashi Nakayama stressed continued focus on low weight, while the brand explores mild‑hybrid support for the current MX‑5 and assesses an electric version for the future.