Mazda Miata Hybrid Electric Ibuki

by Kellen Schefter

10/01/2007

With Miata production now past the 700,000 mark, there’s no questioning this sports car’s position as the world’s best-selling two-seat roadster. But what’s next? Maybe what you see here. To preview the all-important redesign of its third-generation Miata, Mazda offers its Ibuki concept, complete with hybrid electric powertrain.

The Miata never has left a large physical or environmental footprint, but that hasn’t stopped Mazda from projecting an even cleaner future for its little sports car. The Ibuki – its name coined from a Japanese word that means “to invigorate” – integrates a hybrid system that mates a 1.6-liter four-cylinder engine to an electric motor and a six-speed manual transmission.

The hybrid setup eliminates idle time by shutting the car’s internal combustion engine down when stationary, not only saving fuel and reducing emissions but also electrically assisting acceleration once the car needs to get moving again.

The virtues of lightweight materials are seen in both vehicle performance and efficiency, and the Ibuki aims to reap both rewards. The fenders, hood, rear floor panel, and door outer panels are all made of lightweight reinforced plastic, while the driveshaft and engine frame are constructed of carbon fiber. The car’s 18-inch magnesium alloy wheels house aluminum brake discs. All contribute to a lower weight that works to ensure responsive handling and less load on the engine.

This Mazda roadster’s rigid frame, which mounts the engine far behind the front axle line for better handling, is wrapped in a rounded body that evokes the first Miata. However, a flat, chiseled upper surface, an unframed windshield, and a unique headlight/taillight treatment give the Ibuki its own distinct style. Featuring a longer wheelbase than the current Miata but an overall length 12.4 inches shorter, the wheels have been pushed to the extreme outer corners of the car in a stance that reveals its true sporting intentions.

Mazda’s Miata reinvented the sports car with its introduction in 1989, and now it appears Mazda may well be poised to do it again. This time, as the Ibuki concept indicates, hybrid technology could have a place in the future definition of this beloved sports car

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