The
is a living legend among sports cars. Over four generations, it has carved out a niche as a fun, reliable, and affordable option for anyone looking for the classic feel of an open-roof performance vehicle. The model’s popularity contributes to its massive aftermarket support that lets owners customize the machine into anything from a weekend canyon carver to a full-on race car.
Mazda introduced the Miata in the United States for the 1990 model year, and it was a hit. The compact roadster had styling that evoked the 1960s
. At launch, the engine was a 1.6-liter four-cylinder making a modest 116 horsepower and 100 pound-feet of torque. The company updated the 1994 model to use a 1.8-liter engine with an increased output of 128 horses and 110 pound-feet of torque.
Tuners have ensured that Miata owners have plenty of options for giving their cars even more power. The choices run the gamut from turbocharger kits to V-8 engine swaps. Now, a company in England is introducing an electric powertrain conversion.
Electrogenic Turns The First-Gen Miata Into An EV
Electrogenic is already quite experienced with converting classic vehicles into EVs, including the Land Rover Defender and Jaguar E-Type. The company now turns its attention to the first-gen (known by fans by the NA designation) Miata.
The heart of the conversion is an electric motor making 160 horsepower and 229 pound-feet of torque. It uses a single-speed, fixed-ratio gearbox. Since there’s no longer a need for an engine under the hood, Electrogenic fills this space with batteries, and there are more of them replacing the fuel tank. The total capacity is 42 kilowatt-hours, and the layout doesn’t affect the car’s already limited trunk space. Electrogenic places the batteries low to retain the Miata’s center of gravity.
The electric-converted Miata can hit 60 miles per hour in about six seconds, according to Electrogenic. For comparison, Car and Driver’s testing from the period showed the 1.6-liter model hitting 60 mph in 9.2 seconds and the 1.8-liter version requiring 8.8 seconds to reach that speed.
Electric Tech
The company claims that the real-world driving range is over 150 miles. Recharging takes about an hour. Electrogenic bespoke powertrain software lets drivers select from driving modes like Eco and Sport. The latter setting increases throttle response and makes the re-gen more aggressive.
The conversion adds about 221 pounds to the Miata over the original setup. This brings the car’s total weight to around 2,425 pounds, which is still svelte by modern vehicle standards. Plus, the conversion doesn’t require any drilling or cutting, which means customers can convert their Miatas back to the original powertrain.
No pricing for the EV conversion is available yet.
“We don’t have a confirmed price for the kit as yet, and the cost will ultimately vary depending on which installer partner a customer chooses to use,” an Electrogenic spokesperson told TopSpeed.
The company has American partners in California, Texas, New Jersey, and Massachusetts that can perform the conversion for customers in the U.S. It only takes a few days for these shops to swap out the original powertrain for the EV components.
TopSpeed’s Take
EV conversions of classic cars can be controversial because the original model’s powertrain is often one of its defining features. Still, more power, better acceleration, and being reversible make this offering intriguing. The price of the conversion will be a factor in whether this offering will be a success.
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