Mazda rules out MX-5 MPS, but not RX-7 successor

Mazda insists it has no plans to make a quicker, more powerful version of the new, fourth-generation MX-5.

The announcement was made by chief engineer Nobuhiro Yamamoto in multiple interviews at last week's Goodwood Festival of Speed.

“If a driver would like more [performance than the 2.0-litre], then I would invite him to drive a different car,” Yamamoto-san told motoring.com.au.

"It's important not to get hung up on numbers, not on power or torque. No, what is more important is the feeling. The driving experience and feeling is more important than power. In my mind it just has to be fun to drive,” the chief engineer told Top Gear UK magazine.

Confirmation that there will be no more engine derivatives means buyers will have no more choice than the current car’s 96kW/150Nm 1.5-litre (on sale here in August) or 115kW/200Nm 2.0-litre, which arrives Down Under in November.

Sadly, for enthusiasts wanting more power Yamamoto also ruled out adding a turbocharger or supercharger to its roadster.

"I never considered using a turbo," he said, "because naturally aspirated engines are just nice, especially for this kind of car.”

Despite saying a faster MX-5 is off the cards,Yamamoto tried to appease enthusiasts by admitting he believed there was a future for an RX-7 or RX-8 replacement.

"I'd love to see a new one," he said. "I have an RX-8 myself, and while I can't speak about other departments, that's not to say the future won't yield another rotary-engined car.”