Mazda’s next sports car could borrow one of the most dramatic features from the supercar world. Recent patent documents describe a compact, front-engined sports car with doors that swing outward and upward like butterfly or scissor doors (via Gear Patrol).
The drawings show a rear-wheel-drive layout, but the document does not name the car or connect it directly to the MX-5 Miata. That leaves open the possibility that Mazda is working on the next version of its roadster, a separate sports car or even a shared platform for both.
Much of the filing focuses on the structure around the front pillars and suspension mounts. Mazda’s design uses additional bracing to improve stiffness while creating enough support for the unusual door hinges, an important consideration for a car that may also have an open roof.
Butterfly doors would be a major change for Mazda, especially if they appeared on an affordable model. They are usually associated with much more expensive cars from Lamborghini, McLaren and Aston Martin, where visual drama matters as much as everyday practicality.
That makes the MX-5 connection slightly harder to believe. The Miata has always focused on low weight and simple engineering, while upward-opening doors could add complexity and cost to a car known for keeping both under control.
The patent may instead be linked to a more ambitious model inspired by the Iconic SP concept, which Mazda unveiled with butterfly doors in 2023. However, the drawings show a longitudinal four-cylinder engine and conventional transmission tunnel, not the rotary range-extender layout previewed by that concept.
None of this confirms that Mazda will build the car exactly as shown, since manufacturers regularly patent ideas that never reach showrooms. Either way, it does show the company is still thinking seriously about future sports cars, and that alone should be enough to excite enthusiasts.