There was much debate among designers and dealers on the next generation of Mazda MX-5.

Mazda new design chief, Lauren Van den Acker, is now saying that the next Mazda MX-5 has to be radical, a big step from the current model.

Initially, dealers do not want a major change in the current model because customers are satisfied with the form - and yet the design team wanted to go and offer the market something fresh and new.

“The last one was too conservative and we can’t do another car like that. We need to make it more dramatic and give it some balls,” said Van den Acker.

The 4th generation model will arrive in 2012 and Mazda said it will be a small RWD roadster, but it will be lighter and more fuel efficient. In the meantime, a facelift arrive at the Paris Motor Show in october.

It was recently reported that Mazda has cancelled plans to build a MazdaSpeed version of the MX-5 because of current market conditions.