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Mazda’s ethos of a simple, lightweight sports car doesn't always hit the right notes with the ‘more power’ crowd. A V6 could have fixed that.
A version of the Mazda MX-5 with V6 power was considered and prototyped, but ultimately shelved.
The exploration of a more powerful MX-5 was confirmed by Mazda’s current European director of research and operations, Christian Schultze.
The MX-5 has a strong enthusiast following, so aftermarket conversions to V6 or even V8 power aren’t unheard of, but Mazda apparently considered its own factory-built hot-rod V6 version.
In an interview with Dutch publication AutoRAI.nl, Schultze discussed the possibility of a larger engine for the MX-5, before revealing that it was a project Mazda had toyed with previously.
“We already tried something like this about twenty years ago,” Schultze revealed.
“Back then, our engineers built a prototype with a 2.5-litre V6 in their spare time.”
Rather than an officially sanctioned product, the MX-5 V6 was started as an internal skunkworks project.
The circa-2006 timing puts the project at the early stages of the third-generation NC MX-5 model, which started production in 2005.
When new, the NC was offered with a 94kW 1.8-litre, or 127kW 2.0-litre four-cylinder naturally aspirated engine.
By that stage, Mazda would have been reasonably fresh from its short-lived and limited numbers runs of both the Australian-modified MX-5 SP, with a 157kW/289Nm 1.8-litre turbo engine, and the MX-5 SE, a global model with a more conservative 121kW/206Nm state of tune.
Schultze stopped short of confirming what power target the V6 MX-5 project was aiming for, or if the engine itself was naturally aspirated, or used some form of forced induction.
Mazda’s engine catalogue around that time saw a 2.5-litre V6 used in the MPV people-mover, producing 129kW and 227Nm.
Around the same time, Mazda also had a supercharged 2.3-litre V6 used in the Millenia luxury sedan that we saw in Australia as the Eunos 800M, producing 148kW and 282Nm, although no suggestion of forced induction on the 2.5-litre V6 MX-5 has been made.
Schultze claims packaging for the engine was a problem, ultimately preventing it from advancing further.
“Technically, it was a fascinating project. The problem, however, was the packaging. The engine didn't fit well under the hood; it was simply too high.
“The result wasn't visually appealing. But in terms of the driving experience, it was definitely interesting.”
When asked if a version of Mazda’s 2.5-litre four-cylinder engine could be adapted for use in the MX-5, Schultze was hesitant.
“The real question is: what do you need that 2.5-liter engine for? Is it for the extra torque? Is it for better emissions? Or is it primarily attractive because it's a larger engine?
“We want a lightweight engine. A 2.5-litre is by definition heavier than a 1.5- or 2.0-litre. Extra weight up front directly affects balance and steering response,” He explained.
“These are precisely the elements that make the MX-5 so special. So it's not an easy choice.”
Kez Casey migrated from behind spare parts counters to writing about cars over ten years ago. Raised by a family of automotive workers, Kez grew up in workshops and panel shops before making the switch to reviews and road tests for The Motor Report, Drive and CarAdvice.
