Mazda MX-5: Secret V6 Prototype Scrapped, Future Runs on Synthetic Fuel

Mazda engineers secretly developed an MX-5 equipped with a 2.5-liter V6 engine two decades ago, before abandoning the project. Today, the Japanese automaker is exploring synthetic fuels to preserve its future MX-5's DNA in the face of environmental regulations.

"The V6 was too tall for the MX-5's flat hood line. Raising the bonnet would've been an aesthetic disaster." — Christian Schultze, R&D Director Mazda Europe

The Secret V6 Project That Never Happened

About twenty years ago, a handful of passionate engineers at Mazda Motor Europe launched an unofficial project: grafting a 2.5-liter V6 under the hood of an MX-5. Christian Schultze, head of European research and development, revealed this little-known story to Dutch media AutoRAI.

This prototype likely used a K-series engine similar to the one powering the Mazda MX-6, developing around 200 horsepower—a significant jump from the 140 horses that earlier versions packed. The project was based on an NC-generation MX-5, the third generation sold between 2005 and 2015.

Testing showed this hormonally-boosted MX-5 was "clearly interesting" to drive. But a fatal flaw quickly emerged: size. The V6 was too tall to fit harmoniously under the roadster's flat hood.

Why Mazda Buried the Project

The reason for abandoning it wasn't technical—it was philosophical. Fitting the V6 would've required drastically raising the bonnet, wrecking the elegant silhouette that defines the MX-5's charm. An "aesthetic disaster" in the team's words.

More fundamentally, this engine challenged the very DNA of the roadster: lightness, perfect balance, and direct communication between car and driver. The Japanese concept of jinba ittai (the harmony between horse and rider) that's defined Mazda since 1989.

What's Next for the Future MX-5?

Today, this story sheds new light on the challenges facing the next MX-5 NE. Jo Stenuit, head of European design, confirms that a new generation will arrive in "a few years," but the powertrain remains undefined.

Facing tightened emissions standards, Mazda refuses to sacrifice its star's spirit on the altar of mass electrification. Mild hybridization, despite being the least weight-penalizing option, would apparently be "the least favored" choice according to Stenuit.

Synthetic Fuels: The Miracle Alternative?

Christian Schultze is betting on an unconventional solution: synthetic fuels. In the ideal scenario, the MX-5 NE would keep its combustion engine while running on carbon-neutral fuel.

"The simplest way to cut the MX-5's emissions is to use synthetic fuels," Schultze explains. This approach would preserve the existing engine without completely rethinking the vehicle's architecture.

These fuels, produced from green hydrogen and captured CO2, promise theoretical carbon neutrality. They'd preserve the lightness, balance, and mechanical purity that define the Japanese roadster.

How Long Until Reality?

The main challenge lies in infrastructure. Practically no distribution network exists today for these revolutionary fuels. Schultze nonetheless envisions combining this technology with "light electrification."

This hybrid strategy would optimize performance while respecting environmental constraints—without destroying the pure driving experience that built the MX-5's legendary reputation.

The abandoned V6 prototype's story reads like a warning: even with more power, an MX-5 that lost its soul wouldn't be a real MX-5 anymore. Twenty years later, Mazda seems to have learned the lesson by exploring alternative paths to preserve its iconic roadster's spirit.