Mazda MX-5: The Secret V6 and Synthetic Fuel Future

**About twenty years ago, Mazda engineers secretly built a prototype MX-5 with a 2.5L V6, without official mandate, just for passion. Today, the future of the next generation NE is making headlines: the replacement for the current ND — on the market since 2015 — isn't ready yet, and Mazda is still torn between hybridization and synthetic fuels to preserve the soul of the roadster.

"The engineers built a prototype with a 2.5L V6 in their free time. They did it here in the workshop, purely out of enthusiasm. Technically, it was a fascinating project." — Christian Schultze, Director R&D Europe, Mazda

The Secret V6 That Never Hit the Road

The story starts with a revelation from Christian Schultze, director of research and development at Mazda Europe, in an interview with the Dutch magazine AutoRAI. He confirms that a handful of engineers, on their own time, slipped a 2.5L V6 under the hood of an MX-5. Not a project approved by management, no dedicated budget — just guys who wanted to see if it was possible.

The base was most likely an NC, the 2005-2015 generation, the largest in the model's history. That also lines up with the timeline: around 2006, the MX-5 was transitioning from NB to NC. The V6 in question came from the MX-6, a Mazda coupe from the '90s based on the 626, which packed that same 2.5L engine with 200 hp.

Result on the road? Schultze calls it "definitely interesting" to drive. But here's the catch: the engine sat too high in the bay. The hood wouldn't close properly, the nose proportions were wrecked, and the extra weight up front ruined the 50/50 balance Mazda has championed from day one. The project died there, no follow-up.

Why Mazda Won't Go for a Big Engine

This prototype isn't just a locker-room anecdote. It says something fundamental about the brand's philosophy. When Schultze is asked if a future MX-5 could get a 2.5L — the turbocharged four-cylinder Mazda uses in its SUVs — he tells this story, as if to close the debate.

A heavier engine on the front axle changes everything: the steering loses its bite, the chassis loses its balance. On a car where all the joy comes from lightness and feel, that's a compromise Mazda clearly refuses. Schultze also notes the brand aims to "keep the current engines in service as long as possible," hinting that the 1.5L and 2.0L blocks could carry over to the next generation.

The NE: When Does It Really Arrive?

Jo Stenuit, director of design Europe at Mazda, is clear: the MX-5 NE "will take a few more years." So we're looking at an arrival toward the end of the decade, at best. The current ND is already 12 years old on the market — a long time for a sports car — but Mazda prefers to take its time rather than rush the formula.

What already exists: an NE prototype is running. The final recipe isn't set, but the general framework is laid out. Stenuit insists on three non-negotiable pillars — driving pleasure, lightness, affordability — adding that these three aspects "depend heavily on the powertrain." In other words, the engine choice conditions everything else.

Synthetic Fuel or Hybrid: The NE's Dilemma

This is where it gets tricky. Schultze openly defends synthetic fuels as the best solution for the NE. His logic: an e-fuel produced from green hydrogen and captured CO2 allows keeping the existing combustion engine, without altering the vehicle's architecture, without adding weight. For a car whose identity rests on lightness, it's indeed the cleanest path technically.

But he himself admits it's wishful thinking for now. "There's virtually no infrastructure for CO2-neutral fuels," reports Motor1, citing Schultze. The distribution network doesn't exist on a large scale, production costs remain prohibitive, and European regulations are evolving fast.