Yes—Mazda engineers built a 2.5-liter V6 MX-5 prototype as an internal project roughly 20 years before a 2026 interview. It never became a production Miata: the engine sat too high beneath the hood, and its extra front-end weight threatened the light car’s balance and steering. Mazda has not ruled in a V6—or finalized any powertrain—for the next MX-5.
Did Mazda ever build a V6 Miata?
According to Christian Schultze, Director of Research & Operations at Mazda Motor Europe, engineers assembled a V6-powered MX-5 prototype in their workshop as an enthusiasm project. He described the work in a February 23, 2026 interview with AutoRAI. The engine was a 2.5-liter V6, but the interview does not give an exact build year, chassis designation, engine code, output, or measured weight.
This was an internal prototype, not a production Miata, announced special edition, or dealer offering. Schultze said the driving experience was interesting, but Mazda did not pursue the V6 as a production direction.
Why didn’t Mazda make the V6 MX-5?
The engine was too tall for the car
Schultze said the V6 did not fit cleanly beneath the hood because it was too tall. Accommodating it would have created packaging problems and an unattractive appearance. The interview does not describe any redesign that resolved those issues.
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Extra mass worked against the MX-5’s balance
A larger engine would also add weight over the front axle compared with the 1.5- or 2.0-liter engines Schultze cited. He said that front-end mass directly affects the car’s balance and steering behavior. Mazda’s concern, then, was not simply whether the prototype could be made to run: the engine’s location and weight risked changing the qualities the MX-5 is meant to preserve.
That is an engineering rationale, not a published comparison test. The interview provides no measured weight difference, handling results, or power figure for the V6 prototype.
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Will the next MX-5, sometimes called “NE,” have a V6?
Mazda has not announced a V6 for the next roadster, and it has not finalized the successor’s powertrain. In the AutoRAI interview, Mazda Europe design director Jo Stenuit said the car’s recipe was still open. He pointed to fun, low weight, and affordability as central MX-5 attributes. Schultze said development was not complete and that “NE” was a possible generation name, not confirmed nomenclature.
Later comments have kept the powertrain question open. In August 2026, MotorTrend reported that Mazda CEO Masahiro Moro said the successor should be prepared for a scenario without a combustion engine. Mazda USA confirmed that next-generation development and multiple powertrain possibilities were under consideration, along with a weight target of 1,000 to 1,200 kilograms. That figure is a target under consideration, not a published curb weight; it does not confirm an electric-only car, a particular engine, or final specifications for any version.
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Earlier, in an April 2025 interview, Mazda CTO Ryuichi Umeshita said the company was studying both battery-electric and internal-combustion possibilities while emphasizing low weight. Road & Track’s interview provides that context, but it is not a confirmation of either powertrain choice.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.What engine does the current U.S. 2026 MX-5 use?
The current U.S.-market 2026 MX-5 uses a Skyactiv-G 2.0-liter four-cylinder rated at 181 hp at 7,000 rpm and 151 lb-ft of torque at 4,000 rpm, with a 7,500-rpm redline, according to Mazda North American Operations. A six-speed manual is standard; Grand Touring offers an available six-speed automatic. These are North American specifications for the 2026 model, not details for the next-generation car. MX-5 specifications vary by market.
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