- Keiryo MX-5 targets 370 hp and a wet weight of just 850 kg.
- Its AJ30 V6 links back to Ford, Jaguar, Porsche, and Cosworth.
- Rocketeer claims F40, Huracán, 620R-level power-to-weight ratio.
The Mazda MX-5 might always be the answer for some, but plenty of folks wish it had more power. That’s one reason that UK-based Rocketeer has been so successful. For years, it’s created V6 Miatas that call back to the days of classic 1960s roadsters. Now, it’s back with an all-new super-low-production special called the Keiyo.
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That word is Japanese for lightweight, which should provide all the context one needs. The bespoke restomod creator is targeting a maximum weight of just 850 kg (1,873 lbs). If that’s not in line with the ethos of the MX-5, nothing is. Of course, there’s more to this Mazda than just some lighter materials.
More: These Miatas Are Roaring Like Jaguars And They’re Coming To America
Rocketeer is also targeting 370 horsepower (275 kW), and it’s doing so with the same type of V6 it’s familiar with. That being a heavily reworked version of Jaguar’s old 3.0-liter AJ30.
Despite its humble origins, the AJ30 actually has some pretty special DNA. As Top Gear points out, it traces its roots back to the Ford Duratec V6, an engine initially designed by Porsche before some Cosworth Cylinder Heads were thrown in for good measure.
In the Keiryo, that engine is paired with an obsessive commitment to lightness and analogue driving. Rocketeer describes the car as its “ultimate interpretation” of what a pure driver’s car should be: no turbos, no weighty electronics, and no unnecessary complication. Just 375 hp, a curb weight lighter than a new Caterham Seven 420, and a focus on mechanical feel over digital augmentation.
Speaking of the combination of low curb weight and higher horsepower, that puts the Keiyo in rarified air. It’ll sport a power-to-weight ratio in the same space as cars like the Ferrari F40, Lamborghini Huracan, and McLaren 620R. Not bad for something that started life as Mazda’s friendly roadster.
Full pricing and detailed specifications haven’t been released yet, and Rocketeer is directing interested buyers to reach out directly. But if the Keiryo delivers anywhere near its stated targets, this might be the most outrageous MX-5 ever to hit UK roads.
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Sources: Rocketeer, Top Gear
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