Mazda files a patent for the name MX-6e, paving the way for the arrival of a 100% electric Miata
07/09/2026 16:00
Updated to
07/09/2026 16:00
The revival of historic names is once again at the center of Hiroshima-based manufacturer’s industrial strategy. Mazda has filed a trademark registration for MX-6e with patent authorities in Europe and other international markets, including the United States. The application falls under Class 12 of the Nice Classification, which is specifically reserved for land vehicles and automobiles.
This move is not merely a routine identity protection procedure for obsolete names. The Japanese manufacturer, like many others, typically outlines its future plans through such registrations, associating this time the traditional abbreviations for its two-door sports models with a suffix that clearly indicates the presence of electrification in the powertrain.
The mechanical heritage of the four-wheel-drive coupe
To understand the significance of this project, it’s useful to review the origins of the original MX-6, produced from 1987 to 1997. That model was developed as a front-wheel-drive sports coupe based on the 626 sedan platform, aiming to strike a balance between performance and comfort. Its second generation raised the bar by featuring a 2.5-liter V6 engine and an advanced four-wheel mechanical steering system, a solution that was extremely rare in its class.
The revival of the MX prefix is directly linked to that philosophy of vehicles focused on driving, such as the beloved Mazda MX-5, as well as the less successful Mazda MX-30. However, the registration of the name serves as a property reservation and does not yet detail the vehicle’s technical specifications, leaving the door open for hybrid configurations with thermal support or purely battery-powered setups.
Consistency in the brand’s electric nomenclature
The addition of the letter “e” at the end of the code follows a pattern established in the Japanese firm’s international lineup. Mazda has already introduced the electric sedan Mazda6e to the European market and unveiled the crossover Mazda CX-6e as part of its lineup of models powered exclusively by batteries. These models are directly derived from its partner in China, Changan.
Adding this suffix to the MX-6 would indicate that the future sports model will adopt an electric powertrain without sacrificing the low center of gravity and weight distribution that define coupé bodies. Information from Japan also suggests the registration of the additional acronym MX-7e, implying a phased approach to sports car development in the coming years.
New architectures and the future of lightweight sports cars
The MX-6e project aligns with statements by the company’s president, Masahiro Moro, who confirmed that the platform currently under development for the next generation of the MX-5, the “Miata,” must be prepared to accommodate engine-free configurations, although the project is not considered urgent for the company at this time. This development complements progress on the Iconic SP prototype, designed as a compact sports car equipped with an electric propulsion system assisted by a two-rotor rotary engine. Both initiatives reflect the brand’s active efforts to define the mechanical architecture and component layout for its sports cars in the electrified era.