Petrolhead Corner: The Rocketeer MXV6

• The Masterful MX-5
• Rocketeer Vehicles
• The Rocketeer MXV6

Allegedly, Napoleon Bonaparte as soon as stated, “If you would like a factor carried out effectively, do it your self”, and that’s precisely how the Rocketeer MXV6 took place. Constructed by the Rocketeer Vehicles firm within the UK, it solutions the query a whole lot of Mazda MX-5 and automotive fanatics, generally, have been asking for years: What would a V6-powered MX-5 be wish to reside with? Probably the most simple reply can be “Sensible!!” however it’s not so simple as it could look. A much bigger engine often means extra weight, which doubtlessly throws off the best 50-50 weight distribution the little roadster is known for. However is {that a} sacrifice price making for a extra thrilling experience? Let’s discover out!

The Masterful MX-5

The elements that made the Mazda MX-5 such a legendary little roadster are fairly easy: a low kerb weight, good 50-50 distribution, the engine up entrance, and drive to the rear. The idea is much from groundbreaking, as it’s one thing the Brits have been superb at for many years. Consider automobiles just like the Lotus Elan, the MG B, the Austin Healey, the Triumph TR-series, and so forth. But, the Japanese roadster had a few different issues going for it when it was first launched in 1989: affordability and reliability. In virtually 4 many years of manufacturing, effectively over 1,000,000 have been produced, consolidating it as some of the profitable sports activities automobiles ever made. In actual fact, it’s the best-selling two-seat sports activities automotive in automotive historical past, which says lots about simply how good a automotive it’s!

At present, the automotive is in its fourth technology and remains to be a much-loved compact sports activities automotive. From the very first NA technology to the present ND-gen automobiles, the playful soul of the MX-5 has been retained. It nonetheless has a comparatively low weight, nonetheless has the engine up entrance, and nonetheless sends all the facility to the rear wheels solely. Positive, it has matured right into a extra luxurious automotive, however the essence remains to be very a lot there! It nonetheless delivers boatloads of driving enjoyable if you happen to step on it with out instantly biting your head off. It’s the form of automotive you drive for pure enjoyment as a substitute of blistering efficiency. However if you happen to’re on the hunt for a bit bit extra oomph and wish to make your NA or NB collection MX-5 a bit extra ‘You’, there’s an excellent resolution coming from the UK! And it goes by the identify of Rocketeer Vehicles.

Rocketeer Vehicles

Rocketeer Vehicles is an organization primarily based in Hampshire, United Kingdom and was based in 2013 by Bruce Southey. The unique thought of the corporate was to deal with contracting and consulting for the automotive business whereas additionally providing conversion kits on the facet. Over time, this has shifted to an intensive vary of conversions and components devoted to the MX-5, with track-specialized builds, dependable day by day drivers, and extra discovering a robust fanbase the world over.

Rocketeer’s imaginative and prescient is to boost the near-perfect driving expertise of the MX-5 with a bit bit of additional sparkle right here and there, elevating it to new heights. All that is carried out with the utmost respect to the unique platform, enhanced with precision-engineered parts the place wanted or desired. It’s stated to nonetheless have the dealing with traits of the unique automotive, but with all of the dials turned as much as 11. It’s principally the V6 MX-5 that Mazda themselves have by no means constructed.

The Rocketeer MXV6

The Rocketeer MXV6 is available in three varieties: a full-fledged restomod construct, a turn-key conversion, and a do-it-yourself package. It principally comes right down to how a lot you’re aiming to spend, how far you need your MX-5 modified and customized, and if you wish to depart it to the professionals of Rocketeer Vehicles and their companions or have a go at it your self. A restomod sees a donor automotive being absolutely damaged right down to a naked shell, refurbished and strengthened, earlier than being constructed again up by Rocketeer specialists. Turnkey automobiles are additionally constructed by hand however with extra standardized ranges of element. Each will get you Rocketeer badging, setting your automotive other than inventory MX-5s only a contact extra. The DIY components packages will also be utilized to automobiles just like the Ford Capri, Reliant Scimitar, Triumph Stag and so forth, however we’re side-stepping a bit right here.

To start out with the plain, the Rocketeer MXV6 ditches the 1.8-litre four-cylinder of the MX-5. It’s changed by the Ford-built Duratect 30/AJ30 engine utilized by Jaguar within the X-Kind, S-Kind, XJ and XF fashions. The output is about 240 horsepower in inventory kind, which is already significantly greater than the max 180bhp you get from the NA or NB MX-5’s four-banger (or within the case of a turn-key conversion for the NC-gen automobiles as effectively). Not content material with that base quantity, the bottom Rocketeer affords is a 280bhp conversion, however output in extra of 400bhp can also be an possibility. Every engine is absolutely rebuilt and upgraded by Basset Down Balancing, a companion of Rocketeer Vehicles.

Efficiency-wise, acceleration instances drop significantly whereas the highest pace will increase fairly drastically. A typical NA or NB MX-5 has a zero-to-100kph time of round 8.6 seconds. Rocketeer claims that the low-end spec MXV6 hits 100kph in 5 seconds, whereas top-spec builds are even faster. However what issues most is the truth that Rocketeer additionally guarantees to uphold the MX-5’s fabled 50-50 weight distribution by transforming a ton of different bits on the automotive in addition to the engine swap. Any construct can embody varied efficiency components, from braking to suspension, from wheels and tyres to exhaust techniques, and so forth.

And it doesn’t finish with the mechanics, as there are a ton of exterior and inside choices to select from. Totally different lighting kits, for example, can convert the unique frog-eyed pop-up headlights look to a meaner twin-light pop-up design. The physique will also be absolutely restored and refreshed if wanted, with upgrades wherever the consumer wants or desires them. Inside trim will be completed in just about any color and materials when choosing a restomod construct, so it actually comes right down to how far you’re keen to take it. Costs for restomod builds are decided by the adjustments requested, whereas turnkey builds begin at GBP 16,995, excluding VAT and a donor automotive. The DIY kits are priced in keeping with their contents. An electronics pack prices GBP 1,995, whereas the engine pack will set you again GBP 5,995 to provide you an thought of the whole prices concerned.

The most important query, nonetheless, is whether or not the MX-5 DNA has been retained after you’ve gone all out on the components and choices record. The reply is a powerful ‘Sure!’ because the Rocketeer MXV6 has been skilfully re-engineered to easily ship extra in each space of the MX-5’s laureled driving expertise.

For extra info, please go to RocketeerCars.com.

Editorial Observe: The data and pictures used for this text have been sourced from and used with the permission of Rocketeer Cars.