Mazda has trademarked the name MX-6 with the Japan Patent Office. In Mazda parlance, the “MX” nomenclature has always referred to sporty two-door cars such as the MX-3 and MX-5 Miata. A true sports car like the RX-7 probably isn’t on the horizon, but could the Hiroshima-based company be reviving a new mid-size sports coupe?
Mazda filed the application for use on October 16, 2018 with the JPO. It was subsequently discovered by AutoGuide, who helpfully provided a link to a mirror filing with a European trademark commission.
Two previous generations of the MX-6 have existed. The first was called MX-6 in the US, but named Capella C2 in Japan (where the 626 was called the Capella). Sold from 1987-92 in the US, engines included a 145-horsepower, 2.2-liter turbocharged and intercooled inline four.
The subsequent generation, sold from 1992-97, had the option of a 196-horsepower, 2.5-liter V6. So while there hasn’t been a lot of powertrain consistency in MX-6 heritage, both have been based on the corresponding 626 mid-size sedan chassis of their eras.
If it comes to fruition, we think the MX-6 will follow suit with the next-generation Mazda 6, and if it looks as good as recent Mazda concepts and production cars, it will be a much-needed addition to the modern automotive landscape.
This is what the MX-6 looked like in europe:
https://www.autoscout24.ch/de/auto-modelle/mazda–mx-6
It was Ford Probe’s sibling car.
I really liked the lines of the 626 Coupe. This lineup of Mazdas was called here, in Poland simply “Iron”, due to realiability and toughness. I would like to own the Coupe version some day…
That was the second generation for the US.
I hope they do it. With the Prelude and Accord Coupe now gone from Honda’s lineup, and nothing even close to them coming from Nissan, Toyota, or Subaru, there is a place in the market for an enthusiast aimed true GT car at a real world price point. Infuse it with Mazda’s good driving genes, and it’s current outstanding styling and it will be a winner.
Just don’t call it a Probe…