The Miata With 300 HP

The Mazda MX-5 Miata has never needed huge power to be fun, but Rocketeer has found a way to give the often-overlooked NC generation considerably more punch without turning it into a heavyweight. The U.K.-based company has been swapping V-6 engines into Miatas since 2013, and its latest project brings the formula to the third-generation car.

The engine comes from Jaguar: a 3.0-liter Ford Duratec V-6 related to units used in the S-Type. Its aluminum construction keeps weight in check, while Rocketeer positions it far enough back to preserve the Miata’s 50/50 weight distribution.

With a carbon-fiber intake and free-flowing exhaust, the naturally aspirated V-6 produces more than 300 hp. The complete turn-key conversion starts around $28,000, while standalone engines are available from roughly $8,000 in the U.K. Rocketeer also has a U.S. partner in Kansas for turn-key builds.

The NC is slightly roomier than the ND and has plenty of aftermarket options for improving its chassis and brakes.

Could 300 hp make the NC your favorite Miata? Would you choose this V-6 swap over a newer ND? And is a modified NC more exciting than a stock car?