What if…?
Somewhere between genius and complete madnes, that’s where you’ll find Rocketeer.
Some cars are born in a boardroom. Others are born when a petrolhead spends just a little too long thinking about the question: “What if…?”
A Mazda MX‑5 with a naturally aspirated V6 sounds like exactly the kind of idea that could come from the latter.
Luckily, there are people, just like us, who don’t just come up with these ideas they actually build them.
Rocketeer is a British company that has been obsessed with one rather addictive idea since 2013: making the Mazda MX‑5 even more enjoyable without losing what made it so good in the first place.
No huge turbocharger. No ridiculous body kit. No hundreds of extra kilos.
Just an MX‑5…
…with a V6.
The best part is that the engine itself already has quite a story to tell. The AJ30 traces its roots back to Porsche, was subsequently put into production by Ford, and eventually found its way into various Jaguar models. Rocketeer chose it because, in their view, the V6 is the perfect middle ground: four cylinders aren’t enough, while a V8 would be too heavy.
So, six cylinders.
That may sound like typically British logic.
And honestly, we’re all for it.
Rocketeer isn’t simply trying to squeeze as much power as possible out of an MX‑5. The goal is to build a car that still feels like an MX‑5, but with an engine whose character suits the rest of the car far better.
A naturally aspirated V6, a manual gearbox, rear-wheel drive and a lightweight roadster: it’s a recipe that’s pretty hard not to love.
Rocketeer has now built more than 150 of these special MX-5s for customers around the world, offering both turnkey cars and various conversion options.
And now it’s the NC’s turn
Rocketeer started with the first-generation NA before moving on to the NB. Now it’s time for the third generation: the MX‑5 NC.
And it doesn’t just get any old V6.
After around 18 months of development, a fully engineered Rocketeer NC is now ready. Under the bonnet sits the familiar 3.0‑litre AJ30 V6, but Rocketeer has extensively reworked the engine to make it fit perfectly into the NC.
In standard Rocketeer specification, the V6 produces around 300 bhp and 359 Nm. It features a carbon-fibre intake, a revised exhaust system, a new throttle body, a lighter flywheel and an uprated clutch. Even the cylinder head has been modified so that the engine can be fitted without altering the MX-5’s bulkhead.
And perhaps more importantly, Rocketeer has made sure not to destroy the character of the original MX‑5.
The chassis and subframe remain largely as Mazda intended, while the 50:50 weight distribution is retained. Despite the much larger engine, the car stays true to the original MX‑5 recipe.
From the outside, you could almost mistake it for a particularly clean, lightly modified NC. No enormous spoilers, no shouty body kit and no attempt to make it look like a race car.
Just an MX‑5.
Until you start it.
Rocketeer almost seems to be deliberately heading in the opposite direction from where the modern automotive world is going.
More power, but without a turbo.
More cylinders, without the extra weight.
More sensation, less electronics.
More car. Not more technology.
Which Rocketeer would you choose?
Now we’re curious to hear what you would choose.
Imagine you could pick one Rocketeer, and the NA, NB and NC were all fitted with the Rocketeer V6. Which set of keys would you take?
The original NA with its pop-up headlights and tiny, pure roadster character?
The NB, perhaps the most timeless of the three, with a little more maturity without losing its light-footed nature?
Or the NC, the largest of the trio, but now equipped with Rocketeer’s latest-generation technology and its completely redeveloped 3.0‑litre V6 conversion?
NA V6, NB V6 or NC V6?
Let us know.
Because, let’s be honest, we already have a favourite ourselves… and there’s a very good chance that a Rocketeer won’t be something you only get to see in pictures at Driver.community.
Source: Rocketeer Cars – Rocketeer NC
More about Rocketeer: Rocketeer Cars
