Now, a British company called Rocketeer is addressing this issue in the most delightful way possible - by cramming Jaguar V6 engines into NA and NB Miatas and shipping them to America. It's the sort of brilliant lunacy that makes you wonder why more people haven't done it. Of course, Miata engine swaps are nothing new. For decades, enthusiasts have been shoehorning everything from turbocharged four-cylinders to massive American V8s into these diminutive roadsters. But what makes Rocketeer's approach different is how astonishingly sensible it is. The Jaguar AJ30 V6 they're using is actually lighter than the Miata's original iron-block four-cylinder, which means the car's perfect weight distribution remains intact. It's like replacing your horse with a cheetah and somehow ending up with a more balanced animal. A proper British-Japanese fusion that doesn't involve soggy fish and chips The engine in question might not be familiar to most Americans, but it's quite a gem. The AJ30 is a naturally aspirated, 60-degree 3.0-liter V6 based on the Ford Duratec, but with a cylinder head designed by Cosworth. Yes, that Cosworth - the same wizards who've been making racing engines go "BWAAARP" since before most of us were born. Jaguar debuted this engine in the S-Type and used it in various models including the X-Type, XJ, and early versions of the first-generation XF. Ford also borrowed it for the base Lincoln LS, which is probably why you don't remember it - nobody remembers the Lincoln LS. In stock form, this all-aluminum masterpiece produces around 280 horsepower, which is over 100 more than even the turbocharged Mazdaspeed Miata ever offered. But Rocketeer isn't content with merely doubling the Miata's power. Oh no. They also offer a high-performance version that pumps out a eye-watering 375 horsepower and revs to 9,000 RPM. Just think about that for a moment. A 375-horsepower Miata that revs to 9,000 RPM. That's not a car; that's a four-wheeled anxiety disorder. It's what you'd get if Red Bull came in automotive form. It's also quite possibly the perfect vehicle - all the handling prowess of a Miata, but with enough power to actually overtake things without having to plan the maneuver three days in advance. From kit cars to turn-key tire shredders: the price of power Perhaps the most shocking aspect of Rocketeer's MXV6 conversion is how surprisingly affordable it is - at least by modern restomod standards. While companies like Singer and Emory will happily charge you the GDP of a small island nation to rework your classic Porsche, Rocketeer's approach is refreshingly reasonable. In the UK, they'll convert your Miata for £16,662 (roughly $22,000), which is less than the depreciation you'd suffer by driving a new BMW off the lot. For the more mechanically inclined (or financially restrained), they offer DIY kits starting at £5,995 ($8,000) for the hardware and £1,995 ($2,260) for the electronics. They'll even sell you a rebuilt and reworked Jaguar V6 for £5,995 if your mechanical shopping list includes "1x engine, slightly used, very loud." Of course, these prices will likely be somewhat higher when the company establishes its American operations, but they should still remain in the realm of "expensive but justifiable" rather than "second mortgage territory."For those who want the full experience, Rocketeer also offers complete restomods with reworked suspensions and trim. These will doubtlessly cost more, but they'll also save you from having to explain to your non-car friends why you've spent tens of thousands of dollars making your $5,000 Miata faster instead of just buying a faster car to begin with. The answer, of course, is "because it's brilliant," but some people just don't understand. The company is also working on something even more extreme called the Kieryo, which targets a weight of under 1,900 pounds with 350 horsepower from the Jag V6. For those keeping score at home, that's a power-to-weight ratio that would embarrass many supercars. They're also developing a conversion for the NC Miata, which should please the dozens of people who are passionate fans of that particular generation. The beauty of Rocketeer's approach is that it preserves everything that makes the Miata special - its lightness, its balance, its analog feel - while addressing its one glaring weakness. It's like giving Superman a bulletproof cape. It takes something that was already excellent at what it does and removes its only real vulnerability. Will it be as reliable as a stock Miata? Probably not. Will it use more fuel? Almost certainly. Will it make you giggle like a schoolchild every time you press the accelerator? Absolutely, undeniably yes. And in a world of increasingly homogenized, digitized, and sanitized automobiles, that kind of visceral joy is becoming increasingly rare. So thank you, Rocketeer, for bringing your gloriously mad V6-powered Miatas to America. In a country that celebrates excess in almost every aspect of life, these British-Japanese hybrids should feel right at home. Just remember to bring plenty of rear tires - I suspect they won't last long.
