The all-new MX-30 is the latest in a line of cars Mazda has honoured with the legendary MX prefix, reserved for the manufacturer’s most innovative vehicles. The MX-5 is probably the most famous custodian of the name, but here Zoom-Zoom takes a look at some of the other cars to have proudly sported the MX badge.

Story Tommy Melville

1983 MX-02

Six years before the MX-5 arrived to reshape the automotive landscape, Mazda released the MX-02 concept car. The vehicle never made production, but it was jam-packed with innovative technology, including keyless entry, four-wheel steering and a low-drag body design that provided excellent fuel economy figures.

 

 

1985 MX-03

Mazda threw the kitchen sink at the MX-03 concept, which boasted a huge spec and an enticing list of innovations. The four-seat coupe featured four-wheel drive, a triple-rotor 235kW engine, four-wheel steering, a head-up display and an aircraft yoke steering column, instead of a regular wheel.

 

 

1987 MX-6

This stylish, discrete coupe was produced for nearly a decade from 1987, taking styling cues from the MX-03 concept and featured two generations. It was known for both reliability and its powerful performance, with some models using a V6 engine (generating 122kW) to make the MX-6 an exhilarating prospect to drive.

 

 

 

1991 MX-3

Launched in the early 1990s (in the same era as the MX-5 and RX-7), the sleek MX-3 was marketed as the Eunos 30X and shared many characteristics of its illustrious stablemates. As with all Mazdas, it was a real driver’s car, and its headline-grabbing V6 engine – one of the smallest ever produced at 1.8 litres – made it a highly innovative vehicle, too.

 

 

2001 MX-SPORT TOURER

In many ways, the MX-Sport Tourer was one of Mazda’s most forward-thinking concept cars. It featured a hybrid gas-electric engine to reduce emissions that switched seamlessly between rear and four-wheel drive, a Vario Lamella folding roof and freestyle doors.

 

 

2004 MX-MICROSPORT

This funky concept car made its debut at the 2004 Detroit Auto Show. Featuring a four-cylinder engine, the car would signpost the way for a small city vehicle aimed at a young audience. The MX-MicroSport featured a keyless entry system in the form of a card, which held driver preferences such as favourite navigational routes and audio sources.

 

 

 

The MX-30 is Mazda’s first all-electric vehicle, and the latest to use the MX naming convention. You can find out more about the car via the link below.