1992 MX-6 Design development

miuras · 10-30-12, 12:38

MX-6 forum members,

I am happy to discover that there are 2nd gen MX-6 enthusiasts out there. I worked at the Mazda California Design studio from 1983-2009 and was the primary designer on the 92 MX-6. The program began in 1986-87. During that time, we created the advanced theme and pre-production models of the MX-6. After this time Mazda Japan and California mutually cooperated to execute the final production design.

I have enclosed the link to my images out of my archives. I would be more than happy to answer any inquiries about the development including the cabrio.

Mazda MX-6 design - a set on Flickr

**PaulG** · 10-31-12, 5:36

I don't think I've seen those early design pics before, but the cabrio pics I've seen. How close did the cabrio come to being a production car? Was a cabrio actually produced, or just renderings? From the pics it looks like an actual car was produced...

miuras · 10-31-12, 8:28

The 92 MX-6 cabrio was an actual running and driving prototype designed in collaboration with Modern Engineering out of Detroit and our Mazda R&D group in California. Modern Engineering had expertise in soft folding top mechanisms and body structure analysis, the two major items we sought. Extensive digital structural analysis was initially performed to determine what areas on the body structure needed reinforcement. Structural reinforcement pieces were fabricated and installed within our body in white. We had structural stiffness targets that we wanted to meet to have the car best in class. Our main competitor was the 3-series BMW. Our Japanese and American teams performed many real world driving tests along side competitor vehicles to evaluate and tune the car for the best ride dynamics. It was a fully functioning and driving car including an electric folding top. The inner body was re-enforced in a 6 major areas especially around the cowling.

The team also considered a soft rear vs a hard glass rear window. With each brought a very different look to the side profile of the soft top due to packaging. We decided on the soft window. This choice gave us a very fast and handsome rear profile.

The plan was to work in conjunction with ASC to build the cabrio offline at the plant in Flat Rock Michigan. All work and logistics were completed within a 8 month period and the build plan was ready to implement. Alot of time, money and resources were placed into this program. Unfortunately at the eleventh hour the Japanese management killed the program. Our team could never fully understand the rationale behind the decision. Buy hey, thats the Auto-Biz.

I have many other images of the prototype process and the test trips. I would have to spend some time sifting through the files to find them.

**TwoPedalWarrior** · 10-31-12, 8:29

Welcome to the forums - pretty impressive effort you were involved in. Thanks for helping making our car happen!

**NickR** · 10-31-12, 8:41

miuras: and you designed a great and beautiful car! Well done and thank you!

**Justin L** · 10-31-12, 9:32

WOW... Thank you so much for adding some extra history to our beloved cars...

Welcome to the forums.

Sent from my GT-I9000M using AutoGuide.Com Free App

**epxepx** · 10-31-12, 13:12

What a surprise to find this here now ! And what a different look the convertible
gives to the car....

Can you share any thoughts how the design process for the hood and front fender area went ? It seems to come out of some of the old racing cars like Lotus or Ford. No other production car seems to have used this design, however.

**monoxidechild** · 10-31-12, 16:16

Thank you very much for uploading those pics. Any others you could add im sure will be extremely appreciated by me, and the rest of the forum.

and i love how the convertible has the JDM projector headlights and fogs!

Yellow Jacket · 10-31-12, 17:11

I would have really liked the door handle on the concept near the window to remain.

**monoxidechild** · 10-31-12, 22:00

^
you can buy an FD and get something similar.

I like how alot of the earlier designs look alot like the Mazda Cosmo.

**PaulG** · 11-1-12, 5:31

Quote:

Originally Posted by monoxidechild

and i love how the convertible has the JDM projector headlights and fogs!

Nice catch, I didn't even notice that!

Yellow Jacket · 11-1-12, 10:12

I know the FD RX-7 had that but I don't want that. If I wanted that then I would have been got it.

**whiteboysmx6** · 11-1-12, 16:56

Um wow is all I gotta say! Some of the concepts looked kinda like a mid 90s supra in the front (headlights and hood kinda)

xerostatus · 11-1-12, 18:27

You sir, are my hero.

I am a big car history buff, and I'm into collecting old snippets of history.

Back during my MX-3 days, I amassed a respectable collection of original brochures, marketing materials, magazine articles, clippings of old ads, and other assorted paraphernalia. It's such a fascinating thing when you read a magazine article from Aug. 1991 about a "new" car coming, and the early reviews of the brand new MX-3 and such! Haven't yet built up my collection for the MX-6 yet, but as soon as some disposable income frees itself up... *nod

Seeing those early sketches and design concepts is such a treat. But even better, you were physically part of the process! A living record! Please stick around, I'd simply revel in being able to pick your mind and ask you more about the history of our cars (of course, at your own leisure ^_^ )

By the way, my girlfriend continues to insist that she only started dating me because of my car (the mx-6) and so therefore, I guess I owe you one (at least partially).

Cheers!

**JoeyV** · 11-1-12, 21:25

Very cool info. I sure am glad the car was redesigned because those first concepts were not quite as sexy. lol.

I'm pretty sure I can speak for most members here when I say this: PLEASE, post all of your pictures and everything bit of info you have about this car. We will all want to read it.