A new Mazda MX-6e trademark filing has raised the possibility that the automaker could revive a name last used on its two-door coupe, though the filings alone do not confirm that a new vehicle is under development.
Mazda has not sold a sports coupe since the rotary-powered RX-8 ended production for the 2012 model year, and even that model technically had four doors. The brand’s last two-door fixed-roof model was the RX-7, which left U.S. production after the 1995 model year but continued in Japan until 2002.
Before that came the MX-6, a two-generation coupe sold during the late 1980s and 1990s. Now, trademark filings uncovered by CarBuzz suggest Mazda could be revisiting the name.
Mazda Files Trademark for MX-6e
Mazda filed a trademark application for “MX-6e” with the German trademark office on August 26, 2026. The filing is registered under a classification covering land vehicles, including automobiles.
Filing in Germany allows the application to apply across the European Union. A second filing for the same name has also been uncovered in Peru, and as of September 2, 2026, MX-6e has also been filed with the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office.
The timing is notable because Mazda previously submitted trademarks for several other models using an “e” suffix. In February 2025, the automaker filed applications for names including “Mazda 3e,” “Mazda 2e,” and “CX-5e.”
In 2024, Mazda also filed trademarks for “CX-6e” and “Mazda 6e.” Those two models are now sold in some European markets as electric versions of their respective vehicles.
CarBuzz could not find MX-6e filings in other major regions, including Japan. The company is not currently prioritizing EVs in either the United States or Japan.
What Could a New Mazda MX-6 Be?
According to CarBuzz, the MX-6e filing is Mazda’s only application in major regions for a new vehicle using the “MX” prefix since the company applied for MX-30 in 2019.
Last year, Mazda also submitted a patent for chassis bracing that included drawings of a front-engine, four-cylinder, rear-wheel-drive sports coupe with butterfly doors. While the filings do not establish a direct connection, the timing potentially links the two developments.
The Original MX-6 Shared Roots With the Ford Probe
The original MX-6 had a tangential connection to the Ford Mustang. During the 1980s, Mazda and Ford were closely aligned, and a Ford team developed the idea of using a new shared front-wheel-drive platform as a potential Mustang replacement.
That plan never reached production, but the project advanced far enough for Ford to launch the Probe in 1989. Mazda used the same underpinnings for the 1988 MX-6.
Although the two vehicles shared a chassis and some engine choices, their styling was entirely different. The Probe featured pop-up headlights, while the MX-6 used fixed units.
Both models later received second generations and continued sharing a chassis. The second-generation MX-6 arrived for the 1993 model year with a svelte and heavily sculpted coupe body.
Its top engine option was Mazda’s 2.5-liter KL-DE V6, producing 164 horsepower and 160 pound-feet of torque. A hotter version of the same engine available in Japan produced 200 hp.
The MX-6 remained in production until 1997. Aside from the RX-8, the closest successors have been retractable-hardtop versions of the Miata.
MX-7e Trademark Points to Another Possible New Name
Following the MX-6e discovery, CarBuzz also uncovered a trademark filing for MX-7e with Peruvian intellectual property authorities.
Unlike MX-6, the MX-7 nameplate has never been used by Mazda, making it an entirely new designation for the brand. The “e” suffix points toward electrification, while the “MX” prefix stands for “Mazda eXperimental.”
Mazda has previously used the MX designation for models intended to break new ground, including the MX-3, MX-5, MX-6 and MX-30.
The number “7” could simply continue the sequence of previous models. However, the designation also invites comparisons with the RX-7, which received the “R” in its name from its rotary engine.
A sports car in the same segment using an electrified powertrain, potentially similar to the range-extender rotary in the Iconic SP concept, could use the “X-7” portion of the name to appeal to enthusiasts.
Trademark Filings Do Not Confirm a New Vehicle
A trademark application and a patent filing alone are not enough to confirm that Mazda is developing a new vehicle. Still, the MX-6e and MX-7e filings introduce the possibility of future additions to the brand’s sports coupe lineup.
If a new model followed the formula of earlier MX-6 generations, it could feature small rear seats capable of accommodating children or cramped adults, potentially making it a more practical year-round daily driver than a Miata.
