Follow-up: This (not) Lambo-engined Mazda Miata deceived us

Shortly before the SEMA show, we reported about a crazy Mazda MX-5 Miata build that allegedly featured a massive Lamborghini V10 under the hood. Now that the show has come and gone, we learned that the car is not what it seems at a glance.

The MX-5 seen here is definitely real, but it has no Lamborghini powertrain internals other than the towering air intake. The cylinder block is that of the 6.2-liter LT V8 unit manufactured by General Motors. The engine comes in a variety of configurations rated from 649 PS (640 hp / 478 kW) upwards.

The car was there for the SEMA show guests to check out, and it had most of its wiring hanging loose in the engine bay. That’s why we’ve never seen it in motion. The creator, known on the social media as Hot Parts USA, claims he installed larger fuel injectors and tuned the engine to accept E85 for fuel. He also apparently put a six-speed manual gearbox into the transmission and installed Wilwood brakes.

So, while the whole thing looks like a media stunt, we still kind of hope to see this build completed. It may not be optimal, it may not handle well, but please let us at least enjoy seeing a car with turbo snails for headlights driven on an actual street.