Mazda Has Trademarked 'MX-6', But Why?

Earlier this week, we had the crushing disappointment of Mazda ruling out a 3 MPS hot hatch while also quashing any realistic hopes of ever seeing another rotary-powered sports car. Today, though, we’re presenting some news from Mazda which might just be a little more positive.

Auto Guide discovered that the company filed a trademark application with the Japanese Patent Office last month for the name ‘Mazda MX-6’ to be applied to “automobiles and parts and accessories thereof”. It’s hard not to get excited by that.

The MX-6 first arrived in 1987, replaced by a second-generation model in 1991. Production ended in 1997, and Mazda elected not to use the name again.

The front-wheel drive coupe isn’t the most revered car from Mazda’s back catalogue, but with the Japanese company doing a very good job of making even ‘ordinary’ stuff drive in an extremely satisfying way right now, an MX-6 successor could be a very interesting car no matter how humdrum the underpinnings.

This could, of course, all amount to nothing. A trademark application is very far from a guarantee of a future car happening, and a new MX-6 at a time when the coupe market is less than healthy would seem like an odd choice. Regardless, we’re remaining hopeful, even if that means we might end up being disappointed all over again…