Although engine swapsare anything but shocking these days, there are still a few combinations that have the power to surprise. Take, for instance, this Mazda MX-5 with a V10 swap.
The build was thought up by Drivetribe’s Mike Fernie, who has been covering the Connaught V10 for some time now. You may, therefore, be familiar with the engine but if you aren’t here’s a refresher.
Back in the early aughts, Connaught tried to make it as a small-scale startup, in much the same way as TVR. Based in Wales, the company planned to produce a two-seater sports car with a bespoke engine of its own design.
Read More: Uncovered Connaught D-Type Prototype From The Early 2000s Had A 2.0-Liter Supercharged V10
The engine it came up with was a supercharged narrow-angle V10. The company claimed an output of 300 bhp and 274 lb-ft of torque, which is a healthy amount more than the engine coming out of this 1998 MX-5 that made just 140 hp.
But, with six more cylinders, you’d expect it to be more powerful. Just how a V10 is supposed to fit where an inline-four did is, perhaps, the more interesting question. Helped by the 22.5-degree angle of the cylinder block, the real trick for this engine swap is that the Connaught V10 displaces just 2.0 liters or 0.2 liters more than the engine coming out. Its dimensions mean that the block does actually fit in the car’s engine bay, though how much massaging it will require once all of the accessories are attached is another question.
And one that might be answered in another video, unfortunately, as this video ends with the old drivetrain coming out and the new engine block perching in the MX-5′s engine bay to see how it fits. Fernie says that once the car’s body is cleaned up a little, it will be sent to Connaught along with the engine to have it installed. I don’t know about you, but I’m pretty excited to see what comes of the company’s efforts.