This compact 2+2 coupe was introduced in 1991 as part of Mazda’s early-1990s push to give its MX-badged cars a more distinctive, enthusiast-focused identity. Rather than simply being a shortened sedan derivative, it was designed as a small, original sports coupe with a hatchback-style rear opening and front-wheel drive packaging. Its best-known feature was a very small-displacement V6, which made it stand out from most rivals and helped give the car a technical reputation that has lasted long after production ended.
The model shared its underlying mechanical basis with Mazda’s 323/Familia family, but Mazda positioned it as a more stylish, youth-oriented coupe with cleaner, more aerodynamic lines than many contemporaries. In some markets it was sold alongside different badge-engineered versions, but the core nameplate itself remained a compact Mazda coupe aimed at buyers who wanted something more distinctive than a mainstream compact hatchback or sedan.
A mid-life update in 1994 kept the car fresh through the rest of the decade, but the basic formula stayed the same: small dimensions, quirky engineering, and an emphasis on character over outright practicality. Production continued through 1998, after which the nameplate disappeared. Today it is remembered as one of Mazda’s more unusual coupes of the 1990s, and particularly for pairing everyday compact-car hardware with a genuinely memorable performance-oriented image.