A Unique Build Grabs Attention
At this year’s SEMA show, a MX-5 NA turned heads with a Mazda Miata Lamborghini build with V-10 engine. Closer inspection revealed a creative twist: a Chevrolet V-8 paired with a Lamborghini intake manifold and twin turbochargers mounted in the Miata’s iconic pop-up headlight slots.
The car, built by Hot Parts USA owner Jefferson Marcal, quickly went viral for its striking design and ambitious modifications. Marcal clarified that he never intended to mislead anyone. The application he submitted to SEMA correctly described the car as a V-8 swap, but language barriers may have led to misunderstandings.
A Last-Minute Creation
The Miata wasn’t Marcal’s original plan. He intended to showcase a Chevrolet C10 with an authentic Lamborghini V-10 but couldn’t import it from Brazil in time due to a port strike. Faced with a tight deadline, Marcal repurposed spare parts from Gallardo racing projects, crafting a functional yet striking car in just a few weeks.
“I fabricated an adapter to fit the Lamborghini V-10 intake onto the V-8,” Marcal explained, emphasizing that the modifications required extensive work. This included replacing direct injection with port injection and removing variable valve timing (VVT).
Not Meant to Deceive
Marcal explained that anyone looking closely could see the engine for what it was. “The hood has a large open space—anyone could tell it’s a V-8,” he said. The confusion arose when online reports initially described it as a V-10 build.
Contributing to the conversation, Road & Track journalist Bozi Tatarevic noticed truck engine accessories on the Chevrolet block, further highlighting the ingenuity behind the design.
by Lucas Bell
Performance Goals
While the car wasn’t operational during the show, Marcal intends to have it running soon. With a new Getrag differential arriving, he plans to finish the build and share a dyno video. Marcal expects the Miata to deliver around 800 horsepower and hopes to test it at Sebring in December.
