The Mazda MX-5, and its hard-topped sibling, the Mazda MX-5 RF, are two of the purest sports cars around that don't bother with big power and torque figures. Instead, these cars use small-capacity naturally-aspirated engines, a taut chassis, and a light curb weight to induce smiles, and it has worked for Mazda for well over three decades. While many are more than happy to stick to this tried and tested recipe, others yearn for more speed, more power, and arguably, more fun. It is undeniable that the ND MX-5's chassis can handle more power, and in this video, we see what happens when some good old-fashioned LS power is stuffed into an RF MX-5 and let loose on the German Autobahn.

The standard Mazda MX-5 RF isn't necessarily a slow car: power is provided by a naturally-aspirated 2.0-liter four-pot engine that produces 181 hp and 151 lb-ft of torque. A six-speed manual or automatic transmission sends power to the rear wheels. This engine only delivers its peak power at 7,000 rpm, which means you have to rev the nuts off of it to get anywhere, unlike a torque-filled LS V8. In standard form, the Mazda MX-5 RD will get to 60 mph in around six seconds, or about as fast as a 2001 Acura Integra Type-R, and will reach an impressive top speed of 143 mph. The MX-5 also features a near 50:50 weight distribution and a curb weight of 2,452 lbs.

Now the Mazda MX-5 featured in the above video is not your standard Miata. The builder has gone ahead and dropped an LS7 Chevy V8 motor in the engine bay. This engine is the largest displacement engine in the LS family and has some proper racing heritage: it was based on the C5-R Le Mans Corvette racing engine. It has one focus: performance. In stock form, the LS7 produces 505 hp at 6,300 rpm and a massive 481 lb-ft of torque at 4,800 rpm. It is unknown if the car in the video has been modified, but in another video, the car was shown making 514 hp and 498 lb-ft of torque on the dyno.

When Mazda Designed the MX-5, it never planned for it to go over 150 mph, but in the video, the driver can be seen flooring the car through all gears, picking up speed at a ridiculous rate. The V8-powered Miata quickly sails past 150 mph and eventually reaches 178 mph. According to the video, the only thing stopping the driver from reaching 180 mph was the fact that he heard a loud bang. After coming to a stop, it was discovered that the extreme wind resistance had ripped the windscreen trim off. This is further proof that the Mazda Miata was neve meant to be fast.