Mazda has not sold a rotary engine-powered sports car in a very long time, but it seems like that might change over the next few years.
We say that because of a recent article from MotorTrend, says a new Mazda sports car is in development. But first, some caveats. It hasn’t been officially confirmed by Mazda, so we don’t know when (or if) it will arrive. And we don’t know much about the car itself, such as its name.
But, based on what MotorTrend is reporting, there is enough evidence to predict a new rotary-engine sports car based on the Iconic SP concept revealed at the Japan Mobility Show in 2023 will likely arrive in the coming years.
The Iconic SP concept, pictured here, looks a lot like the third gen Mazda RX-7, with its curvaceous body work and Coke bottle proportions. Built from 1991 through 2002, the third gen RX-7 left our shores in North America in 1995 due to declining sales.
According to MotorTrend, power for the new car could take the form of a hybrid range-extender set-up like that in Iconic SP, which featured a dual-rotor rotary engine paired with an electric motor. Estimated combined output is 365 horsepower.
MotorTrend notes that Mazda used a rotary engine as a range extender in the 2023 MX-30. This version of the since discontinued crossover wasn’t sold in North America because it didn’t pass emission standards at that time. Mazda says its new, more powerful rotary engine will meet EPA standards.
We know what you’re thinking, and we thought the same thing: rotary engines tend to pollute a lot, and they aren’t very fuel efficient. The former is one of the main reasons the RX-8, the RX-7’s initial successor, was discontinued. It literally couldn’t pass European emissions, and that was in 2010.
Well, according to MotorTrend, Mazda has improved its understanding of how the rotary engine works, including meeting tightening global emission standards, and how it can work with different fuels, such as hydrogen. Presumably, this means the new rotary will be future-proofed to last longer than its predecessors, but time will tell.
For the sake of the new sports car, the tech had better be future-proofed because Mazda wants to use the rotary as a primary source of propulsion, according to MotorTrend. A second powertrain option will also be offered. No details were mentioned, but apparently an EV version isn’t in plans. Not yet at least.
As for when this theoretical sports car would go into production, MotorTrend says 2026 is possible, as the new rotary engine should be ready by then, but Mazda isn’t commenting officially yet.
One final thing worth noting is the new Mazda sports car will not replace the MX-5 Miata roadster. The plan is to have two Mazda sports cars. MotorTrend also reported a new Miata is in development. No timeframe for a fifth gen model was mentioned but it shouldn’t be too far off. The current fourth gen ND Miata has been in production since 2015.
Photos courtesy of Mazda North America
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