The Mazda Iconic SP concept at the 2023 Japan Mobility Show is a sign of a new sports car from Mazda that we’ve been waiting for a decade, no, two. The rotary-engined Wankel coupe is supplied with pop-up headlights in the spirit of the legendary FD RX-7 is a sign that the RX-Vision dream has not been forgotten. Apparently, Mazda surprised the world’s reaction, as it announced that it would be launching a rotary engine that could bring the concept to life.
“I am very pleased and deeply moved by all the encouragement I have received for the compact sports car concept. I would like to take this opportunity to thank you all,” said Katsuhiro Moro, president and CEO of Mazda, at the 2024 show. of the Tokyo Automobile, as reported by Drive. “With his support, we will launch a rotary engine progression organization on February 1 to get closer to this dream. “
To reiterate: Mazda is putting together a team to develop an engine to power a new rotary sports car. That said, be ready for the potential offspring of this program to be a big departure from the RX-7, if it ever materializes at all.
While Mazda has teased a new RX car since before 2015’s RX-Vision concept, it has also pointed to climate change (and therefore emissions regulations) as an obstacle to its revival. Rotaries are inherently inefficient engines, which translates into increased emissions. Mazda also has a more self-serious image to contend with, not to mention the business case of such a car. Until the reboots of the Toyota Supra and Nissan Z, the prospects looked weak—and may still with Supra sales tanking.
If the next RX continues despite these factors, it probably won’t be an analog three-pedal car. Mazda hasn’t shared the main details of the Iconic SP’s transmission beyond a twin-rotor engine, but its existing products and recent patents give us a glimpse of what could be to come.
Mazda recently offered a single-rotor diversity extender in the MX-30 EV, where it functions as a standard hybrid that generates electric power for the battery or wheels. A more robust version, potentially with two or three rotors or even temporarily replaceable. Battery modules can make the situation worse. This hybridization reduces the emissions of a rotary engine while compensating for its low torque at low revs, killing two birds with one stone.
But all of this is just speculative for a car we only know Mazda is considering. The progression of the Rotary does not mean that the RX series will return, as the reasons discussed above are still valid. Still, we have hope from above, and we have to help each other until the next Mazda RX is shown, or the rotary will die forever.
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