The RX revival will feature a longitudinally mounted two-rotor engine.
May 31, 2024 in 3:44 AM EST
Toyota, Subaru and Mazda held a joint meeting earlier this week, pledging to make internal combustion engines safer by making them cleaner. Toyota unveiled several new inline-four engines, Subaru previewed its next-generation hybrid boxer engine, and Mazda showed off a two-rotor engine prototype, and perhaps even more exciting, the company.
Zoom-Zoom didn’t go into details about the new hardware, but did say it could potentially be featured in a future performance vehicle. As seen in the Iconic SP concept, the rotary engine won’t be mechanically connected to the wheels, but will instead act as a generator by charging a battery. Mazda already offers a single-rotor engine in the MX-30, which is mounted transversely. In the case of a potential RX revival, the two-rotor setup would be mounted longitudinally.
“This concept unit is equipped with two longitudinally mounted rotary engines for generating electricity, enabling a larger power supply and achieving a low center of gravity. In addition, by increasing the displacement, we aim to improve vibration and exhaust gas emissions.” It is also being considered for use in sports cars.“
Finally, the new RX has been officially revealed. This big news comes on the heels of learning that a reboot of the RX-7 was under consideration in the mid-2000s. Mazda dropped the plan due to the financial crisis. The RX was supposed to be a front-engine, rear-wheel-drive sports car that would sit above the MX-5 Miata (NC). But the RX might be back someday. After years of rumors, speculation, and cool concepts, it’s clear that this new two-rotor engine could be in a fun car.
Let’s not forget that the Japanese automaker has a dedicated rotary engine team, which was officially established in February, with 36 engineers working on developing “compelling cars that excite customers.” The last time Mazda had a rotary sports car in its lineup was in 2012, when the JDM-spec RX-8 Spirit R was the last of the model.
In October 2023, the company’s chief designer, Masashi Nakayama, said the Iconic SP was intentionally made larger than necessary. Why? To make a bigger impact at the Japan Mobility Show, where the concept car will debut. He went on to say that Mazda could shrink the car down to the size of a roadster, despite the need to cram in a two-rotor engine, electric motor and battery pack.
At 164.6 inches long and 82.8 inches wide, the Iconic SP is considerably larger than a Miata ND, but seats only two. It weighs 3,197 pounds (50:50 distribution), considerably heavier than the ultra-light MX-5. Its 365 horsepower is nearly double the power of the small sports car, which turns 35 this year.
Mazda gave the current Roadster its third significant update this year, but it’s unlikely to launch a fifth-generation model anytime soon. It’s unclear whether the production Iconic SP will be the next MX-5, or if the company plans to sell a larger, more expensive sports car — assuming the Iconic SP actually goes on sale, of course. I wish you success!
Gallery: Mazda Iconic SP Concept
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