Recently, Mazda officially announced the creation of a team of 36 engineers dedicated to the research of rotary engines, with the aim of developing them as a long-term commitment. According to reports, the iconic SP concept car, which was shown at the previous Tokyo Motor Show, will be equipped with a rotary engine as a range extender instead of a direct drive wheel. However, as rotary engine technology continues to advance, it is possible that it will be used in more models in the future, and we can even expect to see a successor to the RX-7 RX-8.
The Mazda Iconic SP Concept can be seen as a design preview for the next-generation Mazda MX-5, with a production version expected to be launched in 2026. The dimensions of the car are 4180mm long, 1850mm wide and 1140mm high. The designers said that they deliberately increased the body size, and that future production models may return to the current MX-5 dimensions (3,915 mm long, 1,735 mm wide, and 1,245 mm high).
It is reported that Mazda's iconic SP concept car will be equipped with a twin-rotor engine as a range extender, which can run on fuel, hydrogen or renewable fuels to meet environmental requirements. Officially, details of the car's battery and motor have not yet been released, but the car will have a maximum power of 365 horsepower and weigh 1450kg.