It has been just a little over a year since Mazda hinted at the return of the RX. The Iconic SP took the form of a slinky coupe with a two-rotor engine. Ever since the attractive idea premiered on the Japan Mobility Present, the Zoom-Zoom firm has been dropping hints about placing the automotive into manufacturing. In a brand new interview with Automotive Information, the top honcho strongly prompts the two-seater sports activities automotive is occurring.

Based on Masahiro Moro, Mazda’s Chief Government Officer and President, work on the Iconic SP is progressing. The intent is to launch a manufacturing model: “We nonetheless persist in making it occur, and we’re marching in direction of it step-by-step.” Whereas this is not an affirmation the RX is coming again, it’s mainly the following smartest thing. We simply have to attend for the road-going automotive, which can find yourself smaller than the idea.

Shortly after the idea premiered, Chief Designer Masashi Nakayama mentioned the automotive “may simply be shrunk all the way down to Miata-like proportions.” That has led to the hypothesis that the Iconic SP may preview the fifth-generation MX-5 as an alternative to an RX revival. It is nonetheless unclear whether or not the rotary sports activities automotive would sit above the Miata or exchange it altogether.

As a refresher, the idea was 164.5 inches (4180 millimeters) lengthy, 72.8 inches (1850 millimeters) vast, and 45.2 inches (1150 millimeters) tall, with a wheelbase of 102 inches (2590 millimeters). It tipped the scales at 3,197 kilos (1,450 kilograms), breaking up virtually evenly between the entrance and rear for an almost perfect weight distribution.

Masahiro Moro has already confirmed that Mazda is planning a two-rotor engine for America. He defined individuals needing extra energy than the present one-rotor engine provides within the MX-30 e-Skyactiv R-EV we do not get right here. However, as with the crossover, the two-rotor engine for the sports activities automotive did not drive the wheels, at the very least not within the idea. In different phrases, the rotary setup was not mechanically linked to the wheels. As an alternative, it was a generator, producing power to feed a battery that powered an electrical motor.

Mazda hasn’t disclosed the rotary engine’s displacement; however, the electrified crossover makes use of a single-rotor, 830-cc design. It remains to be seen whether or not the two-rotor displaces 1.6 liters or not. Within the idea, the Iconic SP had 365 horsepower on faucet, which might be too massive of a soar for a Miata successor. Logic tells us a brand new RX is deliberate as an alternative. If that is correct, the following MX-5 can be powered by the recently introduced Skyactiv-Z engine.

As a refresher, Mazda reinstated its rotary staff in February 2024 with the objective of growing “enticing vehicles that excite prospects with our challenger spirit.” A brand new RX definitely suits that invoice. The “RE Growth Group” has 36 engineers and marks the primary time since 2018 that the Japanese automaker has a devoted rotary engine improvement staff.

The final RX was assembled in 2012, when the ultimate RX-8 Spirit R was constructed for the home market. A brand new one could be Mazda’s 13^th automotive with a rotary engine. Let’s hope that is not an unfortunate quantity.