Official: Mazda Mulling on A New Rotary-Engined Sportscar

During the joint press conference held by Toyota, Subaru, and Mazda earlier this week, the three Japanese brands essentially formed a pact to save the internal combustion engine by making it run cleaner. While Toyota has unveiled several new inline-4 engines and Subaru is previewing its new hybridised Boxer mill, Mazda is sticking to its beloved rotary engine by showcasing a new prototype that harnesses a two-rotor engine.

This new sportscar will feature the same rotary-based powertrain setup as we saw on the Iconic SP concept.

Although the ‘Zoom-Zoom’ automaker didn’t give us any details regarding this new prototype, it did clarify that this powertrain setup can work in a sportier application. As shown in the Iconic SP, the rotary engine would serve as a range-extending generator module that juices a small battery pack instead of being mechanically connected to the wheels.

This rotary generator concept has been shown on the MX-30 R-EV, where the rotary mill is installed transversely in it. For this new sportscar, however, the two-rotor setup will be mounted longitudinally to make space for the extra motor.

"This concept unit is equipped with two longitudinally mounted rotary engines for power generation, enabling a larger power supply and realising low centre of gravity proportions. The unit also aims to improve vibration and emissions by increasing the displacement. It is also being considered for use in sports cars,” as stated on this joint-venture’s official Multipathway Workshop material.

This new statement echoes Mazda’s previous actions and statements regarding its rotary Wankel engine. Earlier this year, Mazda set up a dedicated rotary engine development team known as the RE Development Group. Comprising 36 engineers working together on "attractive cars that excite customers,” this establishment marked the first time Mazda had a dedicated rotary engine team since the disbandment of the previous rotary team back in 2018.

Mazda RX-7 FD (left) & Mazda RX-Vision concept (right)

The story of a rotary-powered RX successor has been looming over Mazda for quite awhile, and it was recently unveiled that the automaker was actually working on a replacement in the mid-2000s. Speaking to Motor1, former project manager of the ND-gen Miata, Nobuhiro Yamamoto, revealed that he was in charge of developing a new front-engined, rear-driven platform in 2007, which will be eventually used on the new, fourth-gen RX-7 and MX-5.

However, said project didn’t come to fruition due to the global economic crisis in 2008. This recession forced Mazda to pull the brakes entirely on the new RX-7 project, while the fourth-gen Miata was delayed from its initial launch date from 2012 to 2015.