Unveiled on the 2023 version of the biennial Tokyo Motor Present, the brand new Mazda Iconic SP idea sports activities automobile is a wedding between a 2-rotor petrol engine and an electrical motor drivetrain. It’s wild that the contentious rotary engine would’ve ever made its return in any kind, but it manages to take action below circumstances that don’t seem like excellent on the onset. Quietly although, the Japanese automaker has been diligently at work seeing that its rebirth seems to have each emotional and sensible attraction.

Mazda Proves That Hybrid Design Can Be Various

If something, the storied Japanese automaker is offering some clairvoyance—displaying us a future that isn’t void of any creativity, nor does there need to be one with an overwhelmingly bland concoction of cookie cutter EVs and hybrid clones, differentiated solely by the uniforms they don.

In reality, merely put, the brand new sports activities automobile is the alternative of what a hybrid is known to be, whereas nonetheless being a hybrid. Sure, the Mazda Iconic SP is a far cry from being a hybrid within the typical sense—it’s not the fuel powered unit being assisted by an electrical motor(s), however the different means round. On this automobile, the rotary engine’s sole perform is to maintain the electrical battery charged, which in flip, sends energy to the electrical motors that are 100% chargeable for placing down energy to the wheels.

No phrase but on what number of motors there might be—or in what sort of configuration they’ll be assigned—although we’d hope {that a} rear-wheel drive model will not less than be optionally available, if not unique. In any case, Mazda has claimed that the powerplant used within the idea automobile produces a sufficiently savory quantity of energy, with 365 bhp at present what’s being marketed. Not an excessive amount of. Not too little. Similar to Goldilocks.

Why An RX-7 Revival Is Nonetheless On The Playing cards

The idea automobile’s styling directive is maintaining in-line with one other present Mazda sports activities automobile—specifically, the Miata—and at first look appears to be reduce from the identical fabric because the automaker’s quintessential and diminutive sports activities automobile. In actuality, the Iconic SP is a a lot bigger automobile throughout, and has an extended wheelbase by some margin—round 11 inches, Mazda says. Some would say that it appears extra just like the Miata’s new massive brother.

Nevertheless, these from a extra fanatic ilk might be fast to level out that among the main design cues—notably, the low-flying entrance finish which flows into a brief roofline earlier than swooping down right into a glossy fastback silhouette—harkens again to the third technology FD Mazda RX-7. There’s actually a well-known sensuality at play right here, and to me, it’s relatively apparent. On the subject of idea automobile interiors, we shouldn’t learn too deep into issues, although it needs to be mentioned that the beneath picture actually pays homage to the corporate’s sports activities automobile heritage.

Together with the presence of rotary know-how, this implies that the idea and future manufacturing model, has the credentials wanted to be each a pure and religious successor to the enduring ’90s Japanese sports activities automobile. If that is all something to go by, hopefully it additionally possesses the driving dynamics to make it a worthy one, too.

Contemplating its mild weight by as we speak’s requirements—simply 3,197 lbs, regardless of its bigger footprint and heftier drivetrain—the SP is already off to a great begin in that division. Add to that, Mazda’s declare that they’ve managed to attain a 50:50 weight distribution, plus a thoughtfully engineered power-to-weight stability, and also you’ve acquired all of the components required to make what the corporate claims it to be: a automobile that embodies “the enjoyment of driving”.

Keep Tuned: There’s A Lot Extra To Come

Throughout the unveiling, Mazda’s European Design Director, Jo Stenuit, additionally defined that the automobile’s low middle of gravity will ship “wonderful driving efficiency” whereas CEO Masahiro Moro reiterated that “Mazda will at all times ship automobiles that remind those that automobiles are pure pleasure and an indispensable a part of their lives.”

Apparently, this isn’t even the primary time Mazda has revealed a rotary/electrical drivetrain, because the MX-30 e-Skyactiv R-EV had already laid declare to that territory earlier this 12 months, albeit with one much less rotor and a extra economical philosophy. No marvel it didn’t get as a lot consideration. Nevertheless, the mere point out of a doable RX-7 successor, has all our ears perked up.

Is the Mazda Iconic SP going to disrupt the EV and hybrid panorama with its distinctive method to low-emissions hooniganism (shoutout to the late Ken Block)? Arduous to say. But it surely certainly generates extra pleasure and optimism for the way forward for sports activities automobiles, and all of us (automobile fanatics) can solely profit from this.

Mazda’s Official Newsroom Launch

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