The filming development team left in 2018, but as of February, it was still active.
Mazda produced its last sports car rev in 2012 when the JDM-only RX-8 Spirit R was discontinued. However, it was not until 2018 that the development team in charge of the rotary engine was disbanded. Last year, the rotary returned as a range-extender in the MX-30 to fix the worrisome range issues that had plagued small crossover drivers.
Speaking at Tokyo Auto Salon 2024, Mazda President and CEO Katsuhiro Moro surprised everyone by announcing a dedicated team of engineers responsible for rotary engine development will be established on January 1. 2. Before sharing the big news, he expressed his gratitude for the great response following the birth of the beautiful Iconic SP concept.
The Mazda chief says the high-performance coupe is truly here: “I am delighted and deeply appreciative of all the support and encouragement I have received for the compact sports car. I want to take this opportunity to thank all of you. With your encouragement, we will launch a rotary engine development team on February 1 to help us get closer to this dream.”
To overcome the challenges of the carbon neutral era, rotary engine engineers have taken a broad technical perspective, pushing the boundaries of engine types and advanced internal combustion engine technology, while simultaneously trained to become users of the deʋelopment model, will reunite. It won’t be that easy, but I hope we can take a step forward into a new chapter of insatiable challenge.”
A good part of Katsuhiro Moro’s speech was about Iconic SP. He focuses on how its rotating motor is more like a generator than drying the wheels. Some known specifications appeared on screen during the press conference: 164.5 inches (4180 mm) long, 72.8 inches (1850 mm) wide, and 45.2 inches (1150 mm) high, with 101.9 inch (2590 mm) wheels. and current weight is 3,196 pounds (1,450 kg).
Mazda’s head calls it a twin-rotor compact sports car with 365 horsepower and “top-notch” performance, comparing the Iconic SP to a Porsche 911. He goes on to say that the coupe is great. Nice enough for two people and their luggage. You will drive home “with a smile on your face” without having to endure the “inconvenience” of an electric sports car that can make you nervous.
Previously, design director Masashi Nakayaмa said the concept “could easily be scaled down to Miata-like proportions,” hinting that there would be no packaging restrictions. We also know combustion engines have been developed to run not only on gasoline but also on hydrogen, biofuels and liquefied petroleum gas (LPG).
As for the concept’s name, the Iconic SP is a deliberate moniker that avoids a direct connection to the long-defunct MX-5 and RX. If a production version does follow, logic tells us that it won’t be released earlier than 2026 as currently only Mazda has put together a new group of rotary engines.
