The rotary engine was a glorious experiment, but Mazda’s future can’t be forged in the past.
Mazda stopped making rotary sports cars in 2012 when the final RX-8 rolled off the assembly line. Only three years later, the company rekindled hopes for a Wankel-powered coupe with the stunning RX Vision concept shown in 2015. However, nothing came of that project, and after another three years, the rotary engine development team was disbanded altogether.
The rotary engine made a surprising return in 2023 in the MX-30 E-Skyactiv R-EV. In the small crossover, the engine isn’t mechanically connected to the wheels; instead, it serves solely as a generator to charge the battery. As a result, the vehicle behaves more like an EV. A similar setup appeared later the same year in the Iconic SP concept.
That doesn’t mean a rotary sports car is on the horizon. Chief Technology Officer Ryuichi Umeshita recently admitted in an interview that Mazda is struggling to justify the financial effort required to put the Iconic SP into production. Although he’s confident the development team could bring the project to fruition, there’s a major obstacle: “The only outstanding issue is financial.”
And that’s the crux of the problem. Mazda remains a relatively small company, especially compared to the brands it’s chasing. In 2024, it sold 1,277,578 cars, while BMW delivered 2,200,217 vehicles during the same period. It’s harder for Mazda to rationalize spending heavily on a car it knows from the outset would be a niche product.
2023 Mazda Iconic SP Concept
Reality check: There are bigger priorities. Between developing its first bespoke electric platform and a new hybrid setup, Mazda is being careful with its spending. It’s also working on a new 2.5-liter gasoline engine dubbed “Skyactiv-Z,” which will replace all four-cylinder Skyactiv-G and Skyactiv-X powertrains.
The Japanese automaker calls this new ICE “the final step on the roadmap toward the ideal internal combustion engine.” Lessons learned from developing the Skyactiv-Z will also be applied to the larger inline-six engines used by the CX-60 and other rear-wheel-drive-based SUVs.
Given increasingly strict emissions regulations worldwide, these major developments are essential. Juggling so many projects while still committing to a new Miata isn’t easy. The next-generation MX-5 has already been confirmed, and it’s expected to feature a larger engine.
From an enthusiast’s perspective, it seems wiser for Mazda to focus on the new MX-5 and shelve its rotary ambitions for now. The on-again, off-again RX revival diverts engineering resources that could be better spent on the Miata. Personally, I’d love to see the return of a coupe as a production model. During the NB generation, Mazda offered a fixed-roof version, but only 179 units were produced, all for the Japanese market.
If Mazda insists on launching a pricier sports car above the Miata, why not use the inline-six for an MX-6 or something similar? While the rotary’s heritage is undeniable, using it purely as a generator defeats the purpose of having one in a sports car. If you can’t rev it to the moon, what’s the point? Besides, electric sports cars aren’t exactly thriving right now.
That said, Mazda isn’t ruling out the possibility of a rotary engine driving the wheels again. In an interview with AutomotivePress, Umeshita said it’s doable, though the generator configuration currently takes priority. The first step is improving the rotary to meet global emissions standards. Only then can engineers focus on reconnecting it to the drivetrain.
However, the CTO acknowledged that this would be significantly more challenging, as the engine would need to operate across a much broader RPM range. Still, Umeshita believes the rotary team (revived in early 2024) has the expertise to make it work in both roles: “That team is step by step going forward.”
2025 Mazda Vision X-Coupe Concept
2025 Mazda Vision X-Coupe Concept
As for the recently unveiled Vision X-Coupe, the plug-in hybrid with a rotary engine isn’t heading to production either. While the large, five-door GT previews Mazda’s future design language, Umeshita describes it as “imagination around 2035,” complete with technology that can supposedly suck back some of its CO2 emissions.
Mazda’s reluctance to use its inline-six and rear-wheel-drive platform for a BMW-rivaling sedan suggests the idea lacked a solid business case. Logic implies it was considered but ultimately shelved due to weak sales projections. If a sedan based on existing architecture couldn’t get approved, imagine how difficult it is for a low-volume, bespoke RX to earn the green light.
The Mazda6 name has returned, but only in China. The fully electric 6e, built on the Deepal L07 platform, highlights the challenges Mazda faces in launching new models without significant partners. The recently announced “Lean Asset Strategy” aims to deepen collaborations with other brands in order to cut electrification costs.
2015 Mazda RX-Vision Concept
2015 Mazda RX-Vision Concept
The Skyactiv-Z and in-house hybrid are crucial, considering that volume-oriented models are what keep the lights on. Looking at this from a different angle, selling hatchbacks, sedans, and SUVs makes it easier for the bean counters to greenlight fun projects. We should be thankful the Miata has endured this long, and that a new one is even on the way. As a former ND2 owner, I’d much rather see the MX-5 thrive than watch Mazda experiment with an RX where the rotary merely juices up a battery pack.
All things considered, Mazda’s cautious approach to investment makes sense. Having two sports cars isn’t realistic when funds are needed elsewhere. Although one car doesn’t exclude the other, when the budget is limited, the Miata is the safer bet. The company already has plenty on its plate with new hybrids and EVs, as well as the fifth-generation MX-5.
As much as enthusiasts crave a rotary-powered RX, Mazda is better off focusing on the world’s best-selling two-seater: The Miata.
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