Fans of the unconventional brand have been hoping for this for a long time: Mazda has presented a beautiful coupé with a Wankel engine. Before these fans long for a sports car “just like before,” we have to take a little wind out of their sails. But that shouldn’t diminish the joy of working at Mazda.
Mazda is the last serious bastion for rotary engines. After the initial announcement of the all-new Mazda Iconic SP, the study that premiered at the Tokyo Motor Show, we were hoping this could be a true successor to the RX-8. But we quickly got the hang of it: the twin-disc rotary engine only functions as a range extender and charges a battery, which in turn drives an electric motor. So you shouldn’t expect a highly emotional driving experience because there is no direct connection between the accelerator and the drive. Mazda already has the principle in series production, in the MX-30 R-EV, a fairly cramped compact car. After all, the Iconic SP should get around the corner pretty well. Its electric motor produces 272 kW/370 hp and, at 1,450 kg, the entire car is not lightweight like the Mazda MX-5, but it is significantly lighter than it should be as an electric car. With a length of 4.18 meters and a wheelbase of 2.59 meters, the Iconic SP is very compact. For comparison: The Mazda RX-8, which was built until 2012, measured 4.43 meters with a 2.70 m wheelbase. The center of gravity is low, the weight distribution is also perfectly balanced 50:50, the Wankel is a mid-engine behind the front axle. What happens next? from the study?The Iconic SP looks very close to series production. They could leave out the scissor doors, but MG adopted them on their Roadster too, so who knows. Series production is definitely not ruled out; the hope for it is absolutely justified. And Masahiro Moro’s statements actually sound like an announcement: “Mazda wants to keep driving fun even in the electric era,” says the CEO & President of Mazda Corporation. “The Mazda Iconic SP with its Wankel electric motor combination is a dream solution. We are working on making this dream come true.” The study could also point to the successor to the Mazda MX-5. It’s a bit too big for that, but the body of the current roadster only has room for a small combustion engine – and will something like that happen again? In the meantime, the MX-5 will get a gentle facelift in the spring. There is also a special model called Kazari with a special paint job and light nappa leather interior. There will be a new “racetrack” mode for the limited-slip differential and electronic chassis control (DSC). Mazda’s future remains exciting. And different.
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