Mazda’s newest sports vehicle will have a rotary engine

Mazda’s highly anticipated concept destined for the Tokyo Motor Show seems as though it will rekindle the spirit of its older, rotary-powered sports cars. “The same engineers that created sky active technology are working on a brand new rotary engine, updating it with the most cutting edge technology”. Mazda design head, Ikuo Maeda then said that “this model represents our dream, but we’re not going to let it stay a dream forever”.

Mazda set the record straight Tuesday by confirming that the concept will feature an all-new, SkyActiv-R rotary engine.

When Mazda announced its lineup for the Tokyo Motor Show, a classic 1967 Mazda Cosmo Sport 110S was included for no good reason other than it being awesome. I believe one day our engineers can overcome those challenges and meet targets.

Only seven hours separate us from the official debut of Mazda’s mystery concept with subtle retro hints. “If I say anything about [launch] dates I put too much pressure on our engineers”, said Mazda president and CEO Masamichi Kogai told Autocar earlier this year. It’s not just emissions, it’s performance as well, and making it easy to maintain.

The company has applied for patents for an electrified powertrain that uses a rotary engine as a range extender, similar to the setup used in the Chevrolet Volt. “I would like to hear feedback on the design of the vehicle”. Mazda chose to shelve the rotary rather than invest a fortune in a brand-new unit, and despite recent rumors about the manufacturer having a dedicated engineering team focused on rotary engine development, I never thought they would come up with a new project so soon.

There’s still a lot up in the air, but at least for now, it’s time to celebrate because rotary engines are back.