- The Japanese brand's pipeline of new cars includes a CX-20, CX-5 Hybrid, and an electric SUV and sedan.
- These will also be joined a new rotary-powered sports car to fend off emerging Chinese rivals.
- Rather than replace the MX-5, it is likely to sit alongside it and possibly be called "RX-9".
Mazda is emptying the decks.
The Japanese brand has one of the most exciting new car portfolios in the works with a wide range of models such as a new CX-20 SUV, a hybrid CX-5, several electric cars and a rotary-powered sports car.
These complement its new premium SUV line-up, which has launched in the past two years, and ranges from CX-60 up to CX-90.
Mazda is a small carmaker by global standards but its new product pipeline is sure to help fight off the ascendence of new Chinese brands.
One of the most exciting new models is the production version of the Iconic SP show car from the 2023 Tokyo motor show.
Mazda Chief Technical Officer, Ryuichi Umeshita, in an interview with US outlet MotorTrend revealed the Iconic SP won’t replace the MX-5 as previously thought but will bolster the brand's sports car range.
“You can expect Iconic SP will be a good successor for RX-7,” Mazda Chief Technical Officer Ryuichi Umeshita tells MotorTrend.
Umeshita told MotorTrend the new sports car wouldn’t cannibalise MX-5 sales, but would complement it. Toyota has found success with a similar two-pronged sports car team with the GR86 and Supra.
There is a strong chance the new sports car could be called the RX-9. The brand has held the trademark for decades and its rotary powerplant makes it worthy of the RX name. Iconic SP Concept was registered with the Japan Patent Office earlier this year.
That registration confirmed some eye-popping features such as retractable pop-up headlights and twin-rotary EV power.
Unlike previous RX models, the new version won’t use the rotary engine to drive the wheels but it will be used as a range-extender hybrid. In this set-up it is used purely as a generator to top up a battery that feeds electric motors.
This gives it petrol-car practicality with electric-car grunt and performance.
The patent confirmed the car’s overall styling would remain close to the Iconic SP concept with its Coke Bottle design, as will the slimline window runner mounted side mirrors.
- Dom Tripolone, news editor.