At last year’s famous Japan Mobility Show, Mazda unveiled the charming Iconic SP car concept powered by a next-generation rotary hybrid powertrain. At least that’s what I said when I published my first article last November. Now we’re hearing that the formula for production may be very different.
Last November, Mazda unveiled the concept of an electric vehicle with a Diversity Extender engine, a gasoline engine that the company says can also run on a variety of sustainable fuels. It may sound too futuristic to many, but such a powertrain already exists in a production car, forcing Mazda’s MX-30 R-EV, an SUV with a rotary engine that doesn’t force the wheels but drives a generator to recharge the batteries.
According to Mazda, however, the Iconic SP would use the same basic system, but would have two 830cc rotors from the MX-30’s single rotor and produce a lot more power – see more than 350 hp in total. And unlike the MX-30, the force would be channeled to the rear wheels, just like in a true sports car. But there is more.
When Mazda revealed the highlights of its next-generation “rotary-engined sports car,” many punters initially drooled over the car’s striking, impressive lines, but soon felt robbed when they were told the car wouldn’t run on the rotary engine. motor. which would act more like an onboard generator.
Fast forward 10 months. Things are not what they seem. We are now informed by Japan’s best-selling car magazine, Best Car, that a patent has been filed through Mazda with the Japan patent office, showing that the automaker is serious about putting this vehicle into production. And probably with another propulsion system.
The content of this patent has caught our attention. Because now it looks like the rotary engine will drive the rear wheels in a mild hybrid system, not a diversity extender setup. In fact, we questioned Mazda’s original explanation last year, as the Iconic SP car concept used a thick center tunnel between the engine. force and passenger through which a propeller shaft would pass. When we asked a nearby Mazda worker if the rotary engine in this concept would definitely play the role of a “generator” to power the batteries, the nonchalant answer was “not necessarily. “Therefore, the patent has shown our initial questions.
What the patent hints at is that the rotary engine will be located right on the front axle in a so-called “mid-front” configuration, making the car rear-wheel drive without a steering wheel. The patent also suggests that the rotary motor will be connected directly to a 33 HP electric motor that will act as a flywheel, driving the rear wheels.
Additionally, the transmission would be on top of the rear axle in the form of a transaxle and would feature an AMT (automated manual transmission) setup with the option of a 6-speed manual as well. The patent also suggests that in addition to the rotary engine and rear-drive motor, two 23-hp in-wheel motors can also drive the front wheels, giving the car 4WD capability to complement its all-wheel prowess. rear.
The hybrid formula would also allow the engine to shut down completely, allowing the car to run exclusively on its electric motor. So from what we hear now, the next-generation rotary-engine sports car will be just that: a car driven through its rotary engine can run on a variety of other fuels, but at the same time it gains advantages from the assistance of an electric motor, allowing Mazda to comply with stricter emissions laws.
Expect to see the Iconic SP, which will likely appear under a more practical name, launching in late 2026 for around $45,000 to $50,000.
A community. Many voices. Create a free account to share your thoughts.
Our network aims to connect other people through open and thoughtful conversations. We need our readers to share their perspectives and exchange ideas and facts in one space.
To do so, please comply with the posting regulations in our site’s terms of use. We summarize some of those key regulations below. In short, civilians.
Your message will be rejected if we realize that it seems to contain:
User accounts will be locked if we become aware that users are engaging in:
So how can you be a user?
Thank you for reading our Community Guidelines. Please read the full list of posting regulations discovered in our site’s Terms of Use.