Mazda has officially announced plans to bring its highly praised Iconic SP concept coupe to production.
First unveiled at the 2023 Japan Mobility Show, the Iconic SP caught attention with its dual-rotor rotary engine paired with an electric vehicle (EV) drivetrain, producing an impressive combined output of 272kW.
Now, Mazda’s design chief, Masashi Nakayama, has confirmed, “This concept is not just one of those empty show cars. It has been designed with real intent to turn it into a production model in the not-so-distant future.”
The Iconic SP concept showcases Mazda’s reimagined rotary engine, integrated with a robust EV powertrain, which delivers a blend of traditional and modern engineering.
Mazda envisions the car potentially succeeding its revered RX-7 or RX-8 models, or even scaling down to match the MX-5 roadster’s size. This new rotary hybrid setup could produce up to 272kW, a promising figure for enthusiasts of the marque.
Mazda Executive Officer Naohito Saga highlighted the thorough design approach taken with the Iconic SP: “The more time you spend looking at it, the more the car will reveal to you.”
Expanding on this, Saga said, “Everything from the position of the doors and tyres, to the length of the vehicle, the seating position of the occupants and visibility was meticulously researched before reaching the final specifications.” This attention to detail spans every aspect of the car, ensuring it is as functional as it is visually captivating.
Central to the Iconic SP’s hybrid design is its dual-rotor rotary engine, which Mazda claims could run on various carbon-neutral fuels, potentially reducing emissions by as much as 90%.
Saga noted the rotary engine’s unique strengths, such as compactness and fuel flexibility, which he believes could position Mazda well in the race toward sustainable vehicle technology.
“The rotary engine can be very compact and very powerful at the same time,” Saga stated. “That’s one advantage, but also it can be powered by various types of fuels, and that could give us an edge in the race to find a feasible solution for the future of mobility.”
Mazda is also exploring new technology to capture CO₂ from exhaust emissions, which could further enhance the environmental profile of future models. If this innovation succeeds, it may be integrated into the production version of the Iconic SP, supporting Mazda’s broader sustainability efforts.
While Mazda has yet to confirm specific details on the production powertrain configuration, this project’s market release is reportedly contingent upon resolving a few technical challenges.
Enthusiasts can look forward to a production model that retains the concept’s minimalist, clean lines and distinctive pop-up headlights, a nostalgic element rarely seen in today’s vehicles.
This model promises to stand out in Mazda’s future lineup, blending its historic performance principles with forward-looking solutions to reduce emissions and adapt to evolving environmental demands.
