If you're a longtime car enthusiast—or even if you've only caught glimpses of it in old movies—you probably recognize the iconic silhouette of the Mazda RX-7 and the high-pitched whirr of its legendary rotary engine. That sound wasn’t just mechanical; it was emotional, like Doc Brown’s obsession with time travel in Back to the Future. For Mazda, the rotary engine has never been just a powertrain—it’s a beating heart.
Now, that heart is set to beat again.
The new hero of this revival is the Mazda Iconic SP, a sports car concept first unveiled at the 2023 Japan Mobility Show. Painted in a dramatic Viola Red and sporting a curvaceous long-hood, short-deck profile with bold haunches, the Iconic SP is Mazda’s modern tribute to classic sports car form. It’s not here to replace the beloved MX-5 Miata, but rather to sit alongside it—larger, more powerful, and infused with a fresh take on what performance means in a new era.
Mazda’s Head of Design, Masashi Nakayama, calls the Iconic SP a “pure sports car,” while Chief Technical Officer Ryuichi Umeshita says with a smile: “You can expect the Iconic SP to be a worthy successor to the RX-7.”
But what’s under the hood may surprise you.
Rather than a traditional gas engine layout, the Iconic SP features a range-extender hybrid setup: an electric motor provides the main drive, while a twin-rotor rotary engine acts as a generator. This hybrid system delivers around 365 horsepower, combining modern electric efficiency with that unmistakable rotary character. And unlike Mazda’s previous rotary-equipped MX-30 (which never made it to the U.S. due to emissions), this new rotary is being developed to meet global regulations, including the tough standards in the U.S.
There’s even talk of a version where the rotary powers the wheels directly—reviving the RX spirit in full. While a pure EV version isn’t on the table just yet, Mazda isn’t ruling out the possibility down the line.
Chief Financial Officer Jeff Guyton explains Mazda’s deep connection with the rotary: “It’s part of our DNA. We’ve refined how it burns fuel—gasoline, hydrogen, and more—making it lightweight, compact, and powerful.” The MX-30 may have been a testbed, but this is the real deal.
Meanwhile, the MX-5 Miata is far from going away. In fact, it’s here to stay—evolving without losing its soul. For people like Richard McNeil, a retired engineer from Oregon who owns three Miatas from different eras, it’s a lifestyle, not just a car. “Driving my Miata up the Oregon Coast, every curve feels like choreography,” he says. “I don’t need more power—I just need that connection.”
The fifth-generation Miata is in the works. It will keep its compact size and core philosophy, but inherit Mazda’s new design language as seen on the Iconic SP. Most importantly, it will retain a gas engine and a manual gearbox, staying true to its identity as a driver’s car.
Mazda is developing a new Skyactiv Z gasoline engine (the “Z” stands for “ultimate”), scheduled for 2027. It promises to meet future emissions standards without compromising performance, a crucial breakthrough to keep lightweight, naturally aspirated sports cars alive.
And while Mazda is not rushing into the EV race, it’s preparing carefully. A new platform set to launch in 2027 will support all types of powertrains, from plug-in hybrids to solid-state battery EVs. The company has partnered with Panasonic to secure next-gen cylindrical batteries. “We aim to be intentional followers,” says Umeshita, emphasizing the importance of doing EVs right, not fast.
In the meantime, Mazda continues to nurture its heritage. Since 2017, a restoration program at the Hiroshima headquarters has been reviving first-generation MX-5 Miatas, complete with rebuilt 1.6-liter engines and manual transmissions. About 16 have been restored so far. Mazda is even considering restoring third-generation RX-7s, depending on parts availability.
So, when will we see the production version of the Iconic SP?
Mazda won’t commit to a date just yet. The rotary engine is almost technically ready, but given global trade challenges and economic uncertainties, the business case has to be watertight. The earliest production could begin is 2026, but it may shift depending on market conditions.
As for the name—RX-9, perhaps?—Mazda isn’t saying. Umeshita notes that it won’t simply be called “RX-7,” nor will it revive the old “Cosmo” name used for premium coupes in overseas markets. It might be something entirely new, or a nostalgic nod to the past. But one thing’s for sure: the rotary’s return will not go unnoticed.
Mazda's two-car approach—Miata on one end, Iconic SP on the other—is a love letter to driving enthusiasts. One offers simplicity and joy. The other, power and innovation. Together, they ensure that Mazda will keep delivering cars not just to drive, but to feel.
And maybe one day, as the sun dips below the cliffs of Big Sur, someone like Emily from Santa Barbara will downshift in her rotary-powered Iconic SP, the engine singing through the canyons. In that moment, the spirit of RX-7 will live again.