There’s a Rotary Mazda Sports Car UnderWay After All

Over the past decade and a half, Japanese car manufacturers have been experiencing a resurgence in the sports car department. There have been some impressive new entries from the likes of Nissan with the GT-R, Toyota with the GR Supra, and Acura with the NSX, to name a few. Mazda has been absent from this conversation, but there are murmurs that the brand may finally be ready to deliver a worthy successor to the RX-7.

We’ve followed the news about the new Mazda rotary sports car since 2020, and the RX Vision concept looked stunning. However, it’s been a while since we last heard any updates on the new model. However, we recently discovered that Mazda put the new rotary sports car and a sportier Mazda 6 on hold to focus on a new generation of SUVs. Nonetheless, the RX-9 may be making a comeback and could be available worldwide.

The Rotary Engine is Back 

It’s interesting to hear about the leaked patents from 2022 regarding Mazda’s plans for a new sports car. The tri-rotor engine and 48-volt mild-hybrid system are still in the works for the Mazda RX-9, according to recent reports from the Mazda blog, Taku2-4885. However, the patent images also confirm employing three rotors, which matches the Japanese automaker’s previous patents. It will be exciting to see how this new hybrid technology will enhance the performance of this highly-anticipated car. 

Mazda’s at it again, making waves in the automotive industry with its latest patent filing for a hybrid vehicle that utilizes a rotary engine for driving. Unlike the MX-30, which only has a single-rotor generator, this new patent suggests that the rotary engine will not function purely as a generator. It also indicates the Japanese automaker’s intention to create a car that can go head-to-head with the likes of the Nissan Z and Toyota GR Supra, boasting an impressive 350 to 400 horsepower. The rotary engine is no stranger to the Japanese automaker’s lineup, as the RX-7 and RX-8 models featured a twin-rotary engine. It will be exciting to see how this latest development will shape the future of Mazda’s hybrid vehicle lineup.

Adding another rotor to the rotary unit is quite common to gain extra power. Mazda is also following this practice for the RX-9. From what I understand, the rotary engine used in the RX-9 is based on the one used in the MX-30. Although it hasn’t been confirmed, there may be no forced induction.

A Mazda Hybrid Sports Car 

Remember the mild-hybrid setup for Mazda vehicles? Well, the Japanese automaker has something even more advanced up its sleeves! According to some recently leaked patents, the automaker is working on a system with three electric motors. Two motors will individually power the front wheels. At the same time, the third will be positioned between the transmission and rotary engine for an assist function similar to that of a mild hybrid. The rotary engine setup is identical to the now-discontinued Honda NSX, but with a difference in the architecture – the NSX was an F-HEV, while Mazda’s structure seems to be a P-HEV. 

The rotary engine will take its rightful place at the front of the new sports car, keeping its classic FR layout. Mazda has been taking time with this release to ensure the rotary engine complies with the future Euro 7 eco-norms. The automaker already achieved this with their Skyactiv engines, so getting the rotary engine up to speed is just a matter of getting it up to speed. The initial patents filed in June 2021 indicated a mild-hybrid setup. Still, there’s speculation that the new P-HEV architecture could make the tri-rotary engine Euro 7-compliant. 

The latest patents from Mazda indicate the development of a new variable-voltage system, which will use 48-volt modules that can double its output to 96 volts when necessary. This innovative technology is already implemented in the Mazda CX-60 and CX-90 models, and it is proving to be a great way to reduce weight, as opposed to a more traditional PHEV setup.

Seeing the Japanese automaker working on a spiritual successor to the RX-7 is exciting. One thing that stood out about the RX-7 was it is lightweight, so it’s great to hear that Mazda is aiming for something similar to the RX-9. As for the transmission, the eight-speed automatic would be a logical choice – after all, it’s currently Mazda’s best unit. Nonetheless, we hope a manual transmission will be available for those who prefer that driving experience. Either way, seeing what Mazda has in store for the RX-9 should be interesting!

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Photo Source/Copyright: Inside Mazda