Guys, Mazda Will Totally Make A New Rotary-Powered Sports Car, Really

Read the full story on The Auto Wire

Stop the presses, everyone, a Mazda executive has confirmed the company is going to release a rotary-powered sports car! Everyone seems to be elated with this news, which obviously is completely official and will most definitely happen, because people loves themselves a nice rotary-powered sports car.

Arkansas trooper trashes his engine chasing a fleeing Dodge Charger.

Only, the RX-8 was a disaster, or so thinks everyone except my cousin Gary. But his has been on cinder blocks for a few years while he’s “rebuilding the engine.”

Anyway, the big news is that Autocar spoke with Mazda’s design head, Masahi Nakayama, who said the Iconic SP concept car shown off at the Tokyo motor show last year is going into production. Yes, that’s right, an executive said it’s happening for sure.

So, it’s like official and stuff. Only it isn’t.

I might be wrong, and I’m sure people will gleefully correct me if I am (or even if I’m right they’ll still try), but I’m pretty sure we’ve been down this road before, maybe even a few times now. Every few years rumors make the rounds about Mazda developing a new rotary engine that will be shoved into a sexy little coupe and save the brand that’s taken to calling midsize crossovers “Zoom Zoom” vehicles so your Aunt Betsy will buy one during her midlife crisis, or so your cousin Tom who refuses to get a real job can pretend his hatchback is a sports car.

Let’s face it, Mazda is a shadow of its former self.

Forgive me, but I’m not holding my breath for the reveal of a production rotary-powered sports car, hybrid or otherwise.

Don’t get me wrong, I’m not predicting it won’t happen, although the chances are pretty good it won’t. It could totally happen, if Mazda is able to jump through a ridiculous number of hoops to get there. Just the company isn’t exactly overflowing with cash.

But it might shoot the shot anyway, because one thing the brand has been lacking for a long time is vision. Halo cars provide just that. Because let’s be honest, the CX-90 isn’t going to inspire anyone but soccer mommies.

Here’s a reality check for everyone: people are looking back on the RX-7 and even the RX-8 with rose colored glasses these days. It’s like they’ve forgotten the reasons Mazda hasn’t kept that line going like it has the Miata. Part of it does have to do with government regulations, but part of it has to do with… reputations those rotary engines accrued, whether rightful or not. If you know, you know.

I just really hope one of the design cues that makes the cut in the production vehicle, which of course is absolutely going to be made, are the taillights that look like two Pac-Mans trying to kiss each other. No other automaker is bold enough to make that kind of move and the Zoom Zoom crowd will appreciate the aesthetic.

Mazda might totally make the rotary-hybrid sports car everyone is fangirling about right now. Or it might be another false alarm as different forces inside the company battle it out and the more sensible, anti-rotary ones win out, again.

Image via Mazda

Follow The Auto Wire on Google News.

Join our Newsletter, subscribe to our YouTube page, and follow us on Facebook.