Mazda RX-7 WILL be the new rotary-engined Mazda

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The Mazda RX Vison Concept previewed a new rotary-engined Mazda sports car which, when Mazda get it production-ready, will be the new Mazda RX-7.

A few weeks ago, we got our first look at the Mazda RX Vision Concept, previewing Mazda’s vision of a new rotary-engined sports car. But what will it be called when it arrives as a production-ready car?

For some time, we’ve expected any new Mazda with a Wankel engine to become the RX-9, as the RX-8 followed on from the original RX-7s. But it seems that’s not the case.

Talking to Top Gear, Kiyoshi Fujiwara, Mazda’s head of R&D, made it clear that the idea the Vision Concept would arrive as the RX-9 was just plain wrong; “all RX-7s have been two or 2+2 seaters“, he said – making it clear the only badge the new car could wear would be the RX-7, as the RX-8 was a four-seater and using RX-9 would imply an even bigger car.

So, Mazda RX-7 it is, although exactly how much longer it’s going to take Mazda to get the SKYACTIV-R rotary engine working well enough for production still isn’t clear.

New Mazda RX-7 will take on the Porsche Cayman

But Fujiwara did make it clear that the aim was to produce a Wankel-engined RX-7 that can take the fight to the Porsche Cayman, but be lighter. He also said Mazda are expecting to use a turbo to give the RX-7 both decent economy and power, so expect the new RX-7 to deliver something around 300bhp if it’s to compete with the Cayman.

The production RX-7 – which Mazda would like to launch in 2017 to coincide with the 50th anniversary of the first Mazda rotary-engined car – would likely follow the Vision Concept’s style (a style which does look almost production-ready, inside and out) and size – it’s shorter and wider than the RX-8, but with the same wheelbase.

We do hope Mazda can pull off a new RX-7 – it’s great to see a car company eschewing the norms and taking a different direction to the crowd.