Mazda Iconic SP Nears

Mazda’s Iconic SP Inches Closer to Production

Remember the Mazda RX-7? Well, its highly anticipated successor, the Mazda Iconic SP, is creeping ever closer to reality. First teased at the 2023 Tokyo Motor Show, this concept car drew a lot of attention and excitement. Mazda’s design head honcho, Masashi Nakayama, mentioned that the concept was designed with serious production intentions back in November 2024. Fast forward, and now the Iconic SP is even closer to hitting the streets.

Rotary Reinvented

The big buzz around the Iconic SP is its rotary engine, a feature that hasn’t been in production since 2012 because of emission challenges. In a recent chat, Mazda’s design chief shared that although rotary engines traditionally struggle with emissions standards, the team has made great strides on that front. They’re on the verge of getting this engine certified for LEV IV in the U.S. and Euro 7 in Europe.

Initially rumored to have a twin-rotor engine, the expectation now leans towards using Mazda’s 830cc single-rotor tech, possibly paired with an electric unit to juice it up to about 365 horsepower. That’s a decent amount of punch for a car designed to bring back some of that old school RX-7 charm.

Gear Shifting and Nostalgia

There’s chatter about what kind of transmission might end up in the Iconic SP. The word from inside Mazda is that a high-output setup would likely skip the manual transmission in favor of a slick-shifting automatic with paddle shifters. This wouldn’t be surprising given the automotive trend towards automatic transmissions that boast lightning-fast shifts.

Speaking of throwbacks, the pop-up headlights—a fan-favorite back in the day—could make a modern comeback. The tech is feasible, but regulatory hoops remain to be jumped through. If Mazda can figure that out, it’ll certainly hit the nostalgia button hard with any RX-7 fans out there.

The Road Ahead

The journey for Mazda is clear: make sure there’s a market for a new rotary car. The overwhelming enthusiasm from car lovers is one thing; convincing the company accountants is another. If there’s support for making this bold move, the Iconic SP could soon find itself nestled in garages around the world.

For those who loved the RX-7’s spirit and uniqueness, the Iconic SP is shaping up as a worthy successor. It’s a glimpse into a future where the classic rotary engine takes a modern leap, and nostalgia meets new technology in evocative ways.