Mazda’s Iconic SP: A Revival of the RX-7 with the Possibility of Electric and Internal Combustion Power Options

Not the NE MX-5, but rather, Mazda’s electrifed sports car concept marks the revival of the iconic RX series...

At the Japan Mobility show, Mazda, a company with a storied 103-year history, showcased its unwavering commitment to its sports car heritage, with a pronounced emphasis on the iconic MX-5. The booth featured a captivating line-up, including the original ‘NA’ MX-5, an updated ‘ND’ model, a hand-control variant for accessibility, and an adorable kids-sized roadster designed to capture hearts.

Amid the buzz and anticipation, the spotlight was also on the muchawaited NE MX-5, which is poised to stay true to the brand’s triedand-true lightweight roadster formula, likely with minimal hybrid technology integration.

At the core of the NE MX-5’s powertrain is a twin-rotor combustion engine, serving as a generator for the battery and electric motors.

It’s a nod to Mazda’s legendary rotary engine heritage, with ‘RX’ signifying ‘Rotary Experimental.’

The 2023 Iconic SP, with its powertrain, closely mirrors the setup seen in the MX-30 R-EV, albeit with a substantial power boost, producing a robust 270kW (compared to the MX-30’s 125kW).

This is a technology that Mazda is keen on advancing, as Kotoro Minagawa, Mazda’s manager of product, planning, and corporate communications in Japan, shared with Wheels.

“We just launched the MX-30 REV, and we haven’t yet got feedback from the market. [The MX-30 REV] is going to be launched in Japan and Europe, and we’d like to see the feedback from the customers, and then we move further into development of the R-EV two-rotor system.” However, the question remains: what if the R-EV system doesn’t gain widespread approval? Mazda appears to be considering alternative powertrains for the Iconic SP, possibly including pure electric or hybridized internal combustion power.

“With this package, the [Iconic SP] can be an electric vehicle, or it can be an internal combustion engine with carbon-neutral fuel,” Minagawa explained, highlighting Mazda’s versatility in adapting to different powertrain options.

The Iconic SP fts into Mazda’s line-up somewhere between the ND MX-5 and the legendary FD RX-7, although its proportions tend to lean closer to the latter. With twice the power and a target weight of 1430kg, it becomes evident that the Iconic SP is not merely an evolution of the ND MX-5 but represents a different breed of sports car.

Visually, the Iconic SP features elements reminiscent of the FD RX-7, including the iconic pop-up headlights and fuid, organic curves.

Mazda’s European design director, Jo Stenuit, went as far as to acknowledge the strong presence of RX-7 design cues in the Iconic SP.

“For me, it’s an RX.

When I look at the design cues, especially in this colour, I see the RX-7… It’s wider, lower, and longer than an MX5,” Stenuit remarked, underscoring the model’s distinct identity.

While it’s known that the Iconic SP boasts a 50:50 weight distribution, other details, such as which wheels are driven (although rear-wheel drive seems highly likely), and the timeline for the production version’s release, remain shrouded in mystery, leaving enthusiasts eagerly anticipating the day they can experience the Iconic SP in all its glory.