Mazda confirms Iconic SP for production, comes with rotary engine?

After a year of speculation, Mazda has officially announced plans to turn its Iconic SP concept model into a real production vehicle.

According to Masashi Nakayama, head of Mazda’s design unit, “This concept is not just an empty show car; it has been designed with a genuine intention to transform it into a production model soon.”

Previously, there were hints that Mazda was looking to realize this project.

The first indication came during the Japan Mobility Show 2023, where Mazda President and CEO Masahiro Moro described the Iconic SP as a landmark of the brand’s “commitment to the future.”

Months later, reports emerged that Mazda had joined a coalition aimed at developing internal combustion engines designed to meet carbon neutrality targets, reaffirming the manufacturer’s commitment to maintaining its iconic rotary engines.

Intended as a successor to the RX-7 and RX-8 sports cars, the Mazda Iconic SP features a twin-rotor rotary engine combined with an electric power unit (EV), with a total output capable of reaching 365 hp.

Mazda claims that this range-extending rotary engine can utilize any carbon-neutral fuel, potentially reducing emissions by up to 90 percent.

Additionally, Mazda is currently testing technology that can capture CO2 from exhaust emissions, which may play a crucial role in the development of the brand’s future vehicles.