Mazda’s RX-7: Legendary Rotary Engine Sports Car Might Be Making a Stunning Comeback

Mazda sports car RX-7
Famous for its rotary engine
Making a comeback soon?

The RX-7, a hallmark sports car from the Japanese automaker Mazda, has captivated car enthusiasts in Japan and globally. Mazda and the RX-7 are particularly renowned for their use of rotary engines.

The rotary engine was initially developed by German engineer Felix Wankel in 1959 and was first utilized by Audi. Mazda acquired the license and began its own research and development efforts. Mazda focused on addressing structural issues related to durability and fuel efficiency, resulting in an improved rotary engine that achieved a 40% increase in fuel efficiency.

The rotary engine, which has now been discontinued, has seen new patents emerge from Mazda

The rotary engine, initially discontinued due to poor fuel economy and stringent emission regulations, has seen a revival from Mazda. However, Mazda’s approach is not limited to using rotary engines alone. Mazda, Toyota, and Subaru have re-entered the internal combustion engine market with a hybrid rotary engine. This engine is primarily designed for extended-range electric vehicles (EREVs), similar to the Mazda MX-30 SUV available overseas.

Mazda has introduced the Twin-Rotor concept, which involves two longitudinally mounted rotary engines generating power. This setup enables a larger battery capacity and enhances the vehicle’s effectiveness as a range extender rather than driving the wheels directly. Japanese media outlet Best Car Web reported that Mazda filed a patent for this innovative drive system in June 2024.

This new approach differs from traditional methods
and is expected to be advantageous for city-driving

The outlet outlined a rotary engine behind the front axle, whose power is transmitted directly to the rear wheels without going through the flywheel as is typical. Instead, an electric motor is coupled directly to the rotary engine without a clutch mechanism. The media outlet garnered attention for speculating that the motor could replace the flywheel.

In addition to the driving force provided by the motor unit, the vehicle adopting this drive method can also be equipped with an in-wheel motor on the front axle. The fuel supply will reportedly be controlled via a switch. This allows the vehicle to drive using the electric motor or the rotary engine alone. When the engine is used alone, the power from the engine to the electric motor is cut off. The media outlet predicted that the electric mode driving distance would be pretty short but evaluated that it would be helpful in city driving with frequent stops.

Which new vehicle is likely to enter production?
The spiritual successor to the RX-7

Reports have followed that Mazda is considering using the engine in a sports car, most likely a production version of the RX-7-based Iconic SP Concept that Mazda unveiled at the 2023 Tokyo Motor Show.

Mazda has unveiled the iconic SP concept, which will feature a two-rotor EV system designed to recharge the onboard battery and power the electric motor when the battery is depleted. The company has also highlighted that the car will be engineered with a 50:50 weight distribution to ensure optimal handling, heightening anticipation among enthusiasts. This new vehicle, set to symbolize the revival of the rotary engine, is expected to be officially revealed as early as 2026.