Previewing the auto at the Toyko motor show was the RX-Vision, a spectacular concept whose long-nosed proportions might put you in mind of bigger supercars.
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In part that’s because it’s heart-breakingly handsome, with the kind of curves more typically found on luxury British roadsters.
The Japanese automaker says its new front-engine, rear-drive sports-car concept is powered by a SKYACTIV-R rotary engine, although no details have been released about it yet.
An electric motor would make up for the rotary engine’s lacking low-end grunt, while the match between the two could also help Mazda deal with strict emission targets. Since it bears the RX name, we can expect that they’ll either resurrect the RX-7 or RX-8, or if they’re inclined to issue a new moniker, it could be an RX-9. The concept is powered by what Mazda has described as the SkyActiv-R rotary engine.
“Mazda’s vision is to deliver true driving pleasure that will earn its cars a position as the customer’s partner, and will enrich their motoring lives”, says Mazda. Older readers will recall the 1967 Cosmo Sport, the first sports vehicle from Mazda to feature this technology. Mazda simply call the engine SkyActive-R, and if this follows the ethos of other SkyActiv engines in the Mazda range, it will remain naturally aspirated.
More importantly, the RX-Vision’s long engine compartment would allow Mad Mike to fit a six-rotor setup in there.
Mazda is the only company that mass-produced the rotary engine and it has continued its efforts to improve power output, fuel economy and durability, and in 1991 took overall victory at 24 Hours of Le Mans with a rotary engine-powered race vehicle. It’s a vision, a dream.
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“I look forward to talking with you more about this vision we have revealed here today at the Mazda stand”, said Mazda’s Representative Director, President and CEO, Masamichi Kogai.
