Like the original RX-7, the Iconic SP concept also gains motivation from a rotary engine, albeit not in the same fashion. Here, the rotary acts as a generator, powering a 365-horsepower electric motor setup on the rear axle, making it an EV without the need for a heavy battery. As such, it tips the scales at less than 3,200 lbs with a perfect 50:50 weight distribution.
Development of this powertrain will be handled by Mazda’s newly launched RE Development Group, which has been set up to reboot the rotary for a future in which it can run on a variety of environmentally friendly fuel sources, prolonging the joy of internal combustion.
With any luck, a production-ready Iconic SP would have an electrically assisted rotary engine that drives the wheels directly, providing buyers with the old-school thrills they crave but the efficiency we’ve come to expect from modern vehicles.