Mazda Abandons the RX Dream: CTO Confirms There is Only One Obstacle for the Rotary Sports Car

The Japanese company prioritizes the new Skyactiv-Z engine and the MX-5 platform over the niche of the Wankel roadster. The CTO admits that the only brake on the Iconic SP is financial, despite having a confident development team.

The Luxury of an Unviable Niche

Mazda stopped production of the RX-8 in 2012, ending the era of the rotary engine. Years later, the stunning RX Vision concept from 2015 rekindled that flame of hope. However, the company completely disbanded the rotary development team shortly after. The Wankel engine made a surprising return in 2023 in the small MX-30 R-EV crossover. In this application, the mechanics solely act as a generator to charge the battery, behaving like an EV.

Chief Technology Officer Ryuichi Umeshita has been very clear about the future. He admits that Mazda is struggling to justify the cost of putting the Iconic SP into production. The team could technically complete the project. Nevertheless, there is one big, insurmountable obstacle: the financial one. Mazda is a relatively small company compared to its main rivals. Spending heavily on a niche, low-volume product is impossible to rationalize.

Skyactiv-Z and the Real Priorities

Reality imposes much bigger priorities than enthusiasts’ dreams. The brand is currently working on its first bespoke electric platform. It is also developing a new hybrid setup and the new 2.5L Skyactiv-Z gasoline engine. This engine will replace all current four-cylinder powertrains. Mazda calls this new engine “the final step on the roadmap toward the ideal internal combustion engine”.

Lessons learned from the Skyactiv-Z will be applied to the inline-six engines. Those engines are used by rear-wheel-drive SUVs like the CX-60. These major developments are essential due to increasingly strict emissions regulations. Juggling these developments while still committing to the new Miata is far from easy.

The MX-5 is the Safe Bet

As enthusiasts, it seems wiser for Mazda to focus entirely on the new MX-5. The fifth-generation Miata has already been confirmed and is expected to feature a larger engine. The on-again, off-again RX revival only diverts engineering resources. If the brand insists on a pricier sports car, the inline-six could be used for an MX-6. Using the Wankel as a simple generator betrays its high-revving spirit. Personally, the success and survival of the MX-5 is the best news possible.

Mazda, however, is not ruling out the possibility of the rotary driving the wheels again. The CTO admits that the generator configuration is the priority right now. The first step is improving the engine to meet global emissions regulations. Only then could engineers focus on reconnecting it to the drivetrain. Mazda’s cautious approach to investment makes sense. The Miata is simply the safer bet when the budget is limited.