Mazda reignites the RX dream: the rotary sports car is now closer than ever

The brand’s CEO confirms real progress and fuels hopes for the long-awaited return of the RX.

Mazda admits the project is advancing “step by step”

Mazda has shaken up the automotive world once again by confirming that its long-awaited rotary-powered sports car is finally closer to becoming reality. Masahiro Moro, Mazda’s CEO and President, has revealed that development of the Iconic SP is moving forward: “We still persist in making it happen, and we are marching toward it step by step.” It’s not a direct confirmation of the RX revival, but it’s certainly the clearest message Mazda has given since the stunning concept debuted at the Japan Mobility Show.

A new RX or the next-generation MX-5?

Even Mazda’s own design team is keeping the mystery alive. Chief Designer Masashi Nakayama suggested that the Iconic SP “could easily be shrunk down to Miata-like proportions,” sparking heated debate: are we looking at the rebirth of the RX, or at an early preview of the fifth-generation MX-5? The concept measures 4.18 meters in length and weighs 1,450 kilos with nearly perfect weight distribution—figures that align more closely with a modern RX than with a direct Miata successor.

The rotary engine returns… but not in the way you imagine

One of the most striking developments is Mazda’s work on a two-rotor engine for the U.S. market, intended to offer more power than the current single-rotor unit found in the MX-30 R-EV. However, just like in the electrified crossover, this engine wouldn’t drive the wheels. Instead, it would function as a range-extending generator, feeding energy to a battery that powers an electric motor. The Iconic SP concept produced 365 horsepower—far too much for a Miata—strengthening the theory that Mazda is indeed preparing a new RX, while the future MX-5 would rely on the brand-new Skyactiv-Z engine.

Mazda revives its rotary development team for the first time since 2018

In 2024, Mazda officially reinstated its rotary development team, now called the “RE Development Group,” with 36 engineers dedicated to creating cars that embody the company’s trademark challenger spirit. The last rotary-powered Mazda rolled off the line in 2012 as the final RX-8 Spirit R. If a new RX is approved, it would become the thirteenth Mazda to feature a rotary engine—hopefully not an unlucky number.

A dream that’s taking shape again

For enthusiasts—those who grew up idolizing the RX-7 and its iconic rotary wail—these statements are the strongest sign in years. Mazda clearly doesn’t want to abandon its most legendary technology, and while the road ahead is long, the project is progressing. If everything goes according to plan, the return of a rotary-powered, electrified RX is no longer a nostalgic fantasy but a vision that is genuinely beginning to take shape in Hiroshima.