2024-01-15 19:36:12
Mazda has a rich sports history, but from its former wide range of driver’s cars, only the Mazda MX-5 roadster remains in service. Rotary sports cars are a thing of the past, as are powerful MPS versions of regular cars. However, a revival is on the way! Mazda President Katsuhiro Moro was incredibly inspired by the positive response with which the public received the Mazda Iconic SP concept last fall. And he launched several important projects at once.
Mazda Iconic SP Concept
Firstly, from February 1, the company’s department for the development of rotary sports cars will reopen. True, as in the case of the compact crossover Mazda MX-30 R-EV, the unusual internal combustion engine will not be connected to the wheels, since it is destined solely for the role of a generator for recharging the traction battery. But for the future coupe, a completely new two-section engine is promised, which can be powered not only by gasoline, but also by biofuel, liquefied gas and even hydrogen.
And secondly, at the Tokyo Auto Salon exhibition held in Japan, the company announced the revival of the sports division. It was formerly called Mazdaspeed and was founded back in 1967, but has remained inactive for several years. Now the department responsible for the “hot” road cars will be called Mazda Spirit Racing – like the factory team competing in the Japanese Super Taikyu endurance racing championship.
The first-borns of the newly created sub-brand have already been presented – the Mazda Spirit Racing RS roadster and the Mazda Spirit Racing 3 hatchback. The second, as you might guess, is a sporty version of the serial three-ruble car, while RS is nothing more than a modified Mazda MX-5 roadster (in In Japan it is sold under the name Mazda Roadster).
Both models have similar modifications: signature gray color, black stripes, different bumpers with developed splitters and diffusers, black wheels with low-profile tires, Brembo brakes. The interiors feature Recaro sports buckets with four-point seat belts, Alcantara trim and a steering wheel with a red zero mark. The suspension has been modified taking into account the experience of participating in circuit racing, but nothing has been said regarding modifications to the engines. It is only clear that the roadster has a two-liter naturally aspirated engine.
Both cars are still formally in the status of concepts, but it has already been announced that they will definitely become production, and the Mazda Spirit Racing RS roadster will hit the Japanese market this year. But nothing is known yet regarding the timing of the appearance of the rotary coupe.
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