Mazda has fully revealed a new sports car concept during this year’s Tokyo Motor Show, called the RX-Vision.
This concept, which was hinted at via a teaser image earlier this year, has been confirmed to feature a rotary engine. The RX-Vision concept therefore signals a return to this type of engine technology for Mazda.
Many performance cars in Mazda’s history featured a type of rotary engine. This sort of engine has advantages such as offering a relatively small and simple design, while also packing a lot of power.
However, the last Mazda production car to use rotary engine technology, the RX-8 coupe, was pulled from the UK and other European markets in 2010 because it’s CO2 emissions output was too high to meet tightening regulations.
Despite this setback, Mazda didn’t give up on the idea of reviving its rotary engine technology. Now, through its RX-Vision concept, the Japanese car maker has introduced its next-generation rotary engine called SKYACTIV-R.
The Mazda RX-Vision is a front-engined, rear-wheel drive, two-seater coupe with a low-slung, wide and very sleek body.
Because of its appearance and use of a rotary engine, the RX-Vision has already drawn comparisons with the Mazda RX-7 sports car, which had a similar design shape. The RX-7 was a very popular model for Mazda when it was built between 1978 and 2002.
While little technical information and no production plans have been revealed in regards to the RX-Vision, many Mazda fans and sports cars enthusiasts in general will welcome the return of a new rotary-engine RX sports car from the brand.
No doubt the priority for Mazda will be to deliver significantly improved fuel economy and lower emissions from its new generation of rotary engines, while also still achieving high power outputs.
