Latest news with #RyuichiUmeshita
7NEWS
an hour ago
- Automotive
- 7NEWS
Mazda RX-7 successor inches to reality as new rotary engine nears completion
One of the most important parts required for the long-awaited successor to the Mazda RX-7 is nearly complete, but other pieces of the puzzle aren't quite as ready. According to Motor Trend, work on the next-generation rotary engine is almost done, and it could go into production as early as 2026. Before it can slip into a new sports car — most likely based on the 2023 Iconic SP concept (pictured throughout) — those working on the project need to build a viable business case. Hundreds of new car deals are available through CarExpert right now. Get the experts on your side and score a great deal. Browse now. If Mazda can figure out a way to make the numbers add up — a task no doubt complicated by the ever-changing tariff situation in the US — it will give the automaker a second sports car in addition to the evergreen MX-5. Like the MX-5, the new sports car will be a low volume model. Ryuichi Umeshita, Mazda's chief technical officer, believes the 'Iconic SP will be a good successor for RX-7'. It's unclear what the new sports car will be christened. Umeshita-san says a final decision has yet to be made on the name, but it's likely to honour or reference the company's rotary history. He doesn't rule out RX-7 or RX-9, but is adamant there is 'very little possibility that we will name it Cosmo'. The Cosmo was a line of luxury coupes sold between 1967 and 1996, and was available with rotary engines, either exclusively or in top-of-the-range variants. The new RX is expected to be a 2+2 coupe that's larger than the current fourth-generation MX-5. The Iconic SP measures 4180mm long, 1850mm wide, and 1150mm tall, which is 105mm shorter, 90mm wider, and 80mm lower than the third-generation 'FD' RX-7. Like the Iconic SP, the new RX will have a range extender EV drivetrain — with output of around 270kW — where the rotary engine operates as a generator for the battery pack. A version where the rotary engine drives the wheels is apparently part of the plan too. The new rotary engine is a development of the motor used in the range extender (EREV) variant of the MX-30. The MX-30 EREV has a single rotor displacing 0.83L and makes 55kW. Its sole job is to recharge the 17.8kWh battery when it begins running low, while the 125kW electric motor is responsible for driving the front wheels. The MX-30 marked the return of the rotary engine to the Mazda range after an absence of 11 years, but the EREV version wasn't offered in the US because the rotary didn't meet local emissions regulations, a problem that's been solved in the upcoming version of the engine. Although the MX-30 has been withdrawn from the Australian market in 2023, it's still in on sale in many parts of the world, including Europe and Japan.
Perth Now
an hour ago
- Automotive
- Perth Now
Mazda RX-7 successor inches to reality as new rotary engine nears completion
One of the most important parts required for the long-awaited successor to the Mazda RX-7 is nearly complete, but other pieces of the puzzle aren't quite as ready. According to Motor Trend, work on the next-generation rotary engine is almost done, and it could go into production as early as 2026. Before it can slip into a new sports car — most likely based on the 2023 Iconic SP concept (pictured throughout) — those working on the project need to build a viable business case. Hundreds of new car deals are available through CarExpert right now. Get the experts on your side and score a great deal. Browse now. Supplied Credit: CarExpert If Mazda can figure out a way to make the numbers add up — a task no doubt complicated by the ever-changing tariff situation in the US — it will give the automaker a second sports car in addition to the evergreen MX-5. Like the MX-5, the new sports car will be a low volume model. Ryuichi Umeshita, Mazda's chief technical officer, believes the 'Iconic SP will be a good successor for RX-7'. It's unclear what the new sports car will be christened. Umeshita-san says a final decision has yet to be made on the name, but it's likely to honour or reference the company's rotary history. Supplied Credit: CarExpert He doesn't rule out RX-7 or RX-9, but is adamant there is 'very little possibility that we will name it Cosmo'. The Cosmo was a line of luxury coupes sold between 1967 and 1996, and was available with rotary engines, either exclusively or in top-of-the-range variants. The new RX is expected to be a 2+2 coupe that's larger than the current fourth-generation MX-5. The Iconic SP measures 4180mm long, 1850mm wide, and 1150mm tall, which is 105mm shorter, 90mm wider, and 80mm lower than the third-generation 'FD' RX-7. Like the Iconic SP, the new RX will have a range extender EV drivetrain — with output of around 270kW — where the rotary engine operates as a generator for the battery pack. A version where the rotary engine drives the wheels is apparently part of the plan too. Supplied Credit: CarExpert The new rotary engine is a development of the motor used in the range extender (EREV) variant of the MX-30. The MX-30 EREV has a single rotor displacing 0.83L and makes 55kW. Its sole job is to recharge the 17.8kWh battery when it begins running low, while the 125kW electric motor is responsible for driving the front wheels. The MX-30 marked the return of the rotary engine to the Mazda range after an absence of 11 years, but the EREV version wasn't offered in the US because the rotary didn't meet local emissions regulations, a problem that's been solved in the upcoming version of the engine. Although the MX-30 has been withdrawn from the Australian market in 2023, it's still in on sale in many parts of the world, including Europe and Japan. MORE: Everything Mazda
Miami Herald
8 hours ago
- Automotive
- Miami Herald
Mazda RX-7 Successor And Next Miata Spell Trouble For Toyota's GR Division
Mazda has a rich history of producing compact, fun-to-drive sports cars. Rarely have they been overpowered; instead, the Japanese marque has a knack for crafting sporty cars that emphasize balance and feel. At the moment, the only modern sports car upholding this legacy is the MX-5 Miata ND, but not for much longer. The latest reports suggest that an RX-7 successor and an all-new Miata will add new, exciting chapters to Mazda's sports car legacy, but one is set to arrive some time before the other. The beautiful Iconic SP concept shown by Mazda in 2023 will be the basis for what has been dubbed an RX-7 successor, and according to Motor Trend, this rotary-engine sports car is nearly complete. This confirms an earlier report from April that Mazda has made tremendous progress in making the rotary powertrain suitable for production in an era where emissions regulations are much stricter. "You can expect Iconic SP will be a good successor for RX-7," said Ryuichi Umeshita, Mazda's Chief Technical Officer. The production sports car is expected to feature an electric motor supported by a dual-rotor rotary engine; the latter will act as a generator, so the sports car won't have issues with range. It should produce around 365 horsepower, but more importantly, Mazda has ensured it can meet emissions regulations. With that sort of power, we can expect a fiery battle with the next Toyota GR Supra. A potential second powertrain option will be of even greater interest to enthusiasts. This one will use the rotary engine as the primary power source, where it will actually power the wheels, not merely act as a generator. Umeshita would not confirm the name of the new sports car, but didn't deny the RX-7 or RX-9 names could be used. When speaking about other sports car names from Mazda's past, he said: "There is very little possibility that we will name it Cosmo." The sporty Cosmo was primarily sold in other markets between 1967 and 1996, with the most recent one being the flagship Mazda in Japan. It's likely the brand wants to reserve the Cosmo's legacy and not simply slap the name onto something much newer and sportier. Whereas the production version of the Iconic SP could arrive around 2027, the next MX-5 is further away. It will still be a small, nimble roadster with a manual gearbox and a gas engine, likely based on the new Skyactiv-Z engine Mazda is working on, said to be ready in 2027. Importantly, the Iconic SP and Miata will be separate cars, with Umeshita clarifying that the former won't cannibalize MX-5 sales. The production Iconic SP will be a larger, more expensive model than the Miata, especially because of its electrified powertrain and use of the more complex rotary engine. Now all we need is for the MazdaSpeed 3 to make a comeback, too, which would mean the brand would have a full lineup of performance cars to take on Toyota's GR division. Copyright 2025 The Arena Group, Inc. All Rights Reserved.
Auto Blog
11 hours ago
- Automotive
- Auto Blog
Mazda RX-7 Successor And Next Miata Spell Trouble For Toyota's GR Division
Mazda's two new sports cars will compete in different segments Mazda has a rich history of producing compact, fun-to-drive sports cars. Rarely have they been overpowered; instead, the Japanese marque has a knack for crafting sporty cars that emphasize balance and feel. At the moment, the only modern sports car upholding this legacy is the MX-5 Miata ND, but not for much longer. The latest reports suggest that an RX-7 successor and an all-new Miata will add new, exciting chapters to Mazda's sports car legacy, but one is set to arrive some time before the other. Mazda RX-7 Successor In Spirit, If Not In Name Source: Mazda The beautiful Iconic SP concept shown by Mazda in 2023 will be the basis for what has been dubbed an RX-7 successor, and according to Motor Trend, this rotary-engine sports car is nearly complete. This confirms an earlier report from April that Mazda has made tremendous progress in making the rotary powertrain suitable for production in an era where emissions regulations are much stricter. 'You can expect Iconic SP will be a good successor for RX-7,' said Ryuichi Umeshita, Mazda's Chief Technical Officer. The production sports car is expected to feature an electric motor supported by a dual-rotor rotary engine; the latter will act as a generator, so the sports car won't have issues with range. It should produce around 365 horsepower, but more importantly, Mazda has ensured it can meet emissions regulations. With that sort of power, we can expect a fiery battle with the next Toyota GR Supra. Mazda Iconic SP — Source: Mazda A potential second powertrain option will be of even greater interest to enthusiasts. This one will use the rotary engine as the primary power source, where it will actually power the wheels, not merely act as a generator. Umeshita would not confirm the name of the new sports car, but didn't deny the RX-7 or RX-9 names could be used. When speaking about other sports car names from Mazda's past, he said: 'There is very little possibility that we will name it Cosmo.' The sporty Cosmo was primarily sold in other markets between 1967 and 1996, with the most recent one being the flagship Mazda in Japan. It's likely the brand wants to reserve the Cosmo's legacy and not simply slap the name onto something much newer and sportier. All-New MX-5 Still A Few Years Away 2016 Mazda MX-5 Miata – ND — Source: Mazda Whereas the production version of the Iconic SP could arrive around 2027, the next MX-5 is further away. It will still be a small, nimble roadster with a manual gearbox and a gas engine, likely based on the new Skyactiv-Z engine Mazda is working on, said to be ready in 2027. Importantly, the Iconic SP and Miata will be separate cars, with Umeshita clarifying that the former won't cannibalize MX-5 sales. The production Iconic SP will be a larger, more expensive model than the Miata, especially because of its electrified powertrain and use of the more complex rotary engine. Now all we need is for the MazdaSpeed 3 to make a comeback, too, which would mean the brand would have a full lineup of performance cars to take on Toyota's GR division. About the Author Karl Furlong View Profile
Motor 1
a day ago
- Automotive
- Motor 1
Mazda's Rotary Sports Car Will Be Sold Alongside The Next Miata
We were smitten by the Iconic SP nearly two years ago when Mazda unveiled it at the Japan Mobility Show. However, once we stopped drooling over the coupe's swoopy design, a question began to surface: Is this the next Miata? It was a fair assumption. Mazda is still a relatively small company, and perhaps it can't afford to sell two sports cars. The Zoom-Zoom brand even suggested it could shrink the vehicle down to the MX-5's footprint . Thankfully, the Iconic SP isn't a preview of the fifth-generation Miata. Mazda Chief Technical Officer Ryuichi Umeshita told Motor Trend the rotary sports car will be a separate model positioned above the beloved roadster. He even said we 'can expect Iconic SP will be a good successor for RX-7,' although he stopped short of confirming the return of the iconic nameplate. He did, however, deny that it would wear the Cosmo badge as a nod to the Wankel-powered lineage that began in the mid-1960s. So, how big is the Iconic SP anyway? It measures 164.5 inches (4180 millimeters) in length, 72.8 inches (1850 millimeters) in width, and stands just 45.2 inches (1150 millimeters) tall, riding on a 102-inch (2590-millimeter) wheelbase. That makes it 10.4 inches (265 mm) longer and 4.7 inches (120 mm) wider than the ND-generation Miata. At the same time, it sits 3.3 inches (85 mm) lower. Despite having a wheelbase 11 inches (280 mm) longer than the tossable roadster, it still has just two seats. Well, at least the concept did. The show car was relatively light, weighing 3,197 pounds (1,450 kg). For comparison, a Miata RF with a manual transmission is 728 pounds (330 kg) lighter. As for power, the concept delivers 365 hp via an electric motor, with a dual-rotor combustion engine serving as a generator to recharge the battery. Since its debut, Mazda has confirmed plans for a dual-rotor setup in America, offering more muscle than the MX-30's single-rotor range extender. While the crossover's system didn't meet U.S. regulations, the new hardware will be made compliant. Interestingly, Mazda is also considering a version where the rotary engine directly drives the wheels. This would be the first time since the RX-8 bowed out in 2012 with the Japan-exclusive Spirit R edition. A fully electric Iconic SP is technically possible, but Mazda says it won't happen. No surprise there. Mazda Iconic SP Concept 23 The rotary sports car could arrive before the next Miata. Mazda's global design chief, Masashi Nakayama, told Motor Trend that the current MX-5 will remain on sale for a few more years. When the replacement does arrive, it will inherit some styling cues from the Iconic SP. Power will probably come from the newly announced Skyactiv-Z engine , with Umeshita confirming the six-speed manual, rear-wheel drive, and lightweight construction are all here to stay. It's too early for Mazda to discuss pricing, but the rotary sports car will almost certainly carry a hefty premium over the MX-5. The hardtop RF currently starts at $38,735 before options, so expect the larger Iconic SP to be priced above $50,000, possibly even north of $60,000. Good News For The Miata: Mazda Will Put a Bigger Engine in the Next Miata Mazda Finally Gives the Miata More Power Get the best news, reviews, columns, and more delivered straight to your inbox, daily. back Sign up For more information, read our Privacy Policy and Terms of Use . Source: Motor Trend Share this Story Facebook X LinkedIn Flipboard Reddit WhatsApp E-Mail Got a tip for us? Email: tips@ Join the conversation ( )
