“We still persist in making it happen.”

It’s been just over a year since Mazda hinted at the RX’s return with the Iconic SP, a sleek coupe powered by a two-rotor engine. Since its stunning debut at the Japan Mobility Show, Mazda has been teasing the possibility of bringing the car to production. In a recent interview with Automotive News, Mazda’s CEO gave a strong indication that the two-seater sports car is on its way.
Masahiro Moro, Mazda’s CEO and President, confirmed that progress on the Iconic SP is ongoing, with plans for a production version: “We still persist in making it happen, and we are marching towards it step by step.” While this isn’t an official confirmation of the RX’s return, it’s a promising development. Now, we wait for the production model, which could end up being slightly smaller than the concept.

Soon after the Iconic SP concept debuted, Chief Designer Masashi Nakayama mentioned it “could easily be shrunk down to Miata-like proportions.” This sparked speculation that the Iconic SP might hint at the next-generation MX-5 rather than an RX revival. It remains unclear whether the rotary sports car would complement the Miata lineup or replace it entirely.
As a reminder, the concept measured 164.5 inches (4180 millimeters) in length, 72.8 inches (1850 millimeters) in width, and 45.2 inches (1150 millimeters) in height, with a 102-inch (2590-millimeter) wheelbase. It weighed 3,197 pounds (1,450 kilograms) with nearly perfect weight distribution, evenly balanced between the front and rear.
Mazda CEO Masahiro Moro has confirmed plans for a two-rotor engine in the United States, addressing the demand for more power than the single-rotor unit in the MX-30 e-Skyactiv R-EV, which isn’t available stateside. However, as with the crossover, the two-rotor engine in the concept didn’t directly drive the wheels. Instead, it served as a generator to power a battery, which in turn supplied energy to an electric motor driving the car.

Mazda has yet to reveal the displacement of the two-rotor engine, though the electrified MX-30 crossover uses a single-rotor, 830-cc unit. Whether the two-rotor will displace 1.6 liters remains uncertain. The Iconic SP concept delivered 365 horsepower—likely too much for a Miata successor, suggesting a new RX is more likely. If so, the next MX-5 will likely feature Mazda’s recently announced Skyactiv-Z engine.
In February 2024, Mazda reassembled its rotary team to create “attractive cars that excite customers with our challenger spirit.” This “RE Development Group” consists of 36 engineers and marks the company’s first dedicated rotary engine team since 2018—an ideal setup for developing a new RX.
The last rotary-powered RX model, the RX-8 Spirit R, was built in 2012 for the Japanese market. A new RX would be Mazda’s 13th rotary car. Here’s hoping that number brings good fortune!

