• Mazda has unveiled the Iconic SP forward of the Tokyo auto present, offering extra particulars on the streamlined sports activities automotive first seen nearly final yr because the “Vision Study Model.”
• The Iconic SP is powered by electrical motors, with a twin-rotor rotary engine appearing as a generator to recharge the battery as wanted.
• The idea is about 10 inches longer than the present Miata and contains a simplistic inside with a small display and few bodily switches.

A yr in the past, Mazda teased a slinky sports car concept referred to as the “Vision Study Model” that we theorized was an early take a look at an electrical MX-5 Miata. Now Mazda has introduced again the idea for a correct reveal forward of the 2023 Tokyo auto show. Dubbed the Iconic SP, the sports activities automotive is definitely considerably bigger than Mazda’s well-known roadster and is powered by a hybrid rotary-engined setup.

Mazda Iconic SP Details

Mazda did not reveal a ton of particulars concerning the Iconic SP, however the automaker did publish dimensions. The idea measures 164.6 inches lengthy, 72.8 inches broad, and 45.3 inches tall, with an almost 102-inch wheelbase. This makes it about 10 inches longer than a Miata, 4 inches wider, three inches shorter, and with an 11-inch lengthier wheelbase. At 3197 kilos, additionally it is about 850 kilos portlier than a Miata.

Under the hood lives a hybrid system pairing an unspecified variety of electrical motors with a twin-rotor rotary engine. Mazda says the rotary engine is used for energy technology, implying that it’s merely a variety extender that costs the battery and would not immediately drive the wheels. Mazda makes use of an analogous setup within the MX-30 e-Skyactiv R-EV, revealed earlier this yr for international markets with a single-rotor engine serving as a battery generator.

Mazda says the Iconic SP’s engine runs on a carbon-neutral gasoline, however it may additionally “burn various fuels such as hydrogen.” The powertrain pumps out 365 horsepower, which ought to make the slinky sports activities automotive pretty fast. The idea additionally allegedly acts as an influence provide, permitting you to run home equipment whereas spending time outdoor or within the occasion of an outage.

Mazda says the idea is designed for purchasers who “desire a car that simply embodies the joy of driving” and touts a low middle of gravity and a 50:50 weight distribution. The modern hood sits low between the entrance fenders because of the compact rotary engine, and the bodywork is extremely clean, like a chunk of seaglass that has been polished by waves for eons. A model of Mazda’s smiling grille sits under what seem like pop-up LED headlights.

The cabin is simplistic, with a small display to the best of the steering wheel and a collection of sliders on the middle console. A small digital gauge lives behind the steering wheel—displaying a monitor map of the Monaco Grand Prix circuit and a g-force meter—and the inside surfaces seem like upholstered with a luxurious-looking suede. The idea is painted a vivid shade referred to as Viola Red, matching the purple stitching inside.

It’s unclear precisely what the Iconic SP represents. Although the idea is larger than the Miata and contains a radically totally different powertrain than the MX-5’s 2.0-liter inline-four, Mazda’s Tokyo auto present exhibit will function quite a lot of Miata fashions.

Mazda has already mentioned that the Miata would become electrified to some degree for its next generation, so it is potential that the rotary-hybrid setup right here may turn out to be actuality. Either manner, it’s a reassuring look right into a future the place Mazda will stay dedicated to small, gentle sports activities automobiles.

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Caleb Miller started running a blog about automobiles at 13 years previous, and he realized his dream of writing for a automotive journal after graduating from Carnegie Mellon University and becoming a member of the Car and Driver staff. He loves quirky and obscure autos, aiming to someday personal one thing weird like a Nissan S-Cargo, and is an avid motorsports fan.