A patent for the Mazda Iconic SP has been filed with the Japan Patent Office. Renderings appear to adhere faithfully to the concept that debuted at the Japan Mobility Show (formerly Tokyo Motor Show) in October 2023. It even has the concept’s pop-up headlights. Some are theorizing that this means the car is destined for production.
The patent renderings were unearthed by Best Car, which also muses that the car might be considered a successor to the Cosmo Sport. Even they admit this is a stretch, though. What’s obvious is that it takes cues from the Roadstser/MX-5 and RX-7, as we’ve discussed before.
Whatever it’s called, it’s believed that the car will have a rotary engine. However, it will operate only as a range extender to charge the battery. Driving the wheels will be an electric motor powered by a battery pack, like the rotary MX-30‘s setup.
At the time of the Iconic SP’s Tokyo reveal, Mazda representatives said they were gauging the public’s reaction to determine if they should build it. The patent registration seems to move in the direction of production at least. Should Mazda build it?
Of course they should build it, but with the new Inline 6 and a manual gearbox.
As much as I like the rotary and I want it back, you are right that they should put their new inline 6 in this and make it make it compete against BMW 2, 4 or Z series.
If the rotary is a range extender, it will be made as quiet and refined as possible, so no brap brap ring-a-ding ding and other two-strokes sounds for us enthusiasts
It seems like they’re making good money on building crossovers, so they should build this at least to generate more excitement in the showroom.
In a corporate profitability sense, they should probably not build it. Since unfortunately the predominant appetite for vehicles right now is for some variant of a slightly lifted small station wagons, a premium-priced mid/small sports car probably doesn’t have enough of a market to justify the development costs.
Should they build it because of my own selfish desire to have options of interesting cars available, absolutely! I am unlikely to buy one new since I am a bit of a skinflint, but I would certainly consider it on the lightly used market.
I would not be surprised if this concept quietly goes away like so many otherconcepts that have been highly regarded among enthusiasts.
Quiet, they’ll hear you.
They should build it and stick with the original concept drivetrain. Hybrids are selling well now as the public warms to the idea of all electric vehicles but are hesitant to buy based on charging station availability and charging times. Mazda needs to get hybrids out on the market quickly and this would be a great halo car for that effort while also enlightening the hearts of its rotary fan base.
Mazda is flirting with faux pas on the one forte of their brand: not following the herd (with a line-up of indistinguishable SUV’s & crossovers). Their Miata & rotaries have done that but MX-5 will have to evolve very soon. What a great, relevant refresh it would be. Bean counters aren’t always the best at marketing. Mazda Zoom-Zoom…
Followed shortly thereafter by head gasket/crank/cooling system issues.
Then it’s Mazda Boom-Boom.
Why argue between a hybrid and a pure ICE thing?
I mean, what’d stop Mazda from doing both?
Wanting this or that is fine…
WILL YOU BUY ONE?