We finally have official confirmation: This isn’t just another flashy concept doomed to oblivion, it’s actually going into series production.
It’s been a year since Mazda first unveiled the well-received Iconic SP Concept, a gorgeous retro-futuristic coupe with an electric motor and a range-extending rotary petrol engine.
After months of speculation and rumors, we finally have official confirmation: This isn’t just another flashy concept doomed to be forgotten, it’s actually going into production.
Masashi Nakayama, Mazda’s chief designer, confirmed the news.
“This concept is not just one of the show vehicles put together just for an auto show presentation. It has been designed with the intention of turning into a production model in the near future,” he said.
This is the first time Mazda has officially announced serial production of the Iconic SP coupe.
The first hint came during the concept’s debut at the Japan Mobility Show, where Mazda president and CEO Masahiro Moro described the car as a symbol of commitment to the future.
Later, in an interview, Nakayama hinted that the Iconic SP is a project he would like to see on the road, further fueling the enthusiasm of Mazda fans.
Now, with production confirmed, that vision is one step closer to reality.
The Iconic SP in its final version could evolve into a successor to the legendary RX-7 and RX-8 sports cars, although Mazda has hinted that it could also be downsized to the MX-5 roadster. .
Ideally, the production version would retain the clean and seductive lines of the concept, as well as the distinctive headlights.
“When you stand next to the car, you should be able to imagine what kind of engine is under the hood. We put so much into designing this concept car. The more time you spend looking at it, the more it reveals,” says Naohito Saga, executive director of Mazda’s R&D Strategy Planning Department.
“During the development process, everything from the position of the doors and tires to the length of the vehicle, the position of the passenger seats and visibility, was diligently researched before the final specifications were determined,” he adds.
“It really shows how much we wanted to create a car that demonstrates Mazda’s commitment to the future, particularly in terms of sustainability and the future role of our rotary technology.
Rotary motor as a range extender
Although Mazda has yet to share details on how the production version will be powered, at the heart of the Iconic SP concept is a compact twin-rotor rotary engine mated to an electric drive system.
In the concept car, this system produces a combined output of 370 horsepower (272 kW).
The company claims the range extender can be adapted to use any carbon-neutral fuel, potentially reducing emissions by up to 90 percent.
