The New Updates About The Mazda RX-7 Successor Have Me Puzzled

If you are a JDM fan, fervently awaiting the next Japanese sports car to be revived, you are likely itching to know what's happening with Mazda's upcoming rotary sports car. So am I, and I recently reviewed a couple of new scoops. We know the Mazda MX-5 Miata's future will involve electrification, but this flagship model takes things further.

The juiciest report comes from the Japanese publication, Best Car Web, courtesy of the YouTube channel, Kirk Kreifels. While he talked about what the RX-7 could be, based on the latest issue of the Japanese car magazine, some details are lost to translation or simply contradict what we already know. Here's what the latest updates tell us about Mazda's upcoming rotary sports car. 

The controversial news 

Mazda's flagship sports car will, reportedly, debut for the 2027 model year. We know its design will be based on the Iconic SP Concept, but the powertrain is where the truly interesting news comes. Mazda claims it would be a Plug-in hybrid with a rotary range-extender, and there lies the issue.  

We know the rotary part of the Mazda sports car powertrain is based on the MX-30 crossover. There, the single-rotary unit serves purely as a range extender. This contradicts Mazda's patent filings. These describe a hybrid architecture, including a rotary engine, which would be used to propel the car.

Moreover, the combustion unit is a three-rotor unit. By the number of rotors, alone, it's easy to figure out such a powertrain will not serve purely as a range extender. The patents also show a driveshaft going to the rear while two electric motors will power each of the front wheels, with a third one being integrated into the transmission, like on a mild-hybrid setup. 

I doubt Mazda will make its new sports car with a small rotary engine, simply there to charge the e-motors. We already saw how that worked with the MX-30, which turned out to be a sales flop. As for the exact power output, we are still ways from getting an official figure, but Japanese reports indicate that it will be in the range of 350 to 400 horsepower. It will not be as powerful as the upcoming Toyota Supra hybrid, but Mazda is planning for its hybrid sports car to be very lightweight. Mazda knows how to make a driver-centric car and, apparently, even the brand's largest SUV, the CX-90, is exceptional to drive.

We have quoted figures for the dimensions of Mazda's new flagship sports car – 4,180 mm length, 1,850 mm width, and 1,150 mm height. These, however, are numbers for the Iconic SP Concept. We also don't have a figure for the wheelbase. To put things in perspective, the Mazda MX-5 Miata (ND) dimensions are 3,915 mm in length, 1,735 mm in width, and 1,230 mm in height.  

What Mazda showed us 

At the “multi-pathway workshop” where Toyota, Mazda, and Subaru announced a partnership, Mazda showed a twin-rotary engine with an e-motor at the rear. There is no mention of forced induction, so whether or not Mazda will turbocharge it remains a mystery at this point. We could get a normally aspirated rotary engine. Bugatti went a similar route with the Tourbillon and its V-16, high-revving, hybrid powertrain, so we could see something similar here. 

I am more curious about the transmission options. We have yet to see a mainstream car manufacturer bring out a hybrid powertrain mated to a manual transmission. Honda did this with the CR-Z years ago, but it never quite caught up. We know it is possible and I have seen it on BB Auto's Porsche 911 Targa Hybrid, but I am fairly certain Mazda will utilize its new eight-speed automatic instead. There could be a manual option as we see a resurgence in some Japanese sports cars like the Supra, but I wouldn't hold my breath. 

Car companies love leading us astray with mixed reports, but a gas-powered range-extender doesn't seem like an exciting thing to feature in a flagship sports car. This could be a classic case of throwing sand in our faces until the real thing comes out. Feel free to share your thoughts in the comment section below.

Dimitar Angelov's automotive interests made him an expert in a wide variety of vehicles. Japanese brands like Toyota are closest to his heart, although performance cars in general are his favorite segment, which is why he is constantly on the lookout for the best deals on the market. Dimitar Angelov's car passion and knack for the written word led him to complete a Master of Arts in Media and Communications, and classic car restoration. Dim is happy to get behind the wheel of any car and share his impressions. You can follow Dimitar on X, Linked-in, Instagram, and Facebook.