One of motoring’s greats is making a comeback, and it’s huge. Mazda for one, is a brand that’s synonymous with perfecting the rotary-powered sports car formula, with evidence to back this stretching as far back as the 1960s. This global unveiling which took place at the Tokyo Motor Show today effectively marks the company’s 50th anniversary of rotary goodness.
Just last month, Mazda surprised us by teasing a brand new concept sports car that had design cues similar to that of the iconic RX-7. Today it is confirmed – those long sweeping lines and flat-stretched bonnet are all subtle indications of what lurks under the hood. Interesting that Mazda should use the SkyActiv-R moniker here as the technology is the brainchild of engineers who do not rely on forced-induction to extract power and efficiency from an engine, thus it would make this car one of the most highly anticipated roadsters since the revival of the MX-5.
An exquisitely proportioned front-engine, rear-wheel drive layout, the RX-VISION represents a stunning “vision” look into the company’s future ‘s and it’s one that countless fans of the brand around the world hope will become a reality. Word is that if the engineers can sort out the remaining pre-production issues, we could see this concept hit showrooms by 2017.
Rotary engines function very differently from regular internal combustion chambers. They generate power through rotational motion of triangular rotors instead of the normal reciprocal pistons in conventional engines. Mazda has faced countless technical difficulties in reviving this engine, but it seems they are making great strides in terms of research and development. When it comes to fruition, the engine will bear the SkyActiv-R badge.
“I look forward to talking with you more about this vision we revealed here today at the Mazda stand, [we] will continue to take on new challenges in an effort to build a special bond with our customers and become their one and only brand” said Mazda’s Representative Director, President and CEO Masamichi Kogai.
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