Mazda seems to be quite literally doubling down on sports cars -- and the rotary engine. With the debut of the RX-Vision concept that was unveiled Tuesday at the Tokyo Motor Show, the Japanese carmaker embraces the two automotive trends that seem to be going the way of the polar bear.
A quick background on what I mean here: Rotary engines -- also known as Wankel engines -- had long been deemed impractical, as their triangular design presented many issues like excessive oil consumption. Despite this, Mazda ran with the engine technology and sent it into production beginning back in 1967 with its 110S model.
The rotary engine, which can pack a hefty power punch from a relatively tiny size, perhaps hit its peak of popularity with the brand's RX-7 sports car. It was phased out of the brand's portfolio, however, with the end of the RX-8 sports car in 2012. Few thought it would ever return. With the RX-Vision, Mazda indicates that the ending of the rotary story has not yet been written.
"Mazda hopes to one day make [the RX-Vision] into reality," the company said in a press release. That, however is only one part of the two-part story: The other is the sports car.
Sports cars -- especially inexpensive sports cars -- don't really sell very well. The Scion FR-S, for example, has been a sales flop. Heck, even the Porsche Cayman doesn't sell very well. So for Mazda to say it's keen to build another rotary sports car is a double-whammy of questionable marketing.
That said, if the RX-Vision were to, say, be hybridized and made to compete with the likes of the Acura NSX and other 'entry-level' supercars, it could have a bolstering effect to the brand image. While cheaper sports cars suffer, halo sports cars is a rising tide that lifts all ships.
Think of the 2008 Audi R8 supercar that helped turn Audi from a mid-level player into a runner-up for the top luxury sales spot on the planet. If done right, the RX-Vision could serve Mazda similarly to embolden the already more luxurious image it is shaping for itself.
This is all speculation, unfortunately. All we really know for now is that Mazda is at least not yet done with refining its Kodo design language, which has graced the face of many cars, including the CX-3 compact crossover that we like ever so much.
