Mazda Iconic SP Concept is the RX‑7 of our times. It has a dual Wankel engine and a large battery

Mazda appeared at the Japan Mobility Show with an impressive concept, heralding the sports coupe of the future. The beautiful body conceals unique technical solutions.

Brand fans have finally got what they've been waiting for. The cult RX-7 has a worthy successor. Unfortunately, only in the form of a concept. However, it proves that gasoline still flows in the veins of Mazda's engineers.

The Iconic SP Concept is representative of the sports coupe segment. It stands out with its dynamically styled body, which is slightly longer than in the MX-5 model. Underneath the attractive lines, it hides a very unusual drive.

We find there is a rotary Wankel engine that is not directly responsible for the drive, but for charging the batteries. Mazda does not reveal too many technical details. However, we know that the total power is around 360 horsepower.

The manufacturer also emphasizes that the installed rotaries don't have to be fueled by gasoline. It can also be adapted to hydrogen or alternative fuels. Also worth noting is the plug that allows charging the battery from an external source.

However, the downside of the unusual drive is its not excessively low weight. The Iconic SP Concept, indeed, weighs around 3197 lbs, which is not a disastrous result, but noticeably higher than in the case of the iconic RX-7.

It's worth mentioning that the combination of a Wankel engine with an electric drive is nothing new. Mazda uses this solution in the series model MX-30 R-EV and intends to develop it in other models. Will there be a place among them for the production equivalent of the Iconic SP Concept? Hopefully, although nothing is official yet.