Last week, automotive media outlet CarBuzz discovered a pair of patents filed by Mazda depicting the body structure of a new, unnamed vehicle. Explicitly described as a rear-wheel-drive sports car in the documentation, its proportions do match the Iconic SP concept first showcased in 2023.
The Iconic SP can be categorized as a range-extended EV, being powered by an electric motor paired with a rotary combustion engine generator. Its silhouette heavily echoes the RX-7 through elements like its fastback coupe body and reinterpreted pop-up headlights. Its butterfly doors also drew attention, drawing comparisons with supercars that also carry them.
However, the power unit depicted in the patent diagrams appears to be a four-cylinder engine. The presence of a transmission tunnel also disproves the notion that this is the car’s generator. Observers have come up with different theories to explain what this could mean for an upcoming sports car from Mazda.
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The most straightforward prediction is that Mazda will be bringing the Iconic SP to production, but it will be powered by a four-cylinder engine. This was reportedly among the options Mazda was considering while deliberating the concept’s future. As for the absence of a rotary engine, the automaker has previously mentioned that its rotary program must contend with ever-tightening emissions regulations. This could see Mazda instead falling back on its Skyactiv engines to power the sports car.
A more out-there theory speculates that this could be a radical new take on the Miata. With the next-generation MX-5 reportedly being its last run of pure gas-powered performance, some believe that Mazda could be going all out with a drastic redesign, including the Iconic SP’s butterfly doors seen in the patent diagram. Others think this specialized engineering would drive up the ‘NE’ Miata’s far too high, going against its affordable spirit.
The middle ground between these options is that the patent shows a shared platform for both the new Miata and the production-spec Iconic SP. This saves Mazda the cost and work of having to engineer two bespoke platforms for its sports cars; the company has already done this before with the NC Miata and the RX-8. History could repeat itself again, with another Miata and rotary power-related sports car on the way.
As always, it should be noted that patents never serve as direct confirmation of an upcoming model’s production status. While the possibility exists that we could see the Iconic SP christened as a proper RX-7 successor within months or years, we shouldn’t take these technical drawings as hard fact just yet. But what do you make of all this? Let us know in the comments what you’re thinking.
