Mazda's Future Is Now

With its head-turning silhouette and game-changing powertrain technology, the Mazda Iconic SP concept represents the pinnacle of Mazda’s future ambitions – and the marque is just getting started.

Words Shogo Hagiwara / Photography Eric Micotto

Under the watchful eyes of an eager audience at the 2023 Japan Mobility Show, Mazda unveiled the Mazda Iconic SP – a striking next-gen two-seater concept designed to carry the rich legacy of Mazda into the future. Clad in an elegant new Viola Red colour, peppered by camera flashes from the world’s media, and with a dramatic form reminiscent of that of a musical instrument, the Mazda Iconic SP immediately captured global attention, earning headlines across the planet.

Now, a year later, Naohito Saga, Executive Officer at Mazda’s R&D Strategy Planning Division, and Masashi Nakayama, General Manager at the company’s Design Division, describe it as a career highlight, hinting at the concept’s deeper significance for Mazda beyond its debut. “This concept is not just one of those empty show cars,” says Nakayama. “It’s been designed with real intent to turn it into a production model in the not-so-distant future.”

“Standing by the car, you should be able to picture what sort of engine would be housed under the bonnet,” Saga continues. “That’s how committed we were to crafting this concept car. The more time you spend looking at it, the more the car will reveal to you. In the development process, everything from the position of the doors and tyres to the length of the vehicle, the seating position of the occupants, and visibility was meticulously researched before reaching the final specifications. It really shows how much we wanted to make it a car that manifests Mazda’s commitment for the future, especially in terms of sustainability and the future role of our rotary engine technology.”

The New Rotary EV System

Due to this striking presence, much of the conversation naturally revolves around the Mazda Iconic SP’s design. Yet it’s crucial not to overlook the profound impact of its new two-rotor rotary EV system, specially designed for this concept car. Mazda’s innovative rotary engine is highly scalable and able to run on several types of fuel, and generates electricity from carbon-neutral sources. Its compact size also enables the Mazda Iconic SP to showcase a low-profile package akin to a midship sports car, promising an exhilarating driving experience.

A combination of a dual-rotor rotary engine and an EV system provides the Mazda Iconic SP with a maximum output of 370kW.

“There are quite a few energy sources for carbon-neutral fuel,” says Saga on the breadth of fuel sources available. “There are different synthetic fuels, made using hydrogen and CO₂, and biofuels made from raw materials including plants, which are compatible with petrol and diesel engines, respectively.”

Amid the industry’s gradual shift toward electrification, this advanced rotary engine innovation could emerge as a crucial long-term solution. “The rotary engine can be very compact and very powerful at the same time,” says Saga. “That’s one advantage. It can also be powered by various types of fuel, and that could give us an edge in the race to find a feasible solution for the future of mobility.”

According to Saga, no matter which carbon-neutral fuel becomes mainstream, the rotary engine can adapt. This means that, by using fuels with low CO₂ emissions in the refining process, the Mazda Iconic SP’s powertrain has the potential to reduce emissions by up to 90 per cent.* Likewise, Mazda is also advancing a next-gen technology to capture CO₂ from exhaust emissions, currently estimated at around 20%. It’s theorised that this remarkable project could take Mazda one step further and see it evolve into a carbon-negative manufacturer.

“Today, we are competing in the Super Taikyu endurance racing series in Japan to test the potential of carbon-neutral fuel, but in the future we intend to experiment with technology to capture CO₂ as well,” says Saga. He suggests that, if this proof of concept goes to plan, it could play a role in the development of Mazda’s future range of vehicles—an exciting prospect indeed.

The Road to the Future

During the 2023 Japan Mobility Show last year, Masahiro Moro, Mazda’s newly appointed President and CEO, announced that, “Mazda will always focus on delivering vehicles that remind people that cars are pure joy and an indispensable part of their life”. He then went on to reveal the much-anticipated Mazda Iconic SP – “an iconic model that exemplifies our commitment to the future”.

This is an undeniably exciting statement, and one that cues Mazda up for an ambitious future fuelled by challenger spirit. “We want every Mazda owner to be proud of the car that they drive and lifestyle that they lead with it,” says Nakayama. “We believe our design is one of the most important elements; but if it’s just about a car’s looks, with no consideration for our environment, no one wants to drive it.”

For Saga, Nakayama, and Mazda as a whole, it’s just as vital that you drive a Mazda not just for how it looks, Nakayama says, but “because the company is leading the way in sustainable technology”. And, with the Mazda Iconic SP at the helm, the future is Mazda’s for the taking.