No New Mazda RX Model Without a Rotary Engine
Mazda is determined to see the “R” in “RX” live up to its name.
For the Japanese automaker, the R in the RX nameplate refers to rotary, which means it would be uncouth for the company to create a new RX model without a rotary engine. In a recent interview with Automotive News, Mazda global design chief Ikuo Maeda said that he would never give up on resurrecting the RX series and is “always going over shapes” inside his head.
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While the SkyActiv engines are formidable and have their place in Mazda’s performance car lineup, the company won’t develop an RX model without a rotary engine. Unfortunately, the company won’t confirm its progress with rotary development despite rumors that an RX-7 and RX-9 are in the works. The design chief did dismiss the idea that Mazda would abandon the rotary engine altogether and outfit the next-generation RX with a SkyActiv engine.
“SkyActiv is a wonderful powertrain. So it is possible to create a sports car using that powertrain,” said Maeda. “If it’s Skyactiv, we would just do it in a different vehicle.”
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[Source: Automotive News]
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Jason Siu began his career in automotive journalism in 2003 with Modified Magazine, a property previously held by VerticalScope. As the West Coast Editor, he played a pivotal role while also extending his expertise to Modified Luxury & Exotics and Modified Mustangs. Beyond his editorial work, Jason authored two notable Cartech books. His tenure at AutoGuide.com saw him immersed in the daily news cycle, yet his passion for hands-on evaluation led him to focus on testing and product reviews, offering well-rounded recommendations to AutoGuide readers. Currently, as the Content Director for VerticalScope, Jason spearheads the content strategy for an array of online publications, a role that has him at the helm of ensuring quality and consistency across the board.
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