New Mazda Looks Nice

[Balboa]

The Rotary-Electric Mazda Iconic SP Concept Marks The Return of Pop Up Headlights

Mazda's latest concept car marks the return of a design element that died when the C5 Corvette went out of production.

www.motor1.com

 

[Nova]

I do like the pop-up headlights. They need to make it independently operable so that drivers can wink at each other and at attractive pedestrians.

 

[Green]

Not a fan at all. Way too smooth and curvy. Dated design in my eyes. Hard pass.

 

[seriously]

I like it. Reflects Mazdas different design language and a clear homage to the shape of the rx7. Fear it might be severely underwhelming performance-wise compared to other all electrics. Power train doesn’t make sense.

 

[Callabrator]

I like it. Reflects Mazdas different design language and a clear homage to the shape of the rx7. Fear it might be severely underwhelming performance-wise compared to other all electrics. Power train doesn’t make sense.

Yeah, I can't see how using a rotary as a generator is going to provide a pleasing noise. It'll just be a constant buzz as there won't be any running up and down the rev range with speed...unless I'm missing something.

 

[Balboa]

I like it. Reflects Mazdas different design language and a clear homage to the shape of the rx7. Fear it might be severely underwhelming performance-wise compared to other all electrics. Power train doesn’t make sense.

Maybe so but i bet it will sound better. I had a 3rd gen RX7 so i have a softspot. Great overall sports car - hard to top back in 1993

 

[eriegz]

Not a fan at all. Way too smooth and curvy. Dated design in my eyes. Hard pass.

Agreed, way too smooth, not enough edges or lines. It looks like one of those cheap knock-off 3D car models that you can buy online.

 

[dgrace]

This angle looks great. But most of the rest are a little too cartoony.

 

[Adam Brouillard]

I can't help but see like a stoned whale shark sticking out it's tongue.

 

[seriously]

Maybe so but i bet it will sound better. I had a 3rd gen RX7 so i have a softspot. Great overall sports car - hard to top back in 1993

3rd gen rx7 was my favorite car growing up. If you remember the shape of that car, it was uniquely sculptural and beautiful in a way the other jdms were not. Think any Honda, Nissan, etc. it felt a little more Italian almost? It was different.

 

[MickOpalak]

I like it a lot. Very smooth and curvy. Timeless design in my eyes.

 

[GetawayDriving]

Saw this car in the flesh and it's gorgeous.

They also had the same color red NA Miata parked right at the entry to the zone to view this car. Seemed like a strong hint to me.

 

[Tokion]

Saw this car in the flesh and it's gorgeous.

They also had the same color red NA Miata parked right at the entry to the zone to view this car. Seemed like a strong hint to me.

I dropped by the MOBILITY SHOW in Tokyo’s ‘Big Sight’ today Sunday Oct 29, 2023 and walked straight to the MAZDA ICONIC SP display.

This new Mazda concept model is absolutely stunning, and in my opinion there is no other car at the current show that comes close. It beautifully creates a new form from the best of the styling elements from the 1991/1992 RX-7 FD-3S that I owned in Montego Blue with a very early serial number just over 800. I drove my car in anger on Fuji Speedway circuit (even remember a spin-out in a corner).

I had a chance to have a chat with a slightly older (upper 50s), veteran Mazda staff. He confirmed to me that the weight target is 1400 kgs (batteries included) and also that the twin rotary engine will operate in an rpm range, and not just a single, fixed RPM. I was also told that the max power output target is 370 hp.

Mazda is carefully balancing this car regarding weight, power output, and range. The latter (range) is still unknown, and it will be one determining factor.

It will be exciting to see if this concept model will become an actual production car. It appears to have the potential to become a clear winner!

 

[eriegz]

I dropped by the MOBILITY SHOW in Tokyo’s ‘Big Sight’ today Sunday Oct 29, 2023 and walked straight to the MAZDA ICONIC SP display.

This new Mazda concept model is absolutely stunning, and in my opinion there is no other car at the current show that comes close. It beautifully creates a new form from the best of the styling elements from the 1991/1992 RX-7 FD-3S that I owned in Montego Blue with a very early serial number just over 800. I drove my car in anger on Fuji Speedway circuit (even remember a spin-out in a corner).

I had a chance to have a chat with a slightly older (upper 50s), veteran Mazda staff. He confirmed to me that the weight target is 1400 kgs (batteries included) and also that the twin rotary engine will operate in an rpm range, and not just a single, fixed RPM. I was also told that the max power output target is 370 hp.

Mazda is carefully balancing this car regarding weight, power output, and range. The latter (range) is still unknown, and it will be one determining factor.

It will be exciting to see if this concept model will become an actual production car. It appears to have the potential to become a clear winner!

Great pics, thanks! I take back what I said earlier, this car is indeed beautiful.

 

[Callabrator]

…also that the twin rotary engine will operate in an rpm range, and not just a single, fixed RPM. I was also told that the max power output target is 370 hp.

Oh awesome! Thanks for asking him! I’m very happy to have been wrong here!

 

[Superman]

Overall, I sort of like it, but I think the shape is perhaps too 'smooth'?

Love the doors, side profile looks pretty good, rear is so-so, but front I just don't get, looks like a squinting fish with its tongue poking out

 

[Aero]

It has potential. I think by the times the bean counters and manufacturing group gets involved, the excessive curviness will be toned down. In the end it may look like the RX7 FD which is a good thing.
Those doors look very impractical for real world use...even though they are cool.

 

[Finbarqs]

3rd gen rx7 was my favorite car growing up. If you remember the shape of that car, it was uniquely sculptural and beautiful in a way the other jdms were not. Think any Honda, Nissan, etc. it felt a little more Italian almost? It was different.

The NSX felt Italian. The FD (especially the ‘99 spec) had its own design philosophy, and you cannot deny it’s beauty driving down the road.

This… I’ll have to see it in person. I’m not too keen on the Mazda logo in the mouth of the front. Looks a bit cartoony to me

 

[Porter]

The NSX felt Italian. The FD (especially the ‘99 spec) had its own design philosophy, and you cannot deny it’s beauty driving down the road.

This… I’ll have to see it in person. I’m not too keen on the Mazda logo in the mouth of the front. Looks a bit cartoony to me

Couldn't agree more. The NSX borrowed heavily from the Ferrari 328, in particular the wedge nose and hood contour. The rear was a combination of influences, many of them also Italian, with cues taken from concepts developed by both ItalDesign (Giugiaro) and Pininfarina. The latter even did an initial design study for Honda called the HP-X that established some of the basic wedge design language.

 

[73JPS]

I like it.

I tend to think of Mazda as the Japanese spirit of Lotus. I’ve owned four FB RX7s and an RX8 over the years, and the Emira will be my 4th Lotus. I guess I kinda have a thing …