Mazda CEO Kills Hope For a Rotary-Powered Sports Car

That doesn’t mean the rotary is dead, tho’.

Ever since Mazda killed the RX-8 in 2012–and thus, the rotary-powered sports car–there’s been a bevy of hopeful rumors that the company will build a successor. Mazda helped intensify those rumors when it showcased off the RX-Vision concept car last year, but now, the company’s CEO has killed hope for the RX-9.

In an interview withAutomotive News, Mazda CEO Masamichi Kogai confirmed that the company has no plans to build a sports car larger than the Miata, effectively dashing hopes for the RX-9. Kogai isn’t yet ready to proclaim the rotary dead, however.

“If we were to restart production of the rotary engine again, we need to make sure it wouldn’t be just short-lived,” said Kogai. “We need it to meet future emissions regulations. We are still conducting our R&D activity to overcome any issues we have with emissions and fuel efficiency.”

Kogai says that the most likely application for the rotary would be as a range extender in an electrical car. A rotary engine as the main power plant isn’t entirely out of the question, but don’t expect to see an electrified sports car with a range extender.

“I think that as a sports car option, the MX-5 1.5-liter or Two.0-liter conventional engine, with its power and acceleration, might be a more exhilarating practice,” said Kogai.

Mazda was one of the very first automakers to invest intensely in rotary engines, but all but abandoned them because of their naturally high fuel and oil consumption. The automaker is working on a fresh turbocharged rotary, dubbed Skyactiv-R, but it’s clear when (or if) this engine will reach production.

Mazda–like the rest of the automotive industry–has put priority on introducing hybrid and electrified cars in the face of tightening emissions regulations. The company has entered a partnership with Toyota to develop electrified vehicles.

While it’s disappointing to hear that the RX-9 is more-or-less dead, Mazda will still dual down on building sporty cars, which is a very good thing. Mazda’s vehicles are always sportier than their competitors, and Kogai says this pattern will proceed. The company’s fresh G-Vectoring Control, which varies torque output to improve treating, is evidence of this.

A rotary-powered sports car from Mazda would be fine, but its development is unrealistic given the automaker’s needs to invest in electrification. It’s hard to be too disappointed tho’, when the sporty cars and, of course, the Miata still have a future at Mazda.

Mazda RX-9 – CEO Kills Hope for RX-7, RX-8 Rotary Successor

Mazda CEO Kills Hope For a Rotary-Powered Sports Car

That doesn’t mean the rotary is dead, tho’.

Ever since Mazda killed the RX-8 in 2012–and thus, the rotary-powered sports car–there’s been a bevy of hopeful rumors that the company will build a successor. Mazda helped intensify those rumors when it showcased off the RX-Vision concept car last year, but now, the company’s CEO has killed hope for the RX-9.

In an interview withAutomotive News, Mazda CEO Masamichi Kogai confirmed that the company has no plans to build a sports car larger than the Miata, effectively dashing hopes for the RX-9. Kogai isn’t yet ready to proclaim the rotary dead, tho’.

“If we were to restart production of the rotary engine again, we need to make sure it wouldn’t be just short-lived,” said Kogai. “We need it to meet future emissions regulations. We are still conducting our R&D activity to overcome any issues we have with emissions and fuel efficiency.”

Kogai says that the most likely application for the rotary would be as a range extender in an electrified car. A rotary engine as the main power plant isn’t entirely out of the question, but don’t expect to see an electrified sports car with a range extender.

“I think that as a sports car option, the MX-5 1.5-liter or Two.0-liter conventional engine, with its power and acceleration, might be a more exhilarating practice,” said Kogai.

Mazda was one of the very first automakers to invest powerfully in rotary engines, but all but abandoned them because of their naturally high fuel and oil consumption. The automaker is working on a fresh turbocharged rotary, dubbed Skyactiv-R, but it’s clear when (or if) this engine will reach production.

Mazda–like the rest of the automotive industry–has put priority on introducing hybrid and electrical cars in the face of tightening emissions regulations. The company has entered a partnership with Toyota to develop electrified vehicles.

While it’s disappointing to hear that the RX-9 is more-or-less dead, Mazda will still dual down on building sporty cars, which is a very good thing. Mazda’s vehicles are always sportier than their competitors, and Kogai says this pattern will proceed. The company’s fresh G-Vectoring Control, which varies torque output to improve treating, is evidence of this.

A rotary-powered sports car from Mazda would be good, but its development is unrealistic given the automaker’s needs to invest in electrification. It’s hard to be too disappointed however, when the sporty cars and, of course, the Miata still have a future at Mazda.

Mazda RX-9 – CEO Kills Hope for RX-7, RX-8 Rotary Successor

Mazda CEO Kills Hope For a Rotary-Powered Sports Car

That doesn’t mean the rotary is dead, however.

Ever since Mazda killed the RX-8 in 2012–and thus, the rotary-powered sports car–there’s been a bevy of hopeful rumors that the company will build a successor. Mazda helped intensify those rumors when it demonstrated off the RX-Vision concept car last year, but now, the company’s CEO has killed hope for the RX-9.

In an interview withAutomotive News, Mazda CEO Masamichi Kogai confirmed that the company has no plans to build a sports car larger than the Miata, effectively dashing hopes for the RX-9. Kogai isn’t yet ready to proclaim the rotary dead, however.

“If we were to restart production of the rotary engine again, we need to make sure it wouldn’t be just short-lived,” said Kogai. “We need it to meet future emissions regulations. We are still conducting our R&D activity to overcome any issues we have with emissions and fuel efficiency.”

Kogai says that the most likely application for the rotary would be as a range extender in an electrified car. A rotary engine as the main power plant isn’t entirely out of the question, but don’t expect to see an electrical sports car with a range extender.

“I think that as a sports car option, the MX-5 1.5-liter or Two.0-liter conventional engine, with its power and acceleration, might be a more exhilarating practice,” said Kogai.

Mazda was one of the very first automakers to invest strenuously in rotary engines, but all but abandoned them because of their naturally high fuel and oil consumption. The automaker is working on a fresh turbocharged rotary, dubbed Skyactiv-R, but it’s clear when (or if) this engine will reach production.

Mazda–like the rest of the automotive industry–has put priority on introducing hybrid and electrical cars in the face of tightening emissions regulations. The company has entered a partnership with Toyota to develop electrified vehicles.

While it’s disappointing to hear that the RX-9 is more-or-less dead, Mazda will still dual down on building sporty cars, which is a very good thing. Mazda’s vehicles are always sportier than their competitors, and Kogai says this pattern will proceed. The company’s fresh G-Vectoring Control, which varies torque output to improve treating, is evidence of this.

A rotary-powered sports car from Mazda would be good, but its development is unrealistic given the automaker’s needs to invest in electrification. It’s hard to be too disappointed tho’, when the sporty cars and, of course, the Miata still have a future at Mazda.

Mazda RX-9 – CEO Kills Hope for RX-7, RX-8 Rotary Successor

Mazda CEO Kills Hope For a Rotary-Powered Sports Car

That doesn’t mean the rotary is dead, however.

Ever since Mazda killed the RX-8 in 2012–and thus, the rotary-powered sports car–there’s been a bevy of hopeful rumors that the company will build a successor. Mazda helped intensify those rumors when it displayed off the RX-Vision concept car last year, but now, the company’s CEO has killed hope for the RX-9.

In an interview withAutomotive News, Mazda CEO Masamichi Kogai confirmed that the company has no plans to build a sports car larger than the Miata, effectively dashing hopes for the RX-9. Kogai isn’t yet ready to proclaim the rotary dead, tho’.

“If we were to restart production of the rotary engine again, we need to make sure it wouldn’t be just short-lived,” said Kogai. “We need it to meet future emissions regulations. We are still conducting our R&D activity to overcome any issues we have with emissions and fuel efficiency.”

Kogai says that the most likely application for the rotary would be as a range extender in an electrical car. A rotary engine as the main power plant isn’t entirely out of the question, but don’t expect to see an electrified sports car with a range extender.

“I think that as a sports car option, the MX-5 1.5-liter or Two.0-liter conventional engine, with its power and acceleration, might be a more exhilarating practice,” said Kogai.

Mazda was one of the very first automakers to invest strongly in rotary engines, but all but abandoned them because of their naturally high fuel and oil consumption. The automaker is working on a fresh turbocharged rotary, dubbed Skyactiv-R, but it’s clear when (or if) this engine will reach production.

Mazda–like the rest of the automotive industry–has put priority on introducing hybrid and electrified cars in the face of tightening emissions regulations. The company has entered a partnership with Toyota to develop electrified vehicles.

While it’s disappointing to hear that the RX-9 is more-or-less dead, Mazda will still dual down on building sporty cars, which is a very good thing. Mazda’s vehicles are always sportier than their competitors, and Kogai says this pattern will proceed. The company’s fresh G-Vectoring Control, which varies torque output to improve treating, is evidence of this.

A rotary-powered sports car from Mazda would be excellent, but its development is unrealistic given the automaker’s needs to invest in electrification. It’s hard to be too disappointed however, when the sporty cars and, of course, the Miata still have a future at Mazda.

Mazda RX-9 – CEO Kills Hope for RX-7, RX-8 Rotary Successor

Mazda CEO Kills Hope For a Rotary-Powered Sports Car

That doesn’t mean the rotary is dead, however.

Ever since Mazda killed the RX-8 in 2012–and thus, the rotary-powered sports car–there’s been a bevy of hopeful rumors that the company will build a successor. Mazda helped intensify those rumors when it demonstrated off the RX-Vision concept car last year, but now, the company’s CEO has killed hope for the RX-9.

In an interview withAutomotive News, Mazda CEO Masamichi Kogai confirmed that the company has no plans to build a sports car larger than the Miata, effectively dashing hopes for the RX-9. Kogai isn’t yet ready to announce the rotary dead, tho’.

“If we were to restart production of the rotary engine again, we need to make sure it wouldn’t be just short-lived,” said Kogai. “We need it to meet future emissions regulations. We are still conducting our R&D activity to overcome any issues we have with emissions and fuel efficiency.”

Kogai says that the most likely application for the rotary would be as a range extender in an electrified car. A rotary engine as the main power plant isn’t entirely out of the question, but don’t expect to see an electrical sports car with a range extender.

“I think that as a sports car option, the MX-5 1.5-liter or Two.0-liter conventional engine, with its power and acceleration, might be a more exhilarating practice,” said Kogai.

Mazda was one of the very first automakers to invest strenuously in rotary engines, but all but abandoned them because of their naturally high fuel and oil consumption. The automaker is working on a fresh turbocharged rotary, dubbed Skyactiv-R, but it’s clear when (or if) this engine will reach production.

Mazda–like the rest of the automotive industry–has put priority on introducing hybrid and electrical cars in the face of tightening emissions regulations. The company has entered a partnership with Toyota to develop electrified vehicles.

While it’s disappointing to hear that the RX-9 is more-or-less dead, Mazda will still dual down on building sporty cars, which is a very good thing. Mazda’s vehicles are always sportier than their competitors, and Kogai says this pattern will proceed. The company’s fresh G-Vectoring Control, which varies torque output to improve treating, is evidence of this.

A rotary-powered sports car from Mazda would be good, but its development is unrealistic given the automaker’s needs to invest in electrification. It’s hard to be too disappointed however, when the sporty cars and, of course, the Miata still have a future at Mazda.

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