Mazda global design chief on future RX-7, ‘I will never give up’

By Andrew Hard Published September 30, 2014

Mazda RX-7 rendering — Image used with permission by copyright holder

Fans of the rotary have been teased, tortured, and tormented for the last couple of years, as 2012 saw the last Mazda to be produced with a spinning Wankel engine.

Since then, the rumor mill has been a fertile machine, spinning out countless examples of automotive foreplay in the form of RX family buzz. Some have said that a next-gen RX-7 or RX-8 could use the 2016 Miata’s platform, while others have claimed a 450-horsepower turbo rotary is in store.

Recommended Videos

Mazda Design Chief and RX-8 designer Ikuo Maeda recently told Automotive News that he’s constantly working on a follow-up to the RX twins, but he won’t approve it until it’s ready.

“I will never give up,” he said. “Inside my head, I’m always going over shapes.”

Don’t confuse stubbornness for impairment, though. Maeda, whose father conceived the RX-7, says he won’t deviate from brand tradition by using anything but the infamous high-revving triangle.

Reports have suggested that the Japanese automaker is considering a conventional Skyactiv powertrain for the car, but Maeda was quick to refute.

“The name is RX,” he said, referring to the brand’s rotary nomenclature. “If it’s Skyactiv, we would just do it in a different vehicle.”

Related: New Mazda RX-7 could use the next Miata’s platform

So, if you’re dead set on a Wankel-powered successor to the RX-7 and RX-8, it looks like you’ll have to wait. Mazda has been reportedly engineering a new 16X engine since 2007’s Taiki concept, but it’s still a ways away from production. The brand is apparently still struggling with emissions standards.

If there’s a date to watch out for, though, it’s May 2017, a month that will celebrate the 50th anniversary of the Wankel-debuting Mazda Cosmo.

(RX-7 rendering via Motoring)

Former Digital Trends Contributor

Andrew first started writing in middle school and hasn't put the pen down since. Whether it's technology, music, sports, or…

Cars

Mini’s infotainment system is very charming, but still needs work

Main screen of the Mini infotainment system

When you think Mini, you probably don’t think of infotainment. Personally, I think of the British flag taillights, the distinct exterior, and the surprising room on the inside. But after driving the Mini John Cooper Works Countryman over the past week, infotainment might well be something I think of more often when it comes to Mini. It’s charming.

It also, however, suffers from all the traps that other legacy automakers fall into when it comes to software design. Mini has something on its hands here — but it still needs some work.
Bringing the charm
The first thing that stood out to me about the system when I got in the car was how fun it was. That all starts with the display. It’s round! No, it’s not curved — the screen is a big, round display sits in at 9.4 inches, and I found it plenty large enough for day-to-day use.

Cars

Plug-in hybrids are becoming more popular. Why? And will it continue?

Kia Niro EV Charging Port

There's a lot of talk about the idea that the growth in electric car sales has kind of slowed a little. It's not all that surprising -- EVs are still expensive, early adopters all have one by now, and they're still new enough to where there aren't too many ultra-affordable used EVs available. But plenty of people still want a greener vehicle, and that has given rise to an explosion in hybrid vehicle sales.

That's especially true of plug-in hybrid vehicles, which can be charged like an EV and driven in all-electric mode for short distances, and have a gas engine as a backup for longer distances or to be used in combination with electric mode for more efficient driving.

Cars

EV drivers are not going back to gas cars, global survey says

ev drivers are not going back to gas cars global survey says screenshot

Nearly all current owners of electric vehicles (EVs) are either satisfied or very satisfied with the experience, and 92% of them plan to buy another EV, according to a survey by the Global EV Drivers Alliance.

The survey of 23,000 EV drivers worldwide found that only 1% would return to a petrol or diesel car, while 4% would opt for a plug-in hybrid (PHEV) if they had to replace their car.