Mazda's most iconic sports car may be set for a comeback
Now, Japan's Holiday Auto Magazine is reporting that Mazda's board approved an all-new RX sports car.
The successor to the RX-7 and RX-8 could be called the RX-9 - a name Mazda trademarked back in 2001.
A Mazda spokesperson declined to comment on future products.
The Japanese publication expects the upcoming RX-9 to be powered by a 395 horsepower, 1.6 liter, twin-rotor version of the company's next generation SkyActiv-R rotary engine.
At the same time, engineers hope to keep the car's weight to less than 2,900 lbs.
According to Holiday, Mazda is expected to roll out a concept version of the car at the 2017 Tokyo Motor Show to commemorate the 50th anniversary of the rotary engine with a production version set to debut at the 2019 Tokyo show.
The RX-9 is also expected to the draw heavily upon the stunning RX-Vision concept Mazda unveiled last October at the 2015 Tokyo Motor Show.
Mazda has stuck by the unorthodox engine technology that replaces a traditional internal combustion engine's pistons and cylinder setup with triangular rotors in chambers when other companies have decided on more conventional tech.
The Hiroshima-based automaker has been without a rotary powered model since it discontinued the RX-8 in 2012.
"Rotary engine kept Mazda alive as an independent manufacturer in the 1960s," Davis said.
Even though driving enthusiast applaud Mazda's rotary powered sports cars for its velvety-smooth power delivery and perfectly balanced driving dynamics, the cars have also been plagued by lackluster fuel economy and long-term durability issues.