With an eye-catching silhouette and game-changing powertrain technology, the Mazda Iconic SP Concept represents the pinnacle of Mazda’s future ambitions.
At the 2023 Japan Motor Show, Mazda unveiled the Mazda Iconic SP – a two-seater concept designed to carry Mazda’s rich heritage into the future. Dressed in a stylish new Viola Red color, sprinkled with camera flashes and with a spectacular shape, the Mazda Iconic SP immediately captured global attention.
Now, a year later, Naohito Saga, executive director of Mazda’s research and development strategy planning division, and Masashi Nakayama, general manager of the design division, describe it as a high point of their careers, making hints at the concept’s deeper significance for Mazda beyond its debut. “This concept is not just one of those show cars. It was designed with the real intention of making it a production model in the not-too-distant future,” Nakayama says.
In terms of design, the Iconic SP focuses on minimizing feature lines and reducing the play of light to achieve a look that is both dramatic and exciting. Unique and beautiful proportions, shapes crafted by master craftsmen and the meticulousness of Japanese craftsmanship are the distinctive qualities of the KODO design language.
The new rotating EV system
Due to its striking presence, much of the conversation naturally revolves around the design of the Mazda Iconic SP. However, it is essential not to overlook the profound impact of its new twin-rotor rotating EV system, designed specifically for this concept model. Mazda’s innovative rotary engine is highly adaptable, running on fuels and generating electricity from carbon-neutral sources. Its compact dimensions also allow the Mazda Iconic SP to be housed in a low-profile body similar to a mid-range sports car, promising an engaging driving experience. A combination of a twin-rotor rotary engine and an EV system gives the Mazda Iconic SP a maximum output of 370 hp.
In the context of the gradual electrification of the entire industry, this advanced rotary engine innovation could emerge as an essential long-term solution. “The rotary engine can be very compact and very powerful at the same time,” says Saga. “This is an advantage, but it can also be powered by different types of fuels, and this could give us an advantage in the fight to find a feasible solution for the future of mobility.”
According to Saga, regardless of the carbon-neutral fuel that is becoming more widely used, the rotary engine can adapt.
This means that by using low-CO₂ fuels in the refining process, the Mazda Iconic SP’s powertrain has the potential to reduce emissions by up to 90%. Mazda is also advancing state-of-the-art technology to capture CO₂ from exhaust emissions, currently estimated at around 20%. It is estimated that this remarkable project could take Mazda one step further and thus make Mazda a carbon negative manufacturer.
Source: www.promotor.ro
