Mazda Execs Muse on Possible Rotaries, Sport Sedans, Pickup Trucks, and Even Minivans

There was a time in Mazda’s history when you could swing by your local dealer and Braap-Pop away in a brand-new rotary-powered sports car, pickup truck, or even a family hauler. Well, okay, the Parkway minibus was only available in Japan, but still, rotary bus! Currently, Mazda’s offerings are mostly SUVs of various size with more traditional powerplants, but Mazda CEO Masahiro Moro says that bringing back the rotary in a variety of body styles is not an impossible dream.After Mazda showcased the Iconic XP concept with its two-rotor rotary generator at the Japan Mobility Show in 2023, Moro says the response was so positive it inspired him to look more seriously at bringing it to production. “I got an unbelievable reaction,” he says. That was a great encouragement, and I decided to reopen the rotary engine development group.”Moro admits there are challenges to making a rotary competitive with small turbo-charged gas engines or all-electric drivetrains, but says his engineers are making progress in meeting the emissions standards of both the United States and Europe. “It’s a high hurdle,” he says, “but in the last year, the progress has been very encouraging.”If Mazda succeeds in bringing a new rotary to market, as either a range extender or a stand-alone engine, Moro says it could power many different body styles. “It works well because it’s very narrow. The rotary engine is only engine we can install in any project.” Of course, he’s also considering what models might benefit from existing Mazda powerplants. “We have a straight-six engine, maybe it would be good to utilize that.”As for what these engines might power, there is a high possibility that Mazda will go all the way with the Iconic XP, offering a second sports car alongside the Miata. Moro also hinted at interest in a sporty sedan. “The sedan segment has shrunk but there are many fans,” he says. “We’ve got a really beautiful concept. We already have this idea. We are able to install a six-cylinder, but marketability remains a concern.”Moro adds that electrification might also change plans in terms of what designs Mazda brings to market. “I don’t know how the vehicle profile will be changed for the electric-car era. That tends to be a longer platform, shorter overhang. That will give us a great hint where we evolve our current design theme to for the next generation.”Elana Scherr|Car and DriverAt Mazda headquarters in Hiroshima, Japan.When asked about a small pickup truck, a market segment Mazda hasn’t been a part of since 2009, Moro was thoughtful. “We get requests from our data partners to see a small pickup truck, but we don’t have the platform to do it.” That won’t stop Mazda from pursuing it, though, if Moro feels it’s a good market option. “We could work with other OEMs to get it. Pickup truck is good for many people. Our coverage of the total industry is only 50 percent because we don’t have a pickup truck. It’s good time to think about a future portfolio.”Like a sleeper agent activated late in the game, Elana Scherr didn’t know her calling at a young age. Like many girls, she planned to be a vet-astronaut-artist, and came closest to that last one by attending UCLA art school. She painted images of cars, but did not own one. Elana reluctantly got a driver’s license at age 21 and discovered that she not only loved cars and wanted to drive them, but that other people loved cars and wanted to read about them, which meant somebody had to write about them. Since receiving activation codes, Elana has written for numerous car magazines and websites, covering classics, car culture, technology, motorsports, and new-car reviews. In 2020, she received a Best Feature award from the Motor Press Guild for the C/D story “A Drive through Classic Americana in a Polestar 2.”  In 2023, her Car and Driver feature story “In Washington, D.C.’s Secret Carpool Cabal, It’s a Daily Slug Fest” was awarded 1st place in the 16th Annual National Arts & Entertainment Journalism Awards by the Los Angeles Press Club.
 
Source: caranddriver.com