Rumors about a new rotary in the form of the Mazda turbo RX-9 have arisen from Motoring.com.au and it’s got wankel fans abuzz. Following the Tokyo Motor Show, Mazda has unveiled the next step in their Skyactiv-R powerplant, in the form of a new 1.6 liter rotary.
Stepping up from the 1.3 liter displacement in the old Mazda 13B and the current mill found in the RX-8 Renesis, a new turbocharged rotary could redefine the Mazda stable of sports cars. The power of a turbocharged Wankel has never been in doubt, and the preliminary specs might set the bar higher than ever for a production rotary.
Rumors of the new Mazda turbo RX-9 have been around for a while now, but recent news has got Mazda fans talking. Tabbed the RX VISION the new sports car is rumored to be based on the SKACTIV moniker we saw unveiled at the 2014 SEMA Show.
Mazda was mum on the details as one might expect, but they did confirm the vehicle was a rear wheel drive coupe running 20×11 rims in back paired to 20×9.5 inch rims up front. What’s more the new RX-9 is rumored to put down around 450 horsepower, which raises the stakes quite a bit.
According to rumors the new rotary engine could be making it’s return in 2017, which happens to be Mazda’s 50th anniversary of the rotary engine. Many of the newer supercars such as the Acura NSX and the Nissan Zeod have been combining electric motors to supplant the traditional combustion engine. Most of the latest rumors have Mazda pairing an electric motor and turbocharger eliminate turbo lag and help the turbo speed up at low RPM.
Like any automotive rumor, this news should definitely be taken with a grain of salt, but you can’t blame us for hoping it’s true. Mazda has done well with the new Miata MX-5 and the remarkable balance of performance and style, but the rotary has been lacking from the performance lineup for years.