2023 JMS: Mazda's Iconic SP Concept is a rotary-electric sports car of the future

The 2023 Japan Mobility Show (JMS) has set the stage for Mazda as it unveiled its new Iconic SP concept car on Oct. 25, 2023.

The new sports car is slightly bigger than the Mazda MX-5, which could indicate a Mazda RX-7 successor. It is 4,180 mm long, 2,103 mm wide and 1,148 mm tall.

This is 266 mm longer than the current generation MX-5 and 104 mm shorter than the FD3S RX-7. 

Sleek, futuristic styling

The concept car takes on a sleek design with its coupe styling and swept-back roof line.

It also carries the brand’s large grille design language seen in its current lineup of vehicles and appears not to have any headlights, which is understandable as it is still a concept.

The Iconic SP also carries a smooth rear at the back with Venn-diagram taillights, which were present on the NA-generation MX-5 and the FC3S RX-7. 

The doors open slightly upwards to give it a wing-like shape and make entering and exiting the vehicle easier. 

Minimalist interior

Inside, the Iconic SP concept continues with the brand’s minimalist design language, with just a cowl for its digital instrument cluster and a large digital display for its infotainment system. 

It does come with premium materials, which appear to include Alcantara with Kakenui stitching that is also available on the Mazda CX-90 luxury crossover. 

We have to note that the car doesn’t appear to have any air vents inside the cabin. But we assume that since its concept, these are hidden in the shadows or just not present. 

However, its unique feature is its gear selector, which doesn’t use buttons. Instead, there are switches to get into the gear you want.

Rotary-electric drivetrain

Unlike the MX-5, which uses an inline-four internal combustion engine, the concept utilizes two rotary engines not to power the vehicle, but to charge its battery pack.

The Japanese automaker has yet to reveal the concept's battery capacity or power output, but it looks like a potent sports car if and when it enters production. 

Having the rotary engines onboard lets the concept car utilize various fuels, including hydrogen and other renewable fuel sources. Aside from this, the concept also appears to be a plug-in hybrid, where the battery pack can be charged at a home outlet or an electric vehicle charging station. 

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