This pretty much confirms what we had previously thought to already be quite likely: Mazda will be showing off a follow-up to their stunning 2015 concept car, the RX Vision. The single teaser image here depicts a long and low coupe that, interestingly, seems to have four doors and a lift back design.
If accurate, it would prove a departure from the resolutely two-passenger capacity of the RX Vision from two years ago. Overall, the tone here looks far more subdued than that original design as well, but that could be mostly down to the shift away from the Soul Red to a polished silver finish that we hesitate to liken with Mazda’s current favourite shade, Machine Gray.
Mazda hasn’t yet addressed the car by name, though, so we can’t be entirely sure whether this really is that anticipated sequel. They seem to only be content with calling it a “design vision model” at this point, much to our consternation. The word salad continues with them describing it as a car that “embodies the concepts that will define the next generation of Mazda design, resulting in a more profound expression of the globally-acclaimed KODO design language”.
By all indications, however, this car’s powertrain should be rather special as the next car of the RX bloodline will no doubt feature a rotary engine, a type of motor that’s very closely tied to Mazda’s unique reputation among car enthusiasts.
We already know Mazda has a dedicated team of engineers focused on the next-generation of rotary engines to succeed the previous RENESIS that powered the RX-8. It’s both a defining ingredient to the RX model as well as its largest stumbling block as squaring the Wankel design with modern-day expectations for fuel economy and emissions have proved quite challenging.
Should Mazda be confident enough to have a concept car bearing that name at the Tokyo Motor Show, though, it would appear that the engine wizards have found a way past these issues, perhaps through a combination of turbocharging, high compression ratio lessons learnt from the SkyActiv-X effort, and perhaps even electrification.
Come October 25th when the motor show opens, this mystery Mazda four-door coupe will be sharing the booth with the CX-8 as well as other concept meant to preview the forthcoming Mazda3 hatch, the first to feature their SkyActiv-X petrol engine.
For more on Mazda cars, check out our Showroom.
