New Mazda RX-7 May Get Turbo Rotary: Report

Mazda isn’t only working on a next-generation rotary engine, but a turbocharged one at that.

According to a recent report from Motoring, the new RX-7 will make its debut in 2017 and the Japanese automaker is currently focusing its development on a twin-scroll turbocharged rotary engine with a rumored output of around 450 hp. The 2017 launch will also coincide with the rotary’s 50th anniversary.

An earlier prototype of the next-generation RX-7 was believed to be powered by a naturally-aspirated rotary based on a 16X configuration and with “laser ignition.” The test mule was said to produce around 300 hp. Since then, Mazda has decided that the next-gen sports car needs more power, adding on a turbo and going back to testing.

The first prototype was based on a reinforced variant of the next-generation MX-5 platform, but with more power on the horizon the company has opted to significantly rebuild a former RX-8 platform to test with.

As for the upcoming model’s name, it is believed that Mazda is still on the fence whether to call it an RX-7 or RX-9. Both have been registered with Japan’s trademark office.