Rumors have appeared on several Asian websites that Mazda wants to introduce a rotary-powered sports coupe named RX-9 at the Tokyo Motor Show in October this year. This model is expected to hit the market in 2019, but none of this information has been confirmed officially, so take this news with a grain of salt.
The rumors indicate that the Mazda RX-9 will have a liberal design with some of the cues taken from the 2015’s RX-Vision Concept. The vehicle is also specific in terms of the engine as it will feature a newly-patented rotary unit which is different from the traditional versions. The powerplant is going to produce 400 horsepower, whereas the curb weight of the car should be between 2,866 pounds and 2,976 pounds. Just for comparison, the ongoing Mazda MX-5 Miata weighs 2,332 pounds in the soft-top trim while the one with the retractable hardtop tips the scales at 2,445 pounds.
According to the reports, the RX-9 is going to be Mazda’s most expensive vehicle ever, and it is expected to cost somewhere between $71,150 and $88,950. If these reports are to be trusted, the new sports car will be more affordable, but also less potent than the models such as the Nissan GT-R and Acura NSX, both of which exceed six figures.
Perhaps it is not an accident to find rumors about Mazda now because it is the 50th anniversary of the Mazda Cosmo’s original premiere at the Tokyo Motor Show. If the RX-9 would be introduced there, the company will pay respect to the birth of its rotary legacy which makes sense, but it remains to be seen. The Japanese carmaker did hint at the debut, and for example, the company’s newsletter Zoom Zoom reported:
“And the story’s not over yet. Without the rotary engine, there would probably be no Mazda. And without Mazda, the rotary engine certainly wouldn’t have been in production for nearly 50 years.”
However, the Mazda CEO Masamichi Kogai said that a sports car above the Miata isn’t in brand’s plan. Should we trust him, or is he just trying to deceive us?
