Mazda Won't Build A Rotary Sports Car, Nor A 3 MPS

The company's global boss has ruled out a revival of the MPS brand and quashed hopes of a rotary-powered sports car
Mazda Won't Build A Rotary Sports Car, Nor A 3 MPS

There was a double dose of bad news emerging from LA for anyone hoping for sportier stuff from Mazda. First off, the prospect of an MPS revival: sadly, it just isn’t going to happen.

Asked by Drive.com.au following the reveal of the new 3 hatchback and saloon if a faster version of the car was on the cards, Mazda president Akira Marumoto had the following to say: “Mazda is a small player and if [you are asking if] that segment has a high particular priority for Mazda my answer would be no. Therefore we not planning for MPS in the future.”

This strikes us as a massive shame. As we’ve discussed recently, Mazda is extremely good at making its all cars - not just the rear-drive MX-5 - drive extremely nicely. If it can make an 89bhp 2 hatchback feel so incredibly satisfying to drive, imagine how good a new hot hatchback from the company might be.

Mazda's RX-Vision concept debuted in 2015. A production version - rotary-powered or otherwise - is unlikely
Mazda's RX-Vision concept debuted in 2015. A production version - rotary…

The second dose of disappointment concerns the future rotary sports car that even Mazda execs have been hinting at. Rotary engines are definitely returning to the company in the form of EV range-extenders, but beyond that, we probably should expect much.

“I am receiving this question [about a future rotary sports car] maybe 100 times, and I will not commit…Nothing has been decided,” he said.

Does that stop us hoping and dreaming? Nope.

Comments

Low Style Zero

CAN YOU ALL JUST REALIZE THE ROTARY IS DEAD AND NEVER COMING BACK, ITS TOO MUCH WORK TO BUILD A COMPLETELY NEW ROTARY FOR ONE CAR WHEN ITS GOING TO FLOP ANYHOW

12/03/2018 - 17:04 |
3 | 7

But theyre literally making a new one as a range extender.

12/03/2018 - 17:29 |
2 | 1

they could’ve saved the rotary years ago if they hadnt prioritized reliability over efficiency by using 2 different materials for the rotor and the housing(making both out of aluminium would’ve allowed for signicant improvements on efficiency but allowed the engine to seize if it overheated), also they shouldve gotten together with toyota and kawasaki to develop the engines, since those two had also worked on rotary engines and managed around 10% better emissions and fuel consumption each

12/04/2018 - 14:48 |
0 | 0
MikeyFD3S

Nothing has been decided….. there’s still a chance!

12/03/2018 - 17:24 |
3 | 1
Twopoint0

Why bother building a concept for an idea that will never reach production?

Shoulda built a frickin Mazda 3 concept

12/03/2018 - 18:49 |
2 | 0
David 27

lol

12/03/2018 - 19:06 |
0 | 3
Basith Penna-Hakkim

Booooo

12/03/2018 - 19:24 |
0 | 0
Basith Penna-Hakkim

I have lost hope in Mazda
I’m keeping my Mazdaspeed3 and RX-8

12/03/2018 - 19:24 |
0 | 0
Chewbacca_buddy (McLaren squad)(VW GTI Clubsport)(McLaren 60

It wouldn’t really be necessary if the new one drives as good as the old one

12/03/2018 - 19:55 |
0 | 0
Griffin Mackenzie

Massive L

12/03/2018 - 21:03 |
0 | 0
Anonymous

“mAzDa Is ThE nEw BmW”
mazda: says publicly that they won’t make a rotary sports car or a fast car
humans: surprised pikachu face

12/03/2018 - 21:48 |
1 | 0
Kenji (Oldsmobile Fan) (GoldWing Enthusiast) (wheel nut)
12/03/2018 - 21:54 |
1 | 0

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