Iconic SP Concept is proof Mazda still wants to make fun cars

Is the Mazda SP Iconic Concept our best look yet at next-gen MX-5?

Honda wasn't the only manufacturer at the Japan Mobility Show 2023 that wowed everyone with a sleek sports car concept. Mazda arrived at this year's Japan Mobility Show with something special, the rotary-powered Iconic SP Concept.

Finished in a unique shade of red aptly called “Viola Red”, the compact sports car concept was specifically designed by Mazda for customers who “love cars” and “desire a car that embodies the joy of driving”.

“Mazda will always deliver vehicles that remind people that cars are pure joy and an indispensable part of their lives. As a car-loving company that mass-produces the inspiring mobility experience, we are committed to shaping the future with our partners sharing the same goal, as well as our fans, where everyone can proudly say, 'we love cars.' With such a strong will, Mazda is committed to enrich life-in-motion for those we serve,” said Masahiro Moro, Mazda's Representative Director, president, and CEO.

At the heart of the Iconic SP is a two-rotary EV system that utilizes a scalable rotary engine that can burn various fuels like hydrogen and generate electricity with carbon-neutral fuel. When the battery is fully charged with electricity derived from renewable energy, it allows for a virtually carbon-neutral driving experience. Mazda proposes that the Iconic SP Concept can generate 370 PS which is more than enough to propel the sleek sports car to triple-digit speeds.

Size-wise, the sports car concept sticks to the compact dimensions of its closest sibling, the MX-5. It measures 4180mm long, 1850mm wide, 1150mm tall, and has a 2590mm wheelbase. It also tips the scales at 1450 kg which makes it quite heavier than an MX-5 which only weighs in at around 1,089 kg.

With its Viola Red exterior, projected output of 370 PS, compact dimensions, and sleek styling, the Iconic SP looks to be our best look yet at the next-generation MX-5. But with no word yet from Mazda if the concept will indeed be the prelude for the brand's new-generation roadster, all we can do for now is wait and perhaps imagine the Iconic SP as the all-new MX-5 in the not-so-distant future.