A fresh report out of Japan suggests that the Mazda RX-9 will be launched in 2020, and that it will indeed be rotary-powered.
Holiday Auto, a Japanese automotive magazine, says Mazda’s board has formally approved the design and engineering of the new rear-wheel drive production model, which will effectively serve as a long-overdue successor to the RX-7 and RX-8 coupes.
The report adds that a global launch date in early 2020 is likely, which would tie in neatly with the Japanese automaker’s centenary celebrations.
Of course, plenty of styling inspiration is likely to be drawn from the RX-Vision concept first shown at the 2015 Tokyo Motor Show (and pictured above). But the report adds that a closer-to-production prototype will likely revealed at the 2017 version of the same show.
The Holiday Auto report also says the next-generation rotary engine set to be used in the RX-9 will feature twin 800 cm3 rotors (thus displacing a total of 1,6 litres), and will be turbocharged to boot. It says we can expect an output of around 300 kW along with a vehicle weight of less than 1 300 kg.
