Mazda’s design boss is working hard to convince company executives to build a successor to the RX-7. He has even gone so far as to create design sketches for the next generation sports car.
The Design Boss, Ikuo Maeda said in an interview that the car would be a two-seater and like it’s predecessors, it would be powered by a rotary engine.
Mazda has been without a halo car since the third generation vehicle ceased production in 2002. The RX-8 was brought to market shortly thereafter, but as a significantly more pedestrian sports car.
Rumors of a reborn RX-7 have circulated for years and Mazda has recently been experimenting with dedicated sports concepts.
Maeda said at the Tokyo Motor Show, that the carmaker is eager to return to the high powered sportscar segment and that he has already begun designing a new RX-7.
Maeda said that a new RX-7 would likely stick with a two-seat layout, and, would likely be powered with a rotary engine. No mention was made of forced induction.
Maeda also wants to rejuvenate the entire Mazda line-up, and is focusing on attracting “enthusiastic” customers and pushing the brand up market by addressing the quality of the company’s interiors.
If Maeda’s vision goes as planned, we’re likely to see the concept car sometime in 2010.
