Mazda's CEO and President, Masahiro Moro surprised everyone at the ongoing Tokyo Auto Salon 2024 with an accidental tongue slip revealing that company was re-establishing a rotary engine development team after a hiatus of about six years.

Likely, the specific purpose of the team would be to develop a high-performance rotary hybrid powertrain that was first announced with the Mazda Iconic SP concept, which received overwhelming response following its reveal at the Japan Mobility Show 2023.

Also read: Mazda Iconic SP - A 365 PS rotary-hybrid lovechild between a RX-7 and MX-5

Moro told Japanese-website Response, "We received a lot of support and encouragement for the compact sports car concept, 'Mazda Iconic SP', unveiled at last year's Japan Mobility Show. I am very happy and deeply moved. Encouraged by all of you, we will launch the rotary engine development group on 1-February 2024 to get closer to this dream,"

He added, “The members of the rotary engine development group, who have learned about piston engines, model-based development, and the world’s most advanced combustion technology, will focus on the rotary engine again and be involved in the development of engine combustion and emissions. Engine development requires a variety of engineers, but we will restart with about 30 engineers for the core development of the rotary engine.”

Now, this shouldn’t be confused with the (8C) 830cc single-rotary engine that Mazda is already producing now. The tiny 8C produces just 76 PS and isn’t meant to drive the car, but function as a generator to recharge the 17.8 kWh battery in the series plug-in hybrid Mazda MX-30 R-EV.

Most notably, is the fact that Moro-san mentioned the company will “focus on the rotary engine again” which may point to a more powerful drivetrain, or even be a primary driving force of the vehicle.

Also read: After 11 years, Mazda restarts production of rotary engines, for Mazda MX-30 R-EV

Note, the Iconic SP concept previewed a powertrain that will have twin-rotor rotary engine functioning as a range extender primarily, powering 1 or more motors for a theoretical output 365 PS. For comparison, the Mazda MX-30 R-EV makes less than half of that at 170 PS.

Additionally, the production version of the Iconic SP, if so, will be flex-fuel capable, meaning it can be powered by hydrogen or even a carbon-neutral biodiesel fuel derived from microalgae.

Also read: Mazda keeps to its word with the MX-30 e-Skyactiv R-EV, running the rotary as a generator

However, it is unclear at this point how this new development group (or its objectives) will be different from the team behind the 8C rotary engine.

Given CEO Moro-san admitted that it was a slip of the tongue, it's hard to verify any further. Even adding, "I have not announced the personnel changes yet, but since I slipped up and said it, there may be a lot of unrest within the company."

So though it's early times, it may be safe to say, the real rotary engine revival may have already begun.