Make no mistake, the affordable sports car of the future will either go the way of the dodo bird or burn a hole in your wallet. Mazda wants to fix that with one of the most controversial powertrain combinations that’s being previewed in its Mazda Iconic SP concept. What’s running it? A rotary electric hybrid.

Yeah, kind of wild but we’re digging it.

The concept was first unveiled virtually last year as the “Vision Study Model.” In the metal, it’s the Iconic SP. Once you delve under its streamlined skin, that powertrain isn’t all that new. It runs on electric motors with a twin-rotor rotary engine serving as a generator to recharge the batteries.

Also Read: Is the new Mazda MX-5 NE primed for a debut at the Japan Mobility Show 2023?

If you’re thinking Mazda MX-30 e-Skyactiv R-EV, you’re right on the ball. The number of electric motors wasn’t revealed but it does have a twin-rotor rotary engine. Wild it would be nostalgic to hear this thing braaap its way to the redline, the rotary mill here is purely a range extender that charges the battery and isn’t directly connected to the wheels. Additionally, the powertrain is also set up to handle V2L, being able to power external electrical appliances like a powerbank.

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

Furthermore, Mazda states the rotary engine is flex-fuel capable, meaning it runs on a carbon-neutral fuel but can also “burn various fuels such as hydrogen.” The carbon-neutral fuel is derived from microalgae. Mazda has been supporting research into developing a biofuel with similar properties as diesel from microalgae. All that’s good for a theoretical 365 PS, which is more than sufficient to make haste given its dimensions.

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Official dimensions measure in at 4,180.8 mm long, 1,849.1 mm wide and 1,150.6 mm tall. The wheelbase is just under 2,591 mm.  It might be longer and wider than a X-5 with a lengthier wheelbase but is shorter. Being a hybrid, it’s understandably heftier too at 1,450.1kg, or about 386 kg chubbier than the iconic roadster.

Using a rotary engine has enable it to have a lower centre of gravity with the engine sitting low between the front fenders, allowing the hood to sink as well. That’s also good for a 50:50 weight distribution.

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

Up front, the headlights are a cherished throwback in the form of pop-up LED units but those scissor doors are one thing we’d like to see in a production car. If you squint a little, the outline of the doors also carry a hint of those from the RX-7 FD3S.

Being a car focused on the pleasure of driving, the cabin is minimalist with just a small screen to the side of the steering wheel and some sliders on the centre console. The driver is fed by a small digital instrument cluster. Disappointingly, the Iconic SP wasn’t painted Mazda’s Soul Red Crystal. Instead, the generic looking shade is dubbed Viola Red.

Moving forward, the Iconic SP’s significance is hard to put a finger on. Yes, a safe long-term guess would be to say it’s hinting at the MX-5’s future but in the short run, Mazda’s Japan Mobility Show booth carries a variety of MX-5 models and concepts.

Given that Mazda has said the future of the MX-5 lies in some form of electrification, this is likely the answer. Whatever the outcome, we’ll sleep well knowing that Hiroshima’s hero remain committed to small, lightweight sports cars that won’t put us in debt.