Mazda RX-Vision rotary-engined sports car concept: New two-seat coupé due to arrive in 2017

It’s likely to be similar in size to something like the Porsche Cayman

Five years after Europe lost the RX-8, Mazda is planning a new rotary-engined sportscar.

Likely to be called the RX-7 (a name old-school modified car fans with remember with fondness), the two-seat coupé is due to arrive in 2017.

It’s likely to be similar in size to something like the Porsche Cayman. And with around 300bhp coming from its new-generation rotary engine, it promises to go something like that too.

Previewing the car at the Toyko motor show was the RX-Vision, a spectacular concept whose long-nosed proportions might put you in mind of bigger supercars.

Under its extravagent bonnet is Mazda’s new SkyActiv-R rotary engine. Using the latest technology at the company’s disposal, this will address the many issues that dogged its predecessors.

The RX-8, loved though it was by many, developed a poor reputation for reliability, emissions and fuel economy alike. Mazda knows the newcomer must put all that to bed.

The company’s engineers are also working on ways of getting better torque from the engine at low speeds. That might point to a hybrid engine, though R&D boss Kiyoshi Fujiwara says this is more awkward to achieve than turbocharging, and therefore less likely to happen.

Fujiwara also told us that his personal preference is for the car to have a manual gearbox. But he hasn’t ruled out the idea that the engine’s output may be pushed to the point at which a dual-clutch unit is the only option.