Hype: Mazda Will Reveal New KOERU Sports Car Concept In Tokyo.

A while back the top brass at Mazda assured us that the rotary engine would never really go away.  Although, as time went on Mazda has yet to make anything with the prefix “RX” in front of it leading many to believe that perhaps the dream really was over.  However, we may have a new spark of hope in the form of Mazda’s new “KOERU” sports car concept that they are set to debut at the Tokyo Motor Show.

Mazda released this teaser image (sorry for the grain but we had to up-res the photo) late yesterday to get the speculation mill turning.  Mazda said that the aim of the KOERU sports car design was to create a “modern look” while “condensing Mazda’s sports car history” into its design.  While not very much of the car is visible in the teaser shot it is still easy to see what Mazda is talking about.  The KOERU’s main line and curves all give off a very classic almost Jaguar-esque feel.  Although the rear quarter panels and curves of the tail lights remind me very much of the legendary third-generation RX-7.  Either way, I very much like what I see so far and it also gives me hope that we’ll see this as a production car some day with a rotary under the hood.

I’ll explain my theory a bit: I realize that this is just a concept and its very possible that this car will never be produced and is simply a design exercise.  However, I’d like to note a few things before I’m called a conspiracy theorist.  First, in the last decade or so, pretty much every concept that Mazda released with the exception of the “Furai”, has become a production car.  So, that is what leads me to believe this car has a very good shot at production.  What makes me think that this could be the next rotary is the fact that Mazda will be displaying a 1967 Cosmo Sport 110S next to the KOERU.  For those of you who don’t know, the Cosmo is the first rotary powered sports car Mazda ever built.  Hmm, Mazda’s first rotary being displayed next to a new sports car concept that is meant to pay tribute to Mazda’s sports car history…  Seems to me that Mazda is dropping a big hint here!

In addition to the KOERU sports car concept and the Cosmo, Mazda will also have a few MX-5’s on display including a Global MX-5 Cup spec car, a MX-5 NR-A which is described as having “party one-make race accessories”, and a special needs MX-5 that features a full suite of Hand Controls for physically challenged who do not have use of their legs.  All together Mazda’s booth should be a pretty fun place to visit.

For more info you can check out Mazda’s sparse press release below.  What do you think of the KOERU sports car concept?  Do you think this will be Mazda’s next rotary powered car?  Or do you think Mazda is just horribly trolling us all?  Let us know your thoughts in the comments or tweet to us at @MotorworldHype.

Press Release:

Company highlighting driving joy with the slogan “Accelerate toward our dreams”

• Tokyo Motor Show exhibit to feature Mazda KOERU, Cosmo Sport 110S and more

 

Hiroshima / Leverkusen, 30 September 2015. In another world premiere, Mazda will unveil a new sports car concept at the upcoming Tokyo Motor Show, which opens its doors to the media on 28 October and the public from 30 October to 8 November.

Despite its modern look, Mazda’s latest creation clearly embodies the carmaker’s lineage. Designers strove to condense the company’s sports car history to as great a degree as possible into this concept. True to the theme of the carmaker’s stand – “Accelerate toward our dreams” – Mazda is also highlighting the brand’s unique approach to the joy of driving. A special motor-sport exhibition will feature two racing-spec Mazda MX-5s, while the fabled 1967 Mazda Cosmo Sport 110S – the company’s first rotary powered mass-production model – compliments a display of Mazda’s convention-defying engineering legacy. The Mazda KOERU, a crossover SUV concept that debuted in Frankfurt in September, will be among the 14 models on hand at the Mazda stand alongside its award-winning model line-up featuring SKYACTIV Technology and KODO – Soul of Motion designs.

At SMART MOBILITY CITY, a regular feature of the Tokyo Motor Show, Mazda will showcase safety technologies such as its innovative human machine interface, omnidirectional sensing concept, and systems developed according to the Mazda Proactive Safety philosophy. The latter aims to enhance peace of mind and driving fun by helping drivers recognise potential hazards and exercise good judgment when operating the vehicle.

Mazda’s press conference takes place at 08:30 on 28 October.

Reference exhibits	Mazda sports car concept model (world premiere)
	Mazda KOERU (Japan premiere)*
	Mazda MX-5 Global Cup racing spec model
	Mazda MX-5 NR-A (with race accessories)**
	Mazda MX-5 special needs vehicle with hand controls**
	Mazda Cosmo Sport 110S (introduced in 1967)
Models currently available	Mazda MX-5, Mazda CX-3, Mazda CX-5, Mazda6, Mazda2, Mazda3, Mazda Flair Wagon (with wheelchair ramp)**
Technology exhibits	SKYACTIV-G 2.5, SKYACTIV-D 2.2, SKYACTIV-D 1.5

*  On display until 3 November.
** On display from 30 October.

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