Cars

“This concept is not just one of those empty show cars”

By 2024-12-10T10:39:00

Mazda Iconic SP_21

The breathtaking Mazda Iconic SP concept might be into production. We hope. Car Design News caught up with Mazda’s design manager Masashi Nakayama to hear more

In 2023 Mazda returned to its roots and unveiled a two seater sports car concept at the 2023 Japan Mobility Show. The Mazda Iconic SP not only captures the sporting prowess of Mazda’s heritage models but offers a nod to its love for the rotary engine with a two-rotor rotary EV system hidden beneath. 

Suggesting we might be seeing more of this design soon, Masashi Nakayama, general manager of Mazda’s Design Division recently said, “This concept is not just one of those empty show cars. It’s been designed with real intent to turn it into a production model in the not-so-distant future.” To find out more about the Iconic SP and its significance for Mazda, Car Design News spoke with Masashi Nakayama. 

Car Design News: When and why did the Iconic SP project start?

Masashi Nakayama: The project started in September 2022, it was born from my idea to create a concept model that clearly expresses the meaning of Mazda’s existence, in line with Mazda’s new corporate philosophy (PPV: Purpose/Promise/Value) creation activities that have already begun within the company…

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