Is this the New RX-7? Iconic SP Rotary Concept Car

Greetings Fellow Mazda Fans,

This is Central Florida’s Newsletter for Mazda enthusiasts from your friends at Classic Mazda.

Here’s what we got for you this month:

• Join us at the HSR Classic 24 Mazda Car Corral

• Iconic SP Concept Rotary: New RX-7 or MX-5?

• Mazda MX-5 Cup Finale @ Road Atlanta

• Win an MX-5 Cup Car valued at $100K

• Lake Mirror Classic Car Show

• Mazda of the Month

Let’s ride.

Last Minute Reminder: Come Join Us At The HSR Classic 24 Mazda Car Corral

Join us in the infield at the HSR Classic 24 Hour Classic Mazda Car Corral in Daytona with our friends from Orlando Cars & Coffee.

Purchase your tickets in advance you get a $10 discount on the ticket price and complimentary lunch on Nov. 4th.

The Details:

• Nov. 3-5 @ Daytona International Speedway

• Infield Parking w/ Classic Mazda and Orlando Cars & Coffee

• Complimentary Lunch on Saturday, Nov. 4th. (Reply to RSVP)

• Parade laps On. The. Track.

First 100 get a commemorative race decal for their ride. (Featured above 👆️ )

See you on the infield.

Rotary-Powered PHEV Concept: Mazda Iconic SP

Earlier this month at the 2023 Japan Mobility Show, Mazda revealed the Iconic SP concept car.

It features:

• Gullwing doors

• Flip up headlights

• Glowing Mazda emblem on the front

• Glowing “MAZDA” spelled out on the rear

• Overlapping twin tail lights

• Twin Rotor Wankel Engine

See more photos here.

(Millennial here, gimme a break)

Rumor has it THIS could finally be the resurrection of the RX-7 (cue heavenly angels singing). Albeit, as a Rotary-Powered PHEV (say what?). Not your first choice, I know. Bear with me.

The Case for the R-EV

The Iconic SP features a 2-rotor engine, but it doesn’t power the wheels. Instead, it acts as a Range Extender that charges the battery for the Plug-In Hybrid Electric vehicle (PHEV) motor.

Sound familiar? We covered the Rotary PHEV Mazda MX-30 in our first newsletter of the new year.

And how did that turn out? Not great.

The MX-30 had two variants.

• An EV sold exclusively in the California, now discontinued

• The MX-30 R-EV (Europe only)

The PHEV variant uses a rotary-powered range extender (R-EV, not to be confused with an electric RV), similar to the Iconic SP, to recharge the electric battery that provides power to the wheels.

But why? Why put a Rotary in a PHEV.

The Rotary is known for packing a huge punch in a small footprint. But, it is also known for being challenged in, let’s say, the longevity department (how’s that rebuild going, eh?).

RX-7’s and RX-8’s driven at a consistently high RPM, say 210K miles of highway driving (see our Mazda of the Month below), have been known to have displayed impressive lifespan.

The Rotary excels at: Efficiency, Power, Consistency

See where I’m going with this? The Rotary actually makes the perfect gas-powered running mate for a powerful electric motor.

R-EV. Now you get it.

The MX-30 R-EV isn’t “the dream” but it is a good proof of concept.

Bringing it Back to the Rumor Mill

So with inspiration from RX-7, RX-8 and MX-5 in the Iconic SP. What are we looking at?

The prevailing rumor: RX-7 reincarnated. Primarily due to the 10” longer length than the MX-5, Rotary engine, and RX-7 inspired rear slope.

But we’ve heard that before, see our coverage of the RX-Vision rumored to be a new RX-9 concept back in May’s newsletter. What do you think?

MX-5 Cup Finale @ Road Atlanta, Petit LeMans

It was an exciting close to the 2023 MX-5 Cup @ Road Atlanta this month with Connor Zilisch of Hixon Motor Sports (HMS) sweeping both races. He narrowly beat teammate Selin Rollan by 0.196 seconds in Race 2. Watch the live stream above with which links directly to the neck and neck finish to the rave by Selin and Connor for HMS and BSI Racing team, our friends here in Central Florida.

Jared Thomas became the first-ever repeat champion in Mazda MX-5 Cup history due to his consistent performance all season long. He set himself up for an easy win this weekend and even managed a 3rd place podium in Race 1.

Selin Rollan finished the season at 3rd place overall for the championship with a strong finish. He placed 4th in Race 1 and narrowly missed 1st place to Connor in Race 2.

Congrats to to HMS / BSI Racing team on the amazing 2023 season.

The 2024 Mazda MX-5 Cup season will kick off in January at the Rolex 24 in Daytona followed by our 16th Annual Classic Mazda Race Exhibition in February 2024. Stay tuned for more details.

Check out last year’s 15th Annual Race Exhibition highlights here.

MX-5 Cup Best Move of the Year Award

Thomas Annunziate (#15 HMS) won Best Move of the Year for the 2023 Mazda MX-5 Cup season. Check out the full cockpit video as he expertly avoids getting tangled up in a multi-car crash earlier in the season.

Win an MX-5 Cup Car Worth $100K

A track-ready Mazda MX-5 Cup car from our friends at Flis Performance comes in at $100K. Well here is your chance to Win This Car.

Proceeds go to the Michael J. Fox Foundation to find a cure for Parkinson’s disease.

Lake Mirror Classic Concours & Car Show

mazdalakeland

View more on Instagram

We teamed up with our sister store, @MazdaLakeland, and race car driver Mia LeRoux (@mia.onthegrid) for the Lake Mirror Classic Car Show. Thanks to everyone who came out and saw us and entered to win the Team Fox Racing MX-5 Cup Giveaway car.

Funny store. Mia had her MX-5 racer dropped off the night before and someone parked in her trailer so we couldn’t get the car off 🤦. Luckily, she looked right at home standing next to the Team Fox MX-5 Cup car in her racing garb. Thanks Mia!

Mazda of the Month 🔧 

Meet Christopher Oliva (@sirhcavilo) and his son Liam’s 1985 Mazda RX-7 GS

Mods Include:

• Racing Beat lowering springs

• Front / Rear sway bars

• Custom Mazda option decals from the 80s (kept by Original owner and recently installed)

Born at Beverly Hills Mazda in Cali, this RX-7 FB was the Daily Driver (yeah, you read that right) of a female Train Operations manager in LA.

The original rotary engine clocked 210K miles, thanks to immaculate maintenance, including frequent coast-to-coast trips to visit the OG’s Florida vacation home throughout the 90’s and early 2000’s.

But she couldn’t let the legacy die.

2020 saw it roaring back with a brand new crate 12a motor and a new transmission straight from Beverly Hills Mazda. This isn't just a restoration; it's a resurrection.

Now, it's tearing up Central Florida, with Christopher Oliva behind the wheel and his young son Liam as his co-pilot. The car now has 263K miles and is still running strong.

Chris truly loves his RX-7 and we are proud to showcase it as our first community Mazda of the Month.

Chris will be driving this legendary rotary to Daytona this weekend for the HSR Classic 24 Mazda Car Corral. So come see it up close. We can’t wait to see this beauty take to the track for Parade Laps!

Want your car featured as Mazda of the Month?

Reply to this email or DM us on Insta @classicmazdaorlando and we might feature you and your Mazda in a future edition of the newsletter and on the socials.

🗞️ More News

• 1999 MX-5 Land Speed Record Holder Auctioned

• Mazda Celebrates 2 Million Rotary Engines Built And Says It’s Here To Stay

📆 Upcoming Events

• 11/3-5 - HSR Classic 24 - Classic Mazda Car Corral @ Daytona Speedway

• 11/12 - Orlando Cars & Coffee @ Donut Central on 436 & Aloma

🔥 Meme Zone 🤣 

Come join our team and you could receive a Sign-On Bonus of up to $500 for select positions.

One more thing…

📩 If you enjoyed this newsletter tell a friend to subscribe.

P.S. — If you made it this far and you're not following us on social media, do yourself a favor and click your icon of choice below.

That’s a wrap. Be back in your inbox next month.

P.P.S. We love hearing from our readers!

Leave us a comment on the poll or REPLY to this email to give us your feedbackC