RX-9 3-Rotor RWD Manual, MX Speedster, and MX-5 Cup Round 5/6

Greetings Fellow Mazda Fans,

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

We missed you last month, so we are making up for it with this jam-packed edition:

• RX-9 Triple-Rotor RWD Manual Rumors?

• Stock MX-5 💫🔧🌀 ➡️ MX-5 Cup Car

• Custom Wrapped Production MX-5 RF

• MX Speedster Re-Body Kit

• CX-90 Has Arrived

• MX-5 Cup Rounds 5 & 6 @ Laguna Seca

Mazda RX-9 Rumors: BRAP BRAP BRAP BRAP

It has been nearly a decade since the rotary-powered Mazda RX-8 ended production. Enthusiasts got their hopes up in 2015 when the Mazda RX-Vision concept car debuted at the Tokyo Motor Show. Every year since, rumors swirl about the RX-8 successor, commonly assumed to be the Mazda RX-9. And every year…nothing.

2020: The RX-Vision GT3

In 2020, the RX-Vision GT3 was released in the Gran Turismo Sport and Gran Turismo 7 video games, giving pseudo-life to this fantasy sports car with a 4-rotor engine w/ SKYACTIV technology that produces 562 dBHP. That’s Digital Brake Horsepower for the uninitiated 😉.

2021: New “R” Logo Trademark

In 2021, Mazda applied for a trademark for a new “R” logo, similar to the “Spirit R” emblem used in the limited-run late model RX-7 Spirit R.

2022: New Patents Filed

Now, a new patent has added some credibility to the speculation. The patent details a 3-rotor hybrid powertrain. Mazda has only ever offered a triple-rotor once before, as an optional 20B engine available in the 1990-96 Series JC Mazda Eunos Cosmo in the Japanese Market. The RX-7 and RX-8 were both twin-rotor engines.

Read about all the rumors on Top Speed.

Pssst, in case you missed it, check out the 1970 Cosmo we revealed at our 2023 Race Exhibition. The Mazda Cosmo was the first “Halo” car for Mazda and introduced the Mazda Wankel (Rotary) engine.

We Visited FLIS Performance To See An MX-5 Cup Car Conversion

Fun fact: Classic Mazda actually supplies all of the stock MX-5s to FLIS Performance in Daytona before they are converted to track-ready MX-5 Cup cars.

Picking up a Racing-Wrapped Street-Legal MX-5

We had fun going to pick up this production MX-5 RF with a Hixon Motorsports racing wrap, courtesy of @SideEffectsCustomWraps in Daytona this week. This is the same wrap that Selin Rollan has on his MX-5 Cup Car. This car is sure to turn some heads on the road. We currently have it back at the shop to add tint before it gets delivered.

MX Speedster Re-Body Kit

We are big fans of the MX-5 here at Classic Mazda. We are also a destination for both new and used Miatas. We regularly sell MX-5s to out-of-state customers due to our large inventory. It is common for customers to place an order with us, fly in and have a fun time at the parks, then drive home in their new MX-5.

Basically, we ❤️ MX-5 Miatas. So you can bet that when the MX Speedster was revealed at the Amelia Island Cars & Caffeine concours here in Florida, it caught our attention.

The MX Speedster by XENEX Motorsports is much more than just a body kit. Initially, only a render created by designer Kasim Tlibekov, Xenex Motorsports worked with Tlibekov to turn his vision into a reality.

Modeled after True Speedsters like the 1954 Porsche 356 Speedster, the MX Speedster is a stripped-down version of the finest all-around sportscar ever made.

With a modified windshield and a dozen easy-to-install, re-body kit panels, the MX-5 sheds almost 250 lbs from its stock weight. The MX Speedster takes the sheer pleasure of driving to the extreme… Yes, please.

There are also higher performance versions like the MX Speedster S with a Supercharger and the RS with an LS-V8 engine swap creating 350+ bhp.

All you need is a first gen NA Miata, and you can build your own MX Speedster.

Kits are available from XENEX Motorsports.

IG reveal and an article by MotorTrend for more details.

CX-90 Has Arrived

Make that Mazda CX90s with an “s” at the end. The new Artisan Red Premium signature color for the CX-90 has drawn a lot of admiration as the first fully loaded models arrived. But now, we have a wider selection of trim packages, including Preferred Plus models in stock, which is a much more affordable and sought-after trim package that many of you have been asking about.

We even delivered a pair of CX-90s to our friends at FLIS Performance in Daytona. And yes, the 280-HP e-SKACTIV-G 3.3L Inline 6 with the available towing mode has a 5,000 lbs towing capacity that can easily haul an MX-5 Miata.

Rounds 5 & 6 Of The MX-5 Cup In California

Congrats to our friends at BSI Racing and Hixon Motor Sports who had a great Mother's Day weekend of racing in California at the legendary Weathertech Raceway Laguna Seca for Rounds 5 & 6 of the Mazda MX-5 Cup.

Connor Zilisch finished at the top of the podium in Round 5 and Selin Rollan Racing finished 3rd in Round 6. Hanna Zellers won Fastest Female in both rounds.

Next up, Rounds 7 & 8 in NY on June 22 - 24.

Modified Mazda of the Month 🔧 

A Rotary Purists Nightmare 😱

Trigger warning! This modified RX-7 has been swapped to every rotary purist’s horror. But, the 1JZ under the hood produces almost 600 HP, which is pretty impressive. The car sports multiple body kits from RE Amemiya, Feed, and Burnout. On the inside, it has an engine management display and custom upholstered carbon bucket seats. While you might call us heretics, you can’t deny that this car looks clean.

🗞️ More News

• 2024 Mazda3 Revealed in Japan

• 2024 Mazda CX-90 First Drive (Forbes)

📆 Upcoming Events

• 5/11 - Orlando Cars & Coffee @ Aloma & 436 in Winter Park

• 6/22-24 - Rounds 7 & 8 of the MX-5 Cup @ Watkins Glen, NY

🔥 Meme Zone 🤣 

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