Mazda might just have pulled the rug out from the competition at the Japan Mobility Show (can we just call it the Tokyo Motor Show again, please?) with this, the Iconic SP concept - a thinly-disguised look at the next-generation of MX-5 sports car.
Not confirmed for production
While Mazda hasn't confirmed production details nor anything like them, it does point out that the Iconic SP debuts on the show stand alongside the updated version of the current MX-5, drawing a clear link between the two cars (as if the styling weren't enough of a clue-drop).
Underneath, the Ionic SP switches the MX-5's traditional four-cylinder petrol engine for a plug-in range-extender hybrid setup which uses a battery to drive the rear wheels, and which is topped up by a compact rotary engine to keep you mobile when there aren't enough charging points around. The system is conceptually similar to that used by the just-launched MX-30 R-EV, but the Ionic SP more than doubles the power output of the MX-30, to 370hp, partially down to the fact that it uses a two-chamber rotary engine, rather than the MX-30's single-chamber - it's also almost 200hp more than you get in the current most powerful MX-5.
Hydrogen power
Mazda claims that the rotary engine is perfect for future range extenders as it can run on a multiplicity of fuels, including hydrogen. The system is said to be ideal for sports cars, because it means, in theory, you don't need a big, heavy battery to give you a reasonable touring range.
The rotary engine - more compact than a piston engine - also means that the Iconic SP can have a seriously low bonnet line, allowing the rest of the shape to be equally sleek. Notably, it's being shown as a fixed-roof coupe, a model of MX-5 that Mazda has never previously built (although there have been folding hard-top versions, of course). Is this a potentially serious production reality? If it looks this good, we certainly hope so.
Classic gear selector
Open up the doors - which, Aston-Martin-style, open at a dihedral angle - and there's a minimalist interior, covered in synthetic suede, neatly-integrated digital screens and a delightful drive selection switch which seems to pay homage to classic 'open gate' gear changes of the 1960s.
Unveiling the concept, Mazda President and CEO, Masahiro Moro said: "We love the MX-5, and the world loves the MX-5. We are determined in the age of electrification to keep the joy of driving which the MX-5 represents alive, and the Mazda Iconic SP, with its dual rotary power generator EV powertrain is our dream solution. A dream we will work hard to launch. Mazda will always deliver vehicles that remind people that cars are pure joy and an indispensable part of their lives."