Mazda has been promising a new flagship rotary sports car for well over a decade now, and despite a few stunning concepts from the Japanese carmaker, a production model is yet to arrive, and might never. While many want a rotary sports car to happen, some have decided to take matters into their own hands.
I recently stumbled upon an interesting project, which turned out to be six years old (at the time of writing this article), but never got the spotlight it deserved. A group of students from the Japan Automotive College decided to build their own version of the Mazda RX-Vision Concept. The stunning coupe debuted back in 2015 and promised a high-performance sports car, powered by a Wankel engine.
Mazda patents suggested a hybrid sports car, featuring a rotary engine as the main propulsion unit, but production is still halted due to a variety of reasons, including emissions and sales concerns.
What started as a Mazda RX-8 became something else
The car, dubbed RX-8 Stance, was actually unveiled at the 2019 Japan Auto Saloon, and caught the eyes of many due to its apparent intent to emulate the design cues of the RX-Vision coupe. Even more impressive is the fact that the NATS students have managed to achieve the goal using OEM parts from other existing models. These include the Mazda 6 front grille and ND Miata headlights.
The body is custom-built, featuring flared fenders, side skirts, a new hood with a functioning air extractor, and a heavily revised rear engine, featuring twin-round taillights. The chrome SSR wheels are wrapped in beefy Toyo tires. The only factory parts seem to be the roof, front doors, and side mirrors. The interior is mostly stock, aside from new bucket seats.
Footage of the engine bay reveals some modifications, but no power figures have been given. This was mostly a stylistic exercise, aiming to emulate the looks of the RX-Vision Concept.
Broken promises or just biding its time?
Last year, Mazda CEO Masahiro Moro said that they really want to make more performance-oriented models, based on an FR platform, but this heavily hinges on how successful the brand’s new SUVs are. Well, the sales numbers are looking good, and we have yet to see a production flagship rotary sports car or a rear-wheel-drive Mazda 6. The concepts are there, they look stunning, and even Mazda employees are pushing for these models to enter production.
Nowadays, it is always about the finances
In November 2025, when asked about the future of the rotary sports car, Mazda Chief Technology Officer Ryuichi Umeshita said that “the only outstanding issue is financial", effectively putting an end to all hope of a rotary RX-7 successor.
The Mazda RX-8 didn’t quite live up to the RX-7’s reputation. It came with less power, no turbocharged model, and controversial looks. This doesn’t mean it is a bad car, however. In true Mazda tradition, the chassis is superbly balanced, and you have the pleasure of revving that rotary engine to 9,000 RPM. You can also find RX-8s for dirt-cheap, which isn’t something you can say about many Japanese sports cars.
Related stories:
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- Mazda Never Made A New Speed3, But Here's How Little It Takes For The Current Model To Become One
- They Tried To Sell Me A Mazda 6 Turbo That Turned Out To Have The Normally-Aspirated Engine, So I Backed Away
Image source: Front and Rear End Swaps via Facebook, Mazda RX-Vision
About the author
Dimitar Angelov has been an automotive journalist since 2014. His passion for cars and motorcycles led him to take up classic car restoration at the Classic Car Museum in Malta. While living there, he also graduated with a Master's in Media and Communications. Aside from Torquenews, his work can also be seen on Topspeed.com, HotCars.com, Motorheads.com, Jalopnik.com, and his own website, Ridereverie.com, where he also includes motorcycle content.
Other relevant experiences in the automotive scene include working at a Toyota dealership, professional driving, and automotive insurance. Dim is happy to get behind the wheel of any car and share his impressions. You can follow Dimitar on X, LinkedIn, Instagram, and Facebook.
Experience
- 2012-2017 and 2025-Present: Insurance Advisor - ANG Univers and Generali Insurance Group
- 2016-2016: Car salesman at Toyota dealership
- 2014-Present: Automotive journalist, blogger, vlogger, test driver
Education
- Bachelor's degree in International Economic Relations
- Master's degree in Marketing
- Master's degree in Media and Communications
Dimitar Angelov has been quoted in the following publications:
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