Mazda is known for developing cars for people who love to drive. The automaker reiterated this philosophy in Tokyo at the Japan Mobility Show when they debuted the Mazda Iconic SP.

The compact sportscar might not have been the craziest car visitors could see at the show, but it was by far one of the most beautiful. Inside and out, and under the hood too.

A New Type of Sportscar

There’s been a lot of focus on electric powertrains in recent years as the solution to the problems of using fossil fuels, renewable energy, and pollution in the automotive industry. But there may be more than one way to get around these issues. Enter the Mazda Iconic SP with a unique powertrain that uses a rotary range extender. So, what exactly is this? The Iconic SP has an electric drive train with a two-rotor Wankel rotary engine that works to extend its range. When you put all the pieces together, Mazda says this engine can produce 365 horsepower.

What Is a Rotary Engine?

If you’re not familiar with a rotary engine, it’s a little different from an internal combustion engine. Instead of traditional pistons and cylinders, it has a triangular-shaped rotor. Each of the tips of the triangle has Apex seals that sit inside, and an ignition chamber shaped a lot like the figure 8. The reason this is called a Wankel engine is because the concept was developed in the 1920s by a German engineer named Felix Wankel.

Some of the advantages of a rotary engine over a combustion engine include a higher power-to-weight ratio and it has almost no vibrations. It can also reach higher speeds than an engine with traditional pistons, and since it has fewer moving parts, it’s cheaper to produce.

What Does the Mazda Iconic SP Look Like?

If you compare the Iconic SP to the MX-F Miata, it’s larger at 164.6 inches long and 72.8 inches wide. It looks a lot like the Miata, especially because it’s painted red, although it’s a new Viola Red instead of the Soul Red found on today’s Miata.

It made its appearance as a fixed-roof, two-door coupe, with a low-mounted grille inlet and thin headlights that sit at the edges of each of the front fenders. Take a walk around the back of this Mazda, and you’ll find taillights designed with the original 1990 Miata in mind.

A Simple Interior

Mazda kept things simple inside the Iconic SP. It has a three-spoke steering wheel with a small driver information display behind it and another screen for the infotainment system right beside it. The upscale feel is enhanced with leather upholstery on the seats.

This concept car from Mazda embodies its philosophy that driving should be all about the joy. Its high output rotary EV engine is carbon neutral, and to top it off, gives the sports car a low center of gravity.