Mazda is known for its rotary-engined vehicles but after the company decided to end the production of the RX8, Mazda is left without a rotary model. Poor fuel efficiency is one of the major reasons why the rotary engine is given the chop.

The company is determined that there is still a future for the rotary engine. Lately, Mazda is developing a new rotary engine which will act as a range extender for electric vehicles. While we wait for that piece of technology to complete, there is some good news for rotary fans out there as the RX7 is making a comeback.

Nobuhiro Yamamoto, Mazda's program manager, has confirmed that a new Mazda RX7 is making a comeback and it will be launched some time in 2017. The RX7's comeback will coincide with the 50^th anniversary of the Mazda Cosmo Sport which is the first rotary-engined vehicle that Mazda has ever produced.

The new RX7 will be more powerful, lighter and more fuel efficient than the previous one. Yamamoto worked on the previous RX7 model and he also designed the Mazda 787B Wankel engine. Yamamoto mentioned that the new car will use Mazda's new 16X rotary engine.

In comparison with the RX8's 1.3 litre Renesis engine which made around 230bhp in natural aspirated form, the 1.6 litre naturally aspirated 16X engine will make around 300bhp. And the company is considering a turbo option as well. The 16X engine is based on the 13B's twin rotor design, the main difference is the increased displacement size.

With Mazda's latest SkyActiv technology and the addition of special catalytic converters, the new engine will be more fuel efficient than previous rotary engines. Yamamoto also mentioned that the new RX7 will not be offered with hybrid technology because the company sees the car as a pure sports vehicle.

Much aluminium will be used on the body shell in order to keep the vehicle weight at a minimum. Also, the car will use a stretched version of the MX5's platform. This is done to keep development costs low. The new RX7's overall weight is said to be less than 2800 lbs (1270 kg).

As for the pricing, Yamamoto stated that the new RX7 will be priced between the Nissan 370Z and the GT-R. This means that if it reaches our shores, it will be rather expensive.

Image credit: Net Car Show