Mazda RX sports cars on hold

Despite constant rumours – not to mention regular nudges and winks from senior Mazda executives – that a reborn RX-7 is in the works and an RX-9 could be on the cards, the company's CEO, Masamichi Kogai, has told Automotive News that it will focus on regular models for the foreseeable future.

When asked if that meant boning the new-generation RX-7 that has been rumoured to break cover towards the end of this decade, Kogai confirmed the company’s stated position.

"We don't have that kind of vehicle in our future product plan," he stated.

It's understood that Mazda has registered both the RX-7 and RX-9 names with the Japanese trademark office with a view towards launching at least one of those new models.

That the Japanese car-maker has two major celebrations in the coming years – the 50th anniversary of the rotary engine in 2017 and Mazda's centenary in 2020 – it was widely expected to launch a new sports car in one of those years, based on the MX-5's scalable rear-drive platform.

Kogai has put the kybosh on those plans, explaining that "If you increase the number of segments, then the resources we can allocate to each will decline and that will prevent us from developing truly good products."

Clearly the focus is now on updating the brand's range of vehicles, including the Mazda2, Mazda3, Mazda6, CX-5 and upcoming CX-3, which are all based on new(ish) SKYACTIV platforms that use fuel-saving powertrains. The only exception is the CX-9 large SUV.

The company has just unveiled a brand-new fourth-generation MX-5 roadster and also has the BT-50 ute in its range.

"It's difficult for us at present to further expand our line-up," Kogai said when asked about high-performance, low-volume RX models.

Sports cars rarely earn profits for car makers and Mazda has decided the need to save money outweighs the need for a tyre-smoking halo car.

"The company is still in the process of improving its financial structure. We want to focus our limited resources on the SKYACTIV products that we have today," said Kogai.

The lack of a halo model performance car has not hurt Mazda's standing internationally or in Australia with sales continuing to rise. Global sales surpassed 1.1 million vehicles at the end of the Japanese financial year (March 31, 2014), up by more than 60,000 units and delivering a record profit of around $1.7 billion.

In Australia, Mazda's sales to the end of October were down by 2.7 per cent year on year to 83,867. The brand is still Australia's third most popular, behind Holden in second spot and Toyota at the top of the charts.

Image: Holiday Auto magazine