When Mazda confirmed that it was expanding its presence in the all-electric segment, it was safe to assume that the Miata sports car would eventually conform to this new reality. But while the company has so far not released formal details about what this means production-wise, it has done the next best thing with the unveiling of the Mazda Iconic SP Concept, which drew plenty of stares at the 2023 Japan Mobility Show.
Iconic SP Concept Draws Inspiration From European Icons
At first glance, it’s hard to ignore the fact that Mazda designers took inspiration from classic European sports cars. The flowing rear end, for example, is reminiscent of the Lotus Elise, while the flowing hood is pure sports car. The Coke-bottle shape also allows the SP to flaunt its curves, with the rear end getting Venn diagram-style taillights while the nose gets Mazda’s current grille design. The concept also gets a nice hue called Viola Red.
Meanwhile, the interior is an exercise of minimalism, with Mazda stylists crafting a cabin that focuses on the driver and pitches luxury-focused frills. The gear selector is a curious keyed setup that reminds us of an old-school computer keyboard, while the digital instrument cluster and the small infotainment screen help communicate vital information to the driver. The seats get biofabric upholstery, and the hanging stitches we last saw on the CX-90 in San Francisco also make their appearance here in the SP concept.
Performance hardware, on the other hand, is more of a mystery, and Mazda isn’t ready to talk about some aspects of it just yet. We know that a two-rotor engine lurks under the bodywork. Still, it serves as an onboard generator with the engine’s power charging a battery of unknown size and a mysterious electric motor layout. The company claims that this setup allows the concept to make 365 horsepower with the engine capable of running on a variety of fuels, including hydrogen. The engine setup is also scalable, and other models could benefit from similar rotary applications.
Will The Iconic SP Concept Reach Production?
While the concept in its current form will most likely not make production, there are some traits here that could make their way into current models. The Miata is due for a major refresh, and the Iconic SP’s rear styling, as well as select elements of the front end, could make their way into the next-gen version. The interior could also carry over but without some of the more exotic elements to help keep the Miata’s price at a point where it’s still obtainable by loyalists and newcomers who might be first-time Miata buyers.
Carl Malek has been an automotive journalist for over 10 years. First starting out as a freelance photographer before making the transition to writing during college, his work has appeared on numerous automotive forums as well as websites such as Autoshopper.com.
Carl is also a big fan of British vehicles with the bulk of his devotion going to the Morgan Motor Company as well as offerings from Lotus, MG, and Caterham. When he is not writing about automobiles, Carl enjoys spending time with his family and friends in the Metro Detroit area, as well as spending time with his adorable pets.