- Mazda plans to launch a high-performance rotary model within a decade.
- Vision-X Coupe uses a plug-in hybrid rotary setup with 503 horsepower.
- Renderings imagine a stunning wagon version inspired by the concept.
Mazda has long had a knack for crafting beautiful concept cars, and at the Japan Mobility Show, it reminded everyone of that talent by revealing two of them. The standout is the Vision-X Coupe, a low-slung machine powered by a plug-in hybrid rotary setup producing a healthy 503 hp.
Also: Mazda Brings Back Turbo Rotary Engine With Vision-X Coupe
And yet, you can’t help but wonder, what if Mazda took this futuristic coupe and stretched it into something even more unexpected? A sports wagon, perhaps.
Following the discontinuation of the gas-powered Mazda6, which had been available as an estate, the Japanese brand’s range is now primarily dominated by SUVs, with the exception of the Mazda3, MX-5, and, in some markets, the Mazda2 subcompact and BT-50 pickup.
Mazda Could Design a Great Estate
Sugar Design
The Mazda6 of old has, in effect, been succeeded by Mazda’s collaboration with Changan in China, which resulted in the all-electric 6e. It’s available in select markets such as Europe, China, and Australia, though an estate version has yet to join the lineup.
These renderings imagine what a potential new Mazda6 estate could look like if the automaker decided to use the Vision-X Coupe as inspiration. Just think, if a vehicle like this were brought to reality, it might be the only car that could come close to matching the cool factor of the BMW M3 Touring.
More: What If Mazda Built An Inline-Six Sports Wagon From The EZ-6?
Unsurprisingly, the design of the Vision-X Coupe lends itself very well to an estate. As standard, it’s already quite long – 7.3 inches (185 mm) longer than a Mazda6, no less – so by simply raising the rear roofline by a bit, it can be easily changed from a coupe-inspired sedan.
These renderings from Sugar Design also showcase the Vision-X estate with slightly different taillights. The concept’s strange rear lights, on display in Tokyo, stretch up both sides of the rear window, which seems a little unnecessary. In this case, they stop at the base of the window, which looks a little nicer.
Mazda has debuted the Vision-X Concept as a way to imagine its next generation of vehicles. While there’s no confirmation it will spawn a production model, the brand does want to release a high-performance rotary by 2035, and the concept previews the form that such a powertrain may take.
Its hybrid system pairs a turbocharged rotary engine with an electric motor and a small battery pack, together delivering 503 hp and up to 99 miles (160 km) of all-electric range.
Sugar Design
