When you put the words “Mazda” and “Coupe” together, they immediately conjure images of models like the RX-7 and RX-8. Especially the latter since, save for the Japanese market-only Spirit R special, the RX-8 has being discontinued for the rest of the world.
Mazda has already confirmed that it is not giving up on the rotary engine that has become synonymous with its larger rear-wheel drive coupes.
Yet the new coupe that Mazda is rumored to be developing will not be an RX-8 successor. According to British publication What Car?, the Japanese carmaker is preparing a four-seat coupe version of its next-generation Mazda6 mid-size family car.
Previewed by the Takeri concept that premiered at last week’s 42nd Tokyo Motor Show, the production version of the next Mazda6 will be launched in 2013, initially as a saloon and a fastback and, later on, as a station wagon (for certain markets) like its predecessor.
Only this time around Mazda, is rumored to introduce a four-seat coupe version in 2014. Definitely best to take the news with a grain of salt for now, but if the British magazine’s sources are legit, the Coupe will not be powered by a rotary unit but, like the rest of the Mazda6 range, the new Skyactive engines in 2.0-liter gasoline and 2.2-liter diesel versions and will most likely feature the new capacitor-based i-ELOOP kinetic energy regeneration system shown in the Takeri.
MAZDA TAKERI CONCEPT
