Exciting news from Japan indicates that automotive giants Toyota and Mazda are collaborating to develop the next generation of sports cars. Building on their existing technological partnerships in areas like hybrid technology, the latest reports from Japan’s leading automotive magazine, Best Car, suggest a significantly bolder and more expansive collaboration. Rumors are swirling around a new sports car project at Mazda, one that has been largely under wraps, and it appears they are joining forces with Toyota to bring it to fruition.
Mazda’s Potent 3.3-Liter 6-Cylinder Engine Takes Center Stage
Toyota, known for co-developing the current GR Supra with BMW, is reportedly considering a shift in engine suppliers for its next iteration. Instead of continuing with BMW’s inline 6-cylinder turbo engine, Toyota is eyeing Mazda’s newly developed 3.3-liter inline-six gasoline engine. This engine, currently powering models like the Mazda CX-70 and CX-90 in the U.S. market, is particularly appealing to Toyota due to its rear-wheel-drive configuration compatibility. Industry insiders anticipate this engine will deliver around 360 horsepower, placing it squarely in the performance range of the existing Supra model.
While Toyota is seemingly eager to adopt Mazda’s engine technology, Mazda itself is concurrently developing its own new sports car, leveraging the same rear-drive powertrain. While a direct 2-door competitor to a future Toyota GR Supra is a possibility for Mazda, indications suggest they are leaning towards a more distinctive 4-door coupe design, powered by the same impressive straight-6 engine. Best Car proposes that this strategic choice would offer consumers a broader spectrum of sports car options – a 2-door model from Toyota and a 4-door coupe from Mazda.
A Trio of Sports Cars Could Cement Mazda’s Performance Lineup
Mazda, headquartered in Hiroshima, is already known to be working on the highly anticipated 5th generation of the Miata MX-5, alongside an innovative rotary-hybrid sports car. The addition of this 6-cylinder powered model would complete a compelling trio of sports cars in Mazda’s portfolio. While the classification of a 4-door model as a “sports car” might spark debate, the shared platform and engine with the next GR Supra firmly position it as a performance-oriented vehicle, arguably broadening the conventional definition of a sports car – at least in Mazda’s vision.
Toyota and Mazda’s deepening relationship is underscored by their capital alliance initiated in 2017, when Toyota acquired a 5.1% stake in Mazda, becoming its third-largest shareholder. This collaboration further solidified in 2021 with a joint venture at the Huntsville, Alabama plant, where Toyota produces the Corolla Cross and Mazda assembles the CX-50 on the same production line. The extent of their synergy is evident in the Alabama-built CX-50, which incorporates Toyota’s acclaimed THS hybrid system, and in Europe, where the Mazda2 hybrid is based on the Toyota Yaris platform.
Vision Coupe Design Cues for the New Mazda Sports Car
Whispers of a Toyota-Mazda sports car collaboration first emerged around 2015, coinciding with Mazda’s unveiling of the stunning rotary-powered RX-Vision concept car. This was quickly followed by the breathtaking Mazda Vision Coupe 4-door concept in 2017. Rumors at the time hinted at shared platforms and powertrains between these concepts and future production models.
Five years later, in 2022, Toyota unveiled the GR GT3 concept at the Tokyo Auto Salon, a sports car exhibiting strikingly similar proportions to the RX-Vision, fueling speculation about a shared underlying platform. The forthcoming Mazda sports car, anticipated around 2027 and currently unnamed, is expected to draw significant styling inspiration from the Vision Coupe, though potentially with adjustments to its overall length for enhanced everyday usability.
The prospect of New Sports Cars emerging from this Toyota-Mazda collaboration is generating considerable excitement within the automotive community. Enthusiasts eagerly await further details about these promising vehicles that could redefine the sports car landscape in the coming years.
