At the very least, we are looking for signs of the next rotary-powered sports car from Mazda.

This news broke following a patent application by Mazda entitled “Vehicle Shock Absorption Structure” was published and intercepted by Japanese outlet Motor Magazine. The illustration and included described a space-frame design that so far does not match any existing products under development at Mazda that we know of.

The fact that the engine bay in the image is fairly compact has led everyone to believe that this is where we might, in the future, find an equally compact rotary engine. The other hints come from the front double wishbone suspension and, to a lesser extent, the use carbon-fibre reinforced plastic (CFRP) and aluminum in much of the displayed structure.

The patent is really about a structure designed to absorb impacts and its makeup. You can’t blame us for wanting to see the return of the RX-7, or an RX-9! We do know however that such as car is not in the works, at least not for the near future.

Mazda is currently hard at work developing new straight-6 engines, EV and hybrid technologies. Of the EVs, one soon-to-introduced will feature a rotary engine as a range extender, as we reported a short while ago.

So, we know the rotary’s not dead, we just want more of it.

Source: Motor Magazine