It’s still only a rumor, but you can pretty much lock this in as a set date for Mazda to return to the rotary game. Ever since the RX-8 died, enthusiasts have been waiting for the day when Mazda would get back into rotating triangloid glory. That day is today.

According to reports, there’s a rumor circulating about a 2020 release for the RX-9. And you can also bank on the RX-9 being the name of the model because Mazda has already trademarked that particular nameplate.

Here’s everything we know thus far.

Mazda’s board of directors has formally approved the design, engineering and production of the company’s long-awaited successor to the RX-7 and RX-8 rotary coupes, according to Japan’s Holiday Auto magazine which has also produced these new renderings. Expected to be called the RX-9 — a trademark Mazda has registered — the born-again performance coupe is not due on sale globally until January 2020, when it will be the centrepiece of Mazda’s centenary celebrations. Before then, the Mazda is likely to reveal a prototype version at the 2017 Tokyo motor show to mark the 50th anniversary of its first rotary model, before the final production model debuts at the 2019 Tokyo show.

So it looks like we’re going to catch a glimpse of something very soon. I’d expect some spy shots of some mules to surface in the next 6-9 months. Be pumped people, we’ll be hearing the screams of a wailing rotary engine again very soon.

Excitement builds.

(Source: Motoring.com.au)