The history of Mazda’s most famous rotary car: Jalopnik

Defined by its iconic design, balanced driving dynamics and distinctive rotating heart, the Mazda RX-7 was one of Japan’s most ambitious sports cars. Over its three-generation lifespan, the RX-7 proved that even a small Japanese automaker like Mazda could challenge the European sports car establishment – ​​not by chasing engine displacement or engine numbers, but by leaning on a lightweight engineering ethos.

A rare mix of motorsport talent, cult following and a strong aftermarket scene has helped the RX-7 find a place in virtually every corner of automotive culture, while elegantly becoming an icon. And with a powertrain as unconventional as the RX-7’s, it’s no surprise that this car has a fascinating story.

This wasn’t Mazda’s first attempt at a sports car powered by the precarious rotary engine, and it wouldn’t be its last – yet it was the moment where everything finally came together. Ultimately, what had to go right to make the RX-7 the most famous rotary engine car?

The story of the modern rotary engine begins with Felix Wankel, a German engineer who spent time working for Daimler-Benz and BMW before building a government-funded workshop to pursue his unconventional concept. It was Wankel’s 1929 patent that laid the foundation for today’s rotating blueprint.

Although Wankel is often credited as the father of the rotary engine, his work was heavily based on earlier rotary concepts dating back centuries. His real contribution was not in inventing the idea, but in refining it for modern applications – especially in improving efficiency and reliability for the rise of the engine in the 20th century.

What history often overlooks is that Mazda wasn’t the first automaker to embrace the rotary car. That honor goes to the German car manufacturer Necharsulm Stickmachinene Union (NSU), which collaborated with Wankel in 1951. Together they developed the rotating design for mass production. Wankel continued to file additional patents prior to the release of the 1964 NSU Wankel-Spider – the first rotary-engined production car.

While this was going on, Mazda agreed to license with NSU and Wankel. This allowed the three institutions to collaborate on research and prototyping, while Mazda owned the rights to use the turntable in its cars. NSU eventually merged with Auto Union to form Audi and Mazda took center stage, launching the Mazda Cosmo Sport in 1967.

This marked the beginning of a line of rotary sports cars that Mazda itself might not have foreseen. The Cosmo Sport served as Mazda’s halo car for a new era and a symbol of the company’s commitment to Rotary. Mazda was finally able to think bigger – and that ultimately led to the RX-7.

Mazda’s Cosmo Sport proved that the rotary car was not just a commuter curiosity, but a legitimate competitor in the sports car landscape. In the 1970s, Mazda used everyday vehicles as rolling test beds, fitting 10A, 12A and 13B twin-rotor engines into everything from the REPU pickup to the compact Capella sedan – also called the RX-2.

When Mazda introduced the Savanna RX-7 in 1978, it marked a turning point not only for the company, but also for affordable performance cars. Here was a lightweight sports coupe with rear-wheel drive, powered by a rotary engine, offered at an accessible price. Inspired by Lotus, Mazda gave the RX-7 a sleek, timeless style. Apart from that, the RX-7’s front-midship layout placed the 12A twin-rotor engine comfortably behind the front axle and allowed for a near 50-50 weight ratio.

Mazda updated the RX-7 in 1981, making the five-speed manual transmission standard across the board. This shift also changed the car’s internal designation from SA to FB.

The RX-7’s lightweight formula immediately set the RX-7 apart and it became a dominant force on the track in the United States and abroad, with victories in the International Motor Sports Association (IMSA), British Touring Car Championship (BTCC) and Australian Touring Car Championship (ATCC), to name a few. Ultimately, Mazda sold more than 470,000 SA and FB RX-7s worldwide. The sports coupe with a small rotary engine had generated huge sales and confirmed Mazda’s ambitions, but the best was yet to come.

Mazda’s second version of the RX-7 arrived in 1986 in the form of the FC. The FC now comes standard with the iconic 1.3-litre 13B engine and produced more power to support a body that had noticeably gained some weight. The styling was more mature, this time taking cues from Porsche’s 944.

The second-generation RX-7 gained attention as a legitimate alternative to European sports coupes with a more luxurious cabin than the previous generation and a turbocharged option the following year. Motor Trend quickly crowned the 1986 RX-7 that year’s Import Car of the Year. Like its predecessor, the FC RX-7 left a legacy in motorsports with an IMSA GTO manufacturer’s title in 1991. During its seven-year existence, Mazda produced over 272,000 FC RX-7s – a decline from the sales figures of the first generation.

Mazda’s rotary magnum opus was the last of the RX-7 line, the FD. Introduced in 1993, the FD RX-7 showcased sculpted curves, sharper performance and an all-in sports car ethos. The FD fully embraced the 13B-REW turbo engine, which was now standard on all models. The car’s performance increased to 255 hp, right into the sports car mix of the 1990s with fellow Japanese car manufacturers such as Toyota and Nissan.

FD prices rose significantly and Mazda sold fewer than 14,000 in the United States before withdrawing the car from the US market in 1995. Internationally, the last generation of the RX-7 survived until 2002. Although the RX-7’s departure was not as legendary as its arrival, the car quickly rose to modern classic status.