History of Mazda Sports Cars

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From quirky and sporty 60’s coupes to today’s sleek, athletic convertibles, the Ray Skillman Northeast Mazda team studies the history of Mazda sports cars.

Early Era: 1960s and 1970s

Believe it or not, there was a history of Mazda sports cars before the RX-7 and MX-5 Miata. Mazda’s reputation for fun cars started in the 1960s with models like the R360 Coupe. It may have only made 16 horsepower, but the car also weighed only 838 pounds.

Later, the Familia Coupe drew attention for its 67-horsepower engine in a compact body. The design later led to the Mazda Cosmo, which introduced the first production rotary engine based on Felix Wankel’s design in 1957. The Cosmo looks like a prototype of the eventual RX-7.

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Another name most people don’t recognize is the Mazda Capella. This is the car that brought Mazda its household name in the U.S. The Capella marked the first generation of Mazda cars using the production rotary engine. This car was the eventual precursor to the RX-3.

History of Mazda Sports Cars in the 1980s and 1990s

The Mazda Cosmo continued into the 1980s with electronic fuel injection and the Cosmo Rotary Turbo engine. The turbocharger increased the output to 160 horsepower. At the time, this version of the Cosmo was the fastest production car in Japan. The familiar look of the RX-7 debuted in this era and included three generations that lasted ten years.

Yet another RX-7 generation debuted in 1986 and continued until 1990. This was considered the classic look of the RX-7 and was raved about by enthusiasts for its stability and solid engineering. The ultimate GTUS model came out near the end of this generation with additional performance features. Mazda never said how many it made, but rumors put the numbers anywhere between 100 to 1,000.

History-of-Mazda-Sports-Cars---RX3-and-RX7

A revolution of the two-seat sports car was underway by the time 1990 rolled around and the Mazda MX-5 Miata took advantage. The MX-5 would go on to become the standard for small, peppy, and inexpensive sports cars. It was billed as a car that appealed to everyone.

Mazda Sports Cars in the Modern Era

The Mazda RX-8 was arguably the brand’s best representative sports car during the 2000s and into the 2010s. With curvy lines, rear-hinged freestyle doors, and a new rotary engine design, the RX-8 had better fuel economy and produced a respectable 250 horsepower without a turbocharger. The RX-8 was reported as a blast to drive with precision handling that outdid most of its rivals.

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In the current era, the MX-5 Miata remains Mazda’s sole sports car offering. With its light body and superior balance, the Miata is as fun to drive as ever. Its affordable price tag makes it a favorite of enthusiasts as well.

When it comes to Mazda sports cars, Ray Skillman Northeast Mazda has you covered. Visit us today to see our selection of new and used Mazda MX-5 Miata models.