Mazda files MX-6e and MX-7e trademarks, fueling hopes for a return to the sports-car market

Mazda has filed trademark applications for MX-6e and MX-7e, raising hopes among sports-car fans that the Japanese automaker could return to the performance-car market.

The MX-6 name recalls the sports car Mazda produced with Ford in the 1990s. The model had a sporty design and a maximum output of 200 horsepower, but Mazda discontinued it in 1997 after two generations. Based on Mazda’s past naming conventions, the “MX” may refer to Mazda eXperimental, while the “e” suggests electric power.

The MX-7e has no direct predecessor, but its name inevitably evokes Mazda’s iconic RX-7. Expectations for a rotary-powered sports car have grown after Mazda unveiled the Iconic SP concept and the Vision X-Coupe, which features a turbocharged rotary powertrain. Overseas media reports have speculated that the MX-7e could prepare the way for a rotary range-extender sports car.

Mazda has also submitted a patent for a new exhaust gas recirculation system designed to address the high temperatures and emissions challenges of rotary engines. The design changes the exhaust route around the rotary housing and adds an EGR cooler to lower combustion temperatures and reduce harmful emissions. If the technology can meet emissions regulations, a more powerful rotary engine could return to the market.