Is Mazda Really Bringing Back the RX-7? 🤯

[Hypedrive] January 26, 2024 Weekly Digest ⚠️ Mazda Announces Launch of a "Rotary Development Group" for Future Sports Cars TLDR: There's a light at the end of the tunnel for Mazda fans: the sporty rotary engine may be coming back.⁠Why It Matters: According to drive.com.au, the news was announced during Mazda's press conference at the 2024 Tokyo Auto Salon. President and CEO Katsuhiro Moro stated the plan for a "rotary engine development group" that would initiate on February 1. The statement followed after discussing details of the Mazda Iconic SP concept, a small compact sports car that was unveiled in 2023 during the Japan Mobility Show. ⁠No concrete details followed that announcement, however the implication is that the rotary engine development would focus on sports cars, as the Iconic SP was presented last year conceptually with a "highly scalable rotary engine." Moro's acknowledgement of a rotary engine development group is a confirmation of sorts that this powertrain and/or the Iconic SP concept could potentially be a reality.⁠⁠Read the full article [here](. --------------------------------------------------------------- 🇯🇵 Experiencing the 2024 Tokyo Auto Salon TLDR: 900 cars, over 4,300 exhibitors, and more than a quarter of a million attendees – what we saw and experienced at the 2024 Tokyo Auto Salon with nothing short of breathtaking.⁠Why It Matters: The sheer amount of cars was a spectacle, with the widest selection of JDM builds in the world. Manufacturers like Nissan and Toyota took the opportunity to show off their latest cars – NISMO editions of the Skyline, GT-R and even Ariya crossover took to the stage, and the Toyota “Cullinan” Century stole our hearts, respectively. The larger OEMs like BBS, RAYS, BRIDE, Ohlins, KW, Toyo Tires, Michelin and so much more enlightened us with new product tech, and tuning houses like RE Amemiya, Mugen, D.A.D and others stunned with their showcars. Read the full article [here](. --------------------------------------------------------------- 📝 Residents and Property Owners Want to Sue Laguna Seca for Being "A Public Nuisance" TLDR: An official complaint towards the world-famous Laguna Seca race track has been filed to get it shut down.⁠⁠Why It Matters: As reported on by The Drive, residents and property owners nearby known as the "Highway 68 Coalition" filed with Monterey County against @weathertechraceway, one of America's most well-known and challenging race tracks. The petitioners are using a plethora of reasons for the complaint, from the excessive noise the race cars produce to safety concerns, even improper sewage claims and suspected levels of arsenic. The complaint continues that Laguna Seca's Use Permit and zoning does not actually allow for motor vehicle racing, rather non-racing events only.⁠⁠Read the full article [here](. --------------------------------------------------------------- 💰 Ultra-Rare Mercedes-Benz AMG ONE Listed for $5.4M USD TLDR: An example of the ultra-rare Mercedes-Benz AMG ONE has surfaced for sale via a Dubai-based dealer, who’s asking roughly $5,400,000 USD for the vehicle.⁠⁠Why It Matters: The AMG ONE, which saw its first deliveries completed last year, is a remarkable fusion of Formula 1 technology and road-legal design brought to life as a limited-edition hypercar produced to the tune of 275 units. The example for sale, finished in black with a black interior, is said to have 0 miles on the odometer, although it’s likely to have a few, even if just from rolling it in and out of trailers. What’s more interesting is that Mercedes-Benz had reportedly expressed that owners would not be allowed to flip their vehicles, meaning this example could potentially have been listed by a second owner or that the first owner is just ignoring this advisory. Either way, the vehicle is up for sale, listed for nearly two times its retail price and awaits its next owner.⁠⁠⁠Read the full article [here](. --------------------------------------------------------------- 🏆 Audi Wins the Dakar Rally for the First Time TLDR: Audi has clinched a historic victory at the Dakar Rally with its innovative Audi RS Q e-tron.⁠⁠Why It Matters: This achievement marks not only Audi’s first win at the event but the first time a low-emission prototype equipped with an electric drive, high-voltage battery and energy converter has triumphed in one of the world’s most challenging desert rallies. Landing the first-place win for the automaker was a team affectionately known as “The Spaniards,” made up of racers Carlos Sainz and Lucas Cruz. The two covered approximately 7,900 kilometers or roughly 4,900 miles, leading the pack by a significant 1 hour and 20 minutes. The victory at Dakar Rally 2024 is a personal milestone for Sainz and Cruz, marking their fourth win in this grueling event.⁠Read the full article [here](. --------------------------------------------------------------- [Hypebeast] [Download the Hypebeast App]( On iOS & Android Devices [hypebeast instagram]( --------------------------------------------------------------- [Manage Subscriptions]( Policy]( You are subscribed to Hypebeast’s marketing emails with the address: {EMAIL} Contact [subscription@hypebeast.com](mailto: subscription@hypebeast.com) for assistance on any enquiries. 2023 Hypebeast Limited. All Rights Reserved Hypebeast, 40/F, Cable TV Tower, No.9 Hoi Shing Road, Tsuen Wan, Hong Kong