Mazda Working On New Two-Door Coupe

[AVANTI R5]

Mazda Working On New Two-Door Coupe

The Mazda 3 hatchback could be getting a sporty sibling.

The Mazda 3 is currently only available in sedan and hatchback forms, although if you consider the CX-30, there's technically a crossover variant as well. But if there's one thing missing from the Mazda lineup as a whole, it's a two-door coupe. That may not be the case for much longer, however, as CarBuzz has exclusively uncovered patent documents filed with the United States Patent and Trademark Office and the European Patent Office that point to the development of a Mazda 3 Coupe.

Filed in June 2021 and published this month, the documents were given a priority date of July 2020, meaning Mazda wants to fast-track the registration of the design. The Mazda 3 has never been sold in coupe form, despite rivals like the Honda Civic offering the sporty body style.

In the documents, we don't get to see a full car. We do, however, see what definitely appears to be a Mazda 3 Hatchback's basic silhouette, with details describing a two-door body shell. Described as a "vehicle body structure," the important aspects of the text relating to part number 6 specify "a pair of doors attached to both sides of the vehicle body…" The patent goes into other detail about the structure and the supporting members of the roof as seen in figure 4 below, but gives little other indication of what to expect.



A second patent document filed with the USPTO gives us a little more insight, showing a frameless door design in some detail. Everyone knows the best coupes are the ones with frameless windows, and this is exactly that. The second patent showcases the inner workings of the door, particularly the framework and the hinge mechanism, which operates on a single door stay damper or hinge mechanism.



While sections through the door design indicate a cut-off not showing the full window, anyone with technical drawing experience will be able to tell you that there is no frame indicated. The text also describes the doors as 'sashless', which is an architectural term for frameless doors and windows. Curiously, the patent also explains that the window might not be made of glass, speaking of a "door window (which is not only glass-made but reinforced plastic-made)."

While the patent itself may appear to showcase a Mazda 3 Coupe, the concept of a plastic window to reduce weight would be more suited to a sports car. Currently, Mazda's only sports cars, both the MX-5 Miata and MX-5 Miata RF, are convertibles, which means the new structure itself could be implemented in a coupe sports car, with a lightweight window made of plastic.

We hate to add unnecessary fuel to the fire, but rumors have once again taken flight that Mazda is working on an RX-7 successor, and just this week patent documents showcased a three-rotor, rear-wheel-drive sports coupe with a transaxle gearbox. There is a possibility that these two new patents could be for that, as numerous patents have suggested something similar in the works. We've reached out to Mazda for comment on the potential of a new coupe, but ultimately, time will tell.

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[AVANTI R5]

Mazda working on fast rotary-powered hybrid coupe
New Mazda RX-7 replacement could feature tech developed from the humble MX-30 SUV
A fresh patent for an exciting rear-wheel drive rotary-powered coupe has been lodged by Mazda in Europe that hints at a successor for the last Mazda RX-8 or iconic RX-7.

According to the latest trademark application, the unnamed model will run a rotary-hybrid motor up front and feature a transaxle transmission providing for both rear-wheel drive and near-ideal 50:50 weight distribution.

Filed with the European Patent Office, it's been rumoured that the new hybrid set-up has been developed to meet upcoming stringent Euro 7 emissions regulations and is just one of a series of patents for the car-maker's new 48-volt mild-hybrid tech.

Claimed to run an all-new three-rotor engine, it's thought the spiritual successor to the Mazda RX-7 could be Mazda's last hurrah for the combustion engine before upcoming legislation and European city bans render petrol power largely obsolete.

The rudimentary images filed as part of the patent application are said to date back to 2019 and are only a guide.

It's believed that if the next-gen Mazda RX-7 does get green-lit for production, it will be heavily inspired by the well-received Mazda RX-Vision concept.

AUS Site

[OldBlu]

Even without a rotary, a Mazda3 turbo 3-door with independent rear suspension and a manual could be pretty compelling.

[Scooby-Doode]

Originally Posted by OldBlu

Even without a rotary, a Mazda3 turbo 3-door with independent rear suspension and a manual could be pretty compelling.

Right, well what would be its competition? The Si coupe is no longer in production. The 86/BRZ twins?

[Sid03SVT]

Originally Posted by Scooby-Doode

Right, well what would be its competition? The Si coupe is no longer in production. The 86/BRZ twins?

With a hybrid turbo setup I'd wager the Supra, 400z, etc. type vehicles, not the entry level 86/BRZ.

[4S-TURBO]

I thought Mazda was going the BMW route with I6 and RWD?

[arghx7]

If you can fit an I6 in there, you can fit a rotary.

[OldBlu]

Originally Posted by 4S-TURBO

I thought Mazda was going the BMW route with I6 and RWD?

My understanding is they will still have FWD based entry level products just like BMW and Mercedes. The brand new CX-50 is still FWD based and the CX-30 and Mazda3 are still relatively new products.

I don't know what the rotary is for, but I can easily see Mazda moving forward with the Mazda3 as a budget 2-series/A class competitor and the I6 RWD Mazda6 replacement as 3-series/C class competitor.

Is that a smart strategy? Who knows.

[dwf137]

That green car is very attractive. The huge c-pillar works on a 3 door... looks dorky on a 5-door.

[Genericuser1]

Mazda has been talking about a Rotary for years, then the RWD I-6, rotary range extender... At this point until they actually release a production prototype and let reviewers drive it...meh

[BeepBoop]

Mazda needs to hire Rob Dahm and educate their customers on pre-mixing oil+gas.

[hi5.0]

That green 2-door hatch looks good... return of a 3(23) GTX/GTR AWD hatch to take on the WRX and GR Corolla?

[Blitzkrieg]

Whatever Mazda does. They need to do it before most of this tech becomes outlawed our shunned by everyone who feels the world is coming to an end.

[Genericuser1]

It would be great to have the RX-7, Supra and Z back again but I'd prefer not to hear anything until they actually do it.

They have made some achingly beautiful concepts now it's time to move forward.

[4S-TURBO]

Originally Posted by Blitzkrieg

Whatever Mazda does. They need to do it before most of this tech becomes outlawed our shunned by everyone who feels the world is coming to an end.

‘What the **** did you do? I gave this to you mother****er are you crazy??? The polar bears are brown! What did you do the polar bears??? Did you **** all over every polar bear? Who spilled this ****? Did you ****ing spill this? What is that?’

[KC]

Originally Posted by 4S-TURBO

‘What the **** did you do? I gave this to you mother****er are you crazy??? The polar bears are brown! What did you do the polar bears??? Did you **** all over every polar bear? Who spilled this ****? Did you ****ing spill this? What is that?’

I feel sorry for bears that are born albino in the woods, they keep shipping them back up to the polar regions thinking they migrated...

--kC