Is this the long-awaited Mazda RX-9? Leaked patents hint at new rotary sports car to rival Toyota Supra and Nissan Z

Mazda has long had a will-they-won’t-they relationship with the idea of a follow up to its rotary RX-8 sports coupe, which ended production back in 2012.

The brand has teased an RX-Vision concept several times in recent history and was sent again into overdrive last week when it was revealed Mazda had trademarked an ‘R’ badge.

Now, though, as reported by US outlet Jalopnik, Mazda has also filed 14 patents relating to the structure of a sports coupe with the Japanese patent office, with one attached image showing the rear bodyshell of a suspiciously RX-Vision-looking vehicle (pictured, top).

While brands frequently file patents for plans which they won’t necessarily use, the timing is notable alongside the patent of the 'R' badge and recent activity around a rotary range-extender version of the MX-30 all-electric small SUV and the RX-Vision.

It’s also worth noting that while Mazda has historically placed rotary power in its sports coupes, there’s no reason why one wouldn't be powered by the new SkyActiv 3.0-litre inline six developed in cahoots with Toyota, or by pure electricity, as foreshadowed by the MX-30 and recent confirmation of future electric power in the MX-5.

The drawings show the rear cladding of the car and are remarkably similar to the RX-Vision GT3 recently debuted in the PlayStation racing title Gran Turismo Sport carrying brand’s swoopy Kodo look.

The accompanying text is mainly concerned with how the shown rear body structure supports “rigidity of the rear suspension and effectively transmit rear thrust load from the rear side housing to the coupling body between the side sill and the pillar”.

Of course, these filings are far from confirmation that this design will ever see the light of day.

As much as we’re sure even Mazda would love to see its rotary lineage continue, it seems highly unlikely given the difficulty in emissions compliance for such an engine. Rotary engines, by their nature, struggle to fully burn fuel, resulting in particularly nasty tailpipe emissions, which have been controlled long ago with various lean-burn technologies in regular piston combustion engines.

A rotary range-extender version like the supposed MX-30 variant could be an interesting avenue for such a car, but it would seem Mazda is having trouble making the sums work on that one for the time being.

Mazda is in a joint agreement with Toyota, focusing on the North American market and developing a larger rear-wheel-drive vehicle platform which is set to underpin the next CX-5 and Mazda6, perhaps even extending to the next-generation Lexus IS.