autoevolution
 

Mazda Patents Doors That Pivot Upward, Drawings Reveal Sports Car Design

Aston Martins are bite-the-back-of-your-hand beautiful creations from all points of view, starting with the design of the badge. A trademark feature of all modern Aston Martin models are the doors, which tilt up by 12 degrees when opened, so the driver and passenger don’t have to worry about hitting the curb.
Mazda Door Support Structure of Automotive Vehicle (rumored RX-9 rotary sports car) 16 photos
Photo: USPTO
Mazda Door Support Structure of Automotive Vehicle (rumored RX-9 rotary sports car)Mazda Door Support Structure of Automotive Vehicle (rumored RX-9 rotary sports car)Mazda Door Support Structure of Automotive Vehicle (rumored RX-9 rotary sports car)Mazda Door Support Structure of Automotive Vehicle (rumored RX-9 rotary sports car)Mazda Door Support Structure of Automotive Vehicle (rumored RX-9 rotary sports car)Mazda Door Support Structure of Automotive Vehicle (rumored RX-9 rotary sports car)Mazda Door Support Structure of Automotive Vehicle (rumored RX-9 rotary sports car)Mazda Door Support Structure of Automotive Vehicle (rumored RX-9 rotary sports car)Mazda Door Support Structure of Automotive Vehicle (rumored RX-9 rotary sports car)Mazda Door Support Structure of Automotive Vehicle (rumored RX-9 rotary sports car)Mazda Door Support Structure of Automotive Vehicle (rumored RX-9 rotary sports car)Mazda Door Support Structure of Automotive Vehicle (rumored RX-9 rotary sports car)Mazda Door Support Structure of Automotive Vehicle (rumored RX-9 rotary sports car)Mazda Door Support Structure of Automotive Vehicle (rumored RX-9 rotary sports car)Mazda Door Support Structure of Automotive Vehicle (rumored RX-9 rotary sports car)
Care to guess which mainstream automaker intends to adopt the solution in its own way? Enter Mazda, who has recently filed a door support structure design with the United States Patent & Trademark Office. Application number 20170241179 reveals the doors belong to a sports car, and the mechanism allows the patented doors to pivot up by 15 degrees. Take that, Aston Martin!

Speaking of the two-door coupe design pictured in the patent drawings, the rumor mill is alight with “Oh my, that’s the RX-9 right there!” As a brief refresher, Mazda’s higher-ups and officials have repeatedly declared that there are no plans to make the RX-9 happen, at least not until the Japanese automaker makes the rotary engine comply with future emission standards.

On the subject of what hides under the hood of the RX-9, Mazda filed a patent in 2016 of the next-generation rotary engine. Baptized SkyActiv-R, the patent reveals the exhaust port is mounted on top of the engine, and the turbo housing is mounted on top of the exhaust port. Madness? You’d better believe it is. If anything, Mazda could also try to hybridize the RX-9 sports car to some extent for superior get-up-and-go and more miles per gallon.

Last, but certainly not least, the latest rumor on the RX-9 suggests the Wankel-powered Japanese interloper will make its pre-production world premiere at the 2017 Tokyo Motor Show. Bearing in mind March 2018 marks the 40th anniversary of the fan-favorite RX-7, there’s a glimmer of hope that Mazda could surprise us all with a halo car that relies on Wankel power.
If you liked the article, please follow us:  Google News icon Google News Youtube Instagram X (Twitter)
About the author: Mircea Panait
Mircea Panait profile photo

After a 1:43 scale model of a Ferrari 250 GTO sparked Mircea's interest for cars when he was a kid, an early internship at Top Gear sealed his career path. He's most interested in muscle cars and American trucks, but he takes a passing interest in quirky kei cars as well.
Full profile

 

Would you like AUTOEVOLUTION to send you notifications?

You will only receive our top stories