Mazda Will Bring Back the Famous Spirit Name
Jane Lu
· 3 min read
Mazda
has been a consistently reliable brand for car buyers, especially in recent years. From the new CX-5 to the iconic RX series, Mazda cars deliver great performance in an unassuming package.The 2002 RX-7 Spirit R was one of the most well-loved models among fans, having upgrades that came with the Spirit name. It was the final version of the classic Japanese sports car and featured a
high-performance
rotary engine. According to
CarBuzz
, the Spirit nameplate will be making a grand reappearance on the market with upcoming Mazda models.
Mazda’s announcement tops off a banner year
This announcement follows a wave of acclaim for Mazda after Consumer Reports (CR) ranked them as the
number one car brand of 2021
. CR ranks vehicles based on road-test scores, predicted reliability, owner satisfaction, and safety ratings. Mazda’s win pushed out top competitors like Subaru
, Honda, and Porsche.Mazda is an underrated brand that has seen especially high dependability ratings for recent models. The 2021 Mazda CX-5 had impressive sales numbers this year.
The story behind the Mazda ‘Spirit’ name
The "Spirit" name was featured on some of Mazda’s rotary performance cars released in the early 2000s. The most popular car that sported the name was the 2002 RX-7 Spirit R.
The name continued to signify excellence within the brand until it was discontinued in 2011 with the final release of the Mazda RX-8. With its current comeback, many are wondering just how similar the new Spirit line will be to the original. The new upgrade will only be offered with the Mazda 3 and Mazda CX-30.
For now, you won’t see the Spirit upgrade for Mazda sports cars and the name will stay in the Japanese market. Mazda recently trademarked the "R" logo which will likely be featured on the brand’s new rotary-powered hybrid vehicles.
What’s new with the Spirit upgrade?
Despite some fan theories, there won’t be a rotary comeback in the upgrade, which Mazda will call the "Spirit Upgrade D1.1." However, there will be several other benefits included in the package.
Mazda has given Spirit models improved throttle response, horsepower, and fuel economy by redesigning the 1.8-liter turbodiesel engine. The cars will offer better throttle response from 3,000-4,500 rpm and a power boost from 114 horsepower to 128 horsepower. CarBuzz reported that the Spirit upgrade will cost around $420.
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