Mazda has once again turned heads at the 2025 Japan Mobility Show in Tokyo, revealing a bold mix of heritage and innovation through two stunning concept vehicles, the Vision X-Coupe and the Vision X-Compact. These models showcase the brand’s twin ambitions: reviving the iconic rotary engine for a new hybrid era and pushing forward into the world of emotionally intelligent, AI-driven vehicles.

A New Spin on the Rotary Legend

The star of Mazda’s booth is the Vision X-Coupe, a sleek plug-in hybrid sports car powered by a two-rotor, turbocharged rotary engine paired with an electric motor and battery pack. According to Mazda, the concept delivers around 510 horsepower and can travel up to 100 miles on electric power alone, or an impressive 500 miles when the gas engine kicks in.

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This marks Mazda’s latest step in bringing back its most beloved technology. The company has been experimenting with rotary power for several years, starting with the Iconic SP concept in 2023. That car was viewed as the spiritual successor to the RX-7, featuring a dual-rotor range-extended hybrid setup producing about 365 horsepower. It was built on Mazda’s earlier use of a single-rotor generator in the 2023 MX-30, though that model never reached the U.S. due to emissions restrictions.

Mazda’s engineers continue to refine the rotary engine to make it cleaner, more efficient, and compliant with modern environmental standards. The company believes the rotary’s compact size and versatility make it ideal as a generator for future hybrids and EVs.

Design That Still Speaks “Soul of Motion”

While the Vision X-Coupe introduces futuristic performance, it retains Mazda’s signature Kodo design language, known for its fluid lines and sculpted elegance. First introduced over a decade ago, Kodo still defines the brand’s identity, and Mazda confirms it has no plans to abandon it anytime soon.

The result is a concept that combines timeless beauty with next-generation technology, hinting at what could be the brand’s next performance coupe, or perhaps, the long-awaited RX revival fans have been hoping for.

The Vision X-Compact: When Your Car Understands You

Sharing the stage is Mazda’s Vision X-Compact, a small crossover concept infused with advanced artificial intelligence. This model demonstrates Mazda’s vision for cars that don’t just transport you, they connect with you emotionally.

The system, powered by the brand’s Human Body Sensing Model, uses sensors and AI to understand a driver’s physical and emotional state. Mazda says the car could act like a friendly companion, suggesting a detour to your favorite café, praising your smooth driving, or even staying quiet when it senses you want peace.

Check more photos. Designer Kaisei Takahashi describes it as a car that feels “alive,” responding like a passenger who knows you well. This aligns with Mazda’s philosophy of the “Joy of Driving”, evolving it into an age where vehicles can engage in natural conversation and adapt to your mood.

Driving Toward a Greener Future

Beyond technology and emotion, sustainability was another major theme in Mazda’s Tokyo showcase. The automaker unveiled new efforts to reduce CO₂ emissions not just by cutting fuel use, but by actively removing carbon from the atmosphere.

A standout example is Mazda’s research into microalgae-based carbon-neutral fuels. These microscopic plants absorb CO₂ as they grow and store oil in their cells. Mazda has successfully produced over a liter of renewable fuel from an 11,000-liter algae tank in just two weeks. The remaining algae can even be used as fertilizer or food ingredients, making the process both eco-friendly and practical.

The company is also experimenting with carbon capture directly from exhaust gases, recycling the captured CO₂ to boost crop growth. This technology will be put to the test in endurance racing through the Mazda 55, equipped with a Mobile Carbon Capture system, proving that driving can actually help the planet.

Mazda says these sustainable systems are integrated into the Vision X-Coupe concept itself, meaning the more it drives, the more CO₂ it can help remove from the atmosphere.

AI, Gemini, and the Digital Road Ahead

On the software side, Mazda is working on a new E/E architecture (electrical and electronic platform) that will bring larger digital displays and smarter connectivity features to future vehicles. One major highlight is the introduction of Google’s Gemini AI, which will replace Google Assistant in upcoming models through an over-the-air update.

Gemini will feature natural language processing to understand conversational commands, allowing drivers to control navigation, music, or car settings more intuitively. Mazda hasn’t confirmed when these features will launch or which models will receive them first, but it’s a clear sign that the brand is stepping firmly into the AI-driven mobility era.

A Glimpse of Mazda’s Tomorrow

Between the rotary-powered Vision X-Coupe and the empathetic AI Vision X-Compact, Mazda’s Tokyo display paints a picture of a company determined to balance emotion, sustainability, and innovation. It’s a blend of classic Mazda spirit ‘ performance, beauty, and driver connection ‘ with a futuristic twist.

While fans may still be asking, “When will we finally get a new RX?”, Mazda seems to be saying: “We’re getting there, but we’re making it smarter, cleaner, and more human than ever.”

Mazda’s Big Japan Show: Rotary Power Returns and Cars That Can Feel Your Emotions

Mazda shows two new concept cars in Tokyo, one with a roaring rotary engine and another that understands your feelings.

Mazda surprised the crowd at the 2025 Japan Mobility Show in Tokyo with two new concept vehicles, the Vision X-Coupe and the Vision X-Compact. These cars show where Mazda’s future is heading: powerful new hybrid engines, smart AI that talks like a friend, and green technology that can help clean the planet.

A Sports Car That Brings Back the Rotary Engine

The Vision X-Coupe is Mazda’s newest sports car concept. It uses a two-rotor rotary turbo engine along with an electric motor and battery. Together, they make about 510 horsepower, giving it fast speed and strong performance. The car can drive up to 100 miles on electric power alone, or about 500 miles when the engine is running.

This idea builds on Mazda’s long history with rotary engines. The famous RX-7 and RX-8 used them before, and many fans have wanted a new version for years. Mazda has been testing new rotary engines that are smaller, cleaner, and better for the environment. The company says these compact engines are perfect for hybrids because they save space and can work as powerful generators.

Smooth Design With Mazda’s Signature Style

Mazda kept its signature “Kodo – Soul of Motion” design, which focuses on flowing lines and smooth shapes that make the car look alive. The Vision X-Coupe is sleek, low, and modern, exactly what you’d expect from a future Mazda sports car. Even though it’s a concept, it shows that Mazda isn’t giving up on beauty or performance.

A Smart Car That Understands You

Next to the coupe is the Vision X-Compact, a small crossover that does more than just drive- it can talk with you and sense your emotions. This car uses AI technology that understands your tone, feelings, and even body language.

Mazda’s designers imagine a car that can act like a thoughtful travel buddy. It might suggest a scenic route to relax you, play your favorite song when you’re happy, or stay quiet if it senses you need focus. Designer Kaisei Takahashi explained that the goal is to make cars that not only perform well but also connect with people emotionally.

How Mazda Is Making Driving More Sustainable

Mazda also shared exciting progress in eco-friendly technology. The company is experimenting with microalgae fuel, a renewable energy source that absorbs CO₂ as it grows. Mazda says it can create more than a liter of fuel in just two weeks from an 11,000-liter algae tank. The leftover algae can be turned into fertilizer or food, meaning nothing goes to waste.

The brand is also developing CO₂ capture systems that trap emissions directly from the exhaust and reuse them to help crops grow. This idea is being tested in Mazda’s 55 endurance race car, showing how technology from the track can help reduce pollution in real life.

Mazda says the same carbon-reducing tech is built into the Vision X-Coupe, meaning the more you drive it, the more it helps the environment, an exciting step toward carbon-neutral driving.

Smarter Cars With Google’s Gemini AI

Mazda is updating its electrical systems to bring bigger screens and smarter features to future models. One big change is the switch to Google’s new Gemini AI assistant, which will replace Google Assistant in upcoming vehicles.

Gemini uses natural language, so drivers can talk to the car like they would to a person to set a destination, play music, or adjust settings. Mazda hasn’t said exactly when this feature will arrive, but it’s clear the company wants its cars to feel more intelligent, personal, and helpful than ever before.

A Glimpse Into Mazda’s Future

The 2025 Japan Mobility Show proves Mazda isn’t just building cars, it’s building connections between people, machines, and nature. The Vision X-Coupe brings back power and emotion through a modern rotary engine, while the Vision X-Compact shows how cars can understand and respond to your mood.

Together, they reveal Mazda’s dream: cars that are fast, smart, and kind to the planet.

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