Tag Archives: Mazda

A VeilSide Mazda RX-7 from Tokyo Drift Heads to Auction

November 3, 2025 Francis Mitterrand

The Fast & Furious franchise has had its fair share of turbocharged highs and nitrous-fueled lows, but for purists, 2006’s The Fast and the Furious: Tokyo Drift remains the crown jewel. Long before the series turned into globe-trotting superhero fare, Tokyo Drift delivered something much more visceral—an unapologetic love letter to car culture. And at the heart of that love story was one car that stole the screen: Han’s Mazda RX-7.

With its curvaceous VeilSide Fortune bodykit and black-and-orange livery, Han’s RX-7 was less a tuner special and more a statement of intent—a bridge between the underground drift scene and high-end design. It looked like a concept car that accidentally wandered onto the streets of Shibuya, all attitude and apexes.

Next month, a machine built in that very spirit is set to cross the block at Mecum Auctions. And while it’s technically a replica, this RX-7 channels Han’s swagger in all the right ways—minus the right-hand drive setup that made parking-lot donuts a bit awkward on U.S. roads.

Built for Show and Go

The car wears a genuine VeilSide Fortune widebody kit, one of just nine originally constructed for Tokyo Drift. Beneath the hood sits Mazda’s famously temperamental 1.3-liter twin-rotor engine, freshly rebuilt and thoroughly modernized. The upgrades read like a tuner’s dream: an equal-length lower intake manifold, a BorgWarner turbocharger, a Haltech ECU, and a new Greddy intercooler feeding a completely overhauled fuel system.

Mecum hasn’t quoted exact figures, but let’s just say the combination of rotary noise and boost pressure promises to make Michelin’s Pilot Sport 4S tires earn their keep.

A Chassis Ready to Dance

The RX-7 sits on custom BC Forged three-piece wheels and rides on coilover suspension—because no self-respecting Tokyo Drift tribute should look good standing still. Stopping power comes from upgraded brakes with stainless steel lines, while a MagnaFlow midpipe and aftermarket exhaust promise the kind of soundtrack that’ll turn every tunnel into a concert hall.

Interior Upgrades for the Modern Age

Inside, the theme continues: purposeful, modern, and a little bit nostalgic. A Haltech digital dash replaces the original cluster, and a double-din infotainment system adds contemporary comfort without sacrificing style. Carbon fiber trim and a new shift knob add subtle flair, while upgraded speakers ensure the Tokyo Drift soundtrack sounds as good as you remember—should you feel like living out your own DK moment.

The Legend Lives On

Whether you’re a die-hard Fast & Furious fan chasing childhood dreams or just someone who appreciates a properly executed rotary restomod, this RX-7 delivers the goods. It’s fast, it’s furious, and it’s just civilized enough to survive a coffee run.

Han may have left the screen, but his spirit—equal parts cool confidence and controlled chaos—lives on in metal, fiberglass, and the whoosh of spooling boost.

Check out the listing at Mecum Auctions, and maybe—just maybe—bring a little piece of Tokyo Drift home.

Source: Mecum

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The ‘E-Mazda’ Team Prepares a True Driver’s EV for 2027

October 30, 2025 Francis Mitterrand

Mazda has never rushed to follow the crowd. While most of the automotive world has been racing to electrify lineups and chase range numbers, Hiroshima’s favorite underdog has stayed busy doing what it does best—refining the art of the drive. But now, the company is stepping firmly into the EV era. The first bespoke Mazda electric vehicle is officially in development, with prototypes already running and a launch slated for 2027.

For a brand that built its identity around lightweight sports cars and soulful combustion engines, this marks a historic shift. Until now, Mazda’s EV experiments have been built on borrowed bones. The MX-30, its first electric crossover, shared its structure with the CX-30. And the upcoming EZ-60 SUV and 6e sedan will rely on underpinnings from Mazda’s Chinese joint venture with Dongfeng. But this new platform—developed completely in-house—signals a clean break from that past.

Chief Technology Officer Ryuichi Umeshita confirmed the move represents Mazda’s next phase of electrification. “We’ve established our own electrification development team, which we call E-Mazda, and that team has been doing a great job,” he told Autocar. “I’ve driven a prototype already—it’s a real jinba ittai car.” That Japanese term, meaning “horse and rider as one,” has long been the company’s guiding principle for driver engagement. The message is clear: this EV won’t just be efficient—it will feel like a Mazda.

Umeshita admits Mazda is “behind rivals” in launching a dedicated EV platform, but he’s quick to frame that as deliberate rather than negligent. The MX-30 program, he says, gave Mazda’s engineers valuable experience in electric powertrains and packaging. “We have a lot of good, experienced engineers already,” he noted. “I don’t think we’re behind the market because of that.”

As for what form the first ground-up Mazda EV will take, that’s still undecided. It could be a volume-selling crossover to meet tightening global regulations, or something more niche—perhaps a driver-focused model to make a statement. “It depends on the market and the regulations,” Umeshita explained. “If the regulation requires a higher EV mix, it must be a volume car. If the regulation is eased, we can ease the volume restraints.”

Behind the scenes, Mazda is overhauling its entire development process. The company’s so-called “lean asset strategy” uses advanced simulation tools, AI-assisted engineering, and strategic supplier partnerships to cut costs and lead times dramatically. Mazda claims this approach allows its teams to complete three times as much development work with the same resources—a vital advantage for an independent automaker competing in an industry dominated by global giants.

Still, for Mazda, it’s not just about efficiency—it’s about emotion. If Umeshita’s early drive impressions are any indication, the brand’s first bespoke EV might just prove that even in a silent, battery-powered future, Mazda can still make a car that feels alive.

Source: Mazda

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Mazda Unveils a New Brand Symbol for a New Era

October 30, 2025 Francis Mitterrand

Mazda is no stranger to reinvention. From the rotary-powered RX-7s that defined a generation to the soulful “Jinba Ittai” philosophy that permeates even its family crossovers, the Hiroshima-based automaker has long been guided by a single question: how do you make motion feel alive? Today, that spirit of transformation takes visual form.

Mazda Motor Corporation announced it will begin rolling out a new iteration of its iconic brand symbol, one that reflects the company’s ongoing evolution and commitment to shaping the future of mobility. The refreshed emblem will make its public debut at the Japan Mobility Show 2025, serving as both a statement of intent and a design milestone.

If the outgoing logo—introduced back in 1997—captured Mazda’s postmodern optimism with its stylized “M” and the subtle suggestion of wings, the new version brings that legacy into sharper focus. The symbol’s clean geometry and stronger contours emphasize motion and growth, while improved legibility ensures it shines in the digital spaces that now define brand identity as much as the grille badge ever did.

Alongside the new emblem, Mazda is launching an updated wordmark—modernized yet restrained, confident without being loud. Together, the pair signal a thoughtful evolution rather than a revolution. Mazda’s designers call it a “refined expression of the brand’s soul,” balancing heritage with the forward-looking ideals the company calls “Radically Human.”

In practice, both the new and existing symbols will coexist, applied selectively across platforms and regions to optimize recognition and continuity. It’s a measured approach, one that mirrors Mazda’s broader strategy: deliberate, human-centered progress rather than disruptive chaos.

Still, beneath the design-speak lies something more emotional. Mazda says it will continue to chase the “Joy of Driving”—the visceral connection between car and driver that has become its trademark. But now, it expands that ambition to what it calls the “Joy of Living,” crafting mobility experiences that enrich daily life beyond the steering wheel.

It’s a lofty promise, but then again, Mazda has always been a small company with big ideals. And if its new brand symbol truly represents “soaring wings,” perhaps that’s exactly the point—to remind us that cars, at their best, are meant to lift the human spirit.