The “MAZDA RX-VISION GT3 CONCEPT” is a co-creation of Mazda’s designers and Polyphony Digital’s digital modelers. The original “MAZDA RX-VISION” was selected as the “Most Beautiful Concept Car of the Year” at the 33rd Festival Automobile International held in France in January 2016 and has been highly praised by countless people globally. For the “MAZDA RX-VISION GT3 CONCEPT” the beauty of the original base car’s design was made even more aggressive in order for it to become the epitome of a race car. In the pursuit of unprecedented performance and the output needed for the Gr.3 class, it follows in the footsteps of the former MAZDA 787B engine concept and mounts a 4-rotor engine, reborn using the latest SKYACTIV technology, in its lightweight chassis. The base vehicle “MAZDA RX-VISION” is a concept car that was revealed at the 2015 Tokyo Motor Show. Based on the “KODO -Soul of Motion-” design theme, it was designed to be the most beautiful FR sports car that Mazda could conceive of and was equipped with a next-generation “SKYACTIV-R” rotary engine (RE). The model embodies a dream vehicle that Mazda hopes to make it real one day.
The MAZDA RX-VISION GT3 CONCEPT accords with the FIA GT3 rules and performance requirements for race cars. While the original cabin and door shape are maintained in accordance with GT3 vehicle regulations, the front / rear tire treads have been expanded and it has received a wide fender. This design project started in the fall of 2019. An image sketch was released at the venue for the world final of the “FIA Gran Turismo Championship” held in Monaco in November of the same year where it was announced that the vehicle would be added to the 2020 update of “Gran Turismo SPORT”. From then on, the design was steadily polished, with frequent back and forth between Polyphony Digital and Mazda Design, and the modeling work progressed from there. Similarly, the MAZDA RX-VISION GT3 CONCEPT prioritizes aspects such as seat shape, driving position, pedal arrangement and visibility during driving as essential items. Whether a road car or a virtual race car, Mazda cars all share the philosophy of being “human-centered”.
While the original cabin and doors are maintained in accordance with GT3 regulations, the front and rear track width has been expanded and wheel arch width increased. A large bonnet air outlet improves both aerodynamics and engine bay cooling, and front and rear spoilers and a rear diffuser increase downforce. In addition, both ride height and overall vehicle height have been reduced to optimise aerodynamic performance. The removal of heavy materials and superfluous interior parts has resulted in weight reduction and a lower centre of gravity, and, equipped with a front midships-mounted, next-generation Skyactiv-R, 4-rotor 570 PS rotary engine, the car boasts an ideal 48:52 front-rear weight distribution. As with all Mazda vehicles, painstaking attention to cockpit ergonomics place an emphasis on ease of operation during a race; in particular, the steering wheel is specifically designed for improved operability under race conditions.
It is also equipped with a large engine hood outlet that improves both aerodynamic performance and cooling in the engine room, a front lower spoiler that controls cooling performance and front downforce, along with a rear spoiler and under diffuser that increases rear downforce and ensures rear wheel traction. The front projection area was minimized in order to improve the aerodynamics, and proportions were pursued that would reduce the vehicle height and set it lower. Weight reduction and a lower center of gravity were accomplished through removing unnecessary parts in the interior and replacing heavy materials. An ideal 48:52 front-rear weight distribution was also achieved. Each function within the cockpit was arranged with an emphasis on ease of operation during the race. In particular, the steering wheel uses a special design that improves operability. The interior layout of all Mazda models are developed in the pursuit of superior ergonomics and have earned the cars a high reputation.
