1987 Mazda MX-04 Concept

The Mazda MX-04 of 1987 was both a realistic and unrealistic Concept. It used a conventional rotary powertrain, perhaps from an RX-7, mounted in the front and powering the rear wheels. Its overall shape and footprint was similar to the late-1980s RX-7 or Miata. The MX-04 Concept went a step further, well...two steps further. It was three cars in one, with modular fiberglass body panels that transformed it from a coupe, an open-top roadster, or a minimalistic sports car. This multipurpose vehicle could be driven in the rain, offered open-top motoring, or raced at the track. The high-revving rotary engine developed approximately 150 horsepower backed by a manual transmission. The digital dashboard layout was reminiscent of the preceding MX-03 Concept, which had a HUD display and an aircraft-inspired steering wheel. The two bucket seats were divided by a center console that included the shifter, and the double-should seat belts and bolstered seats could keep the occupants firmly planted in their seats during heavy cornering.

As described by Mazda, 'While the MX-02 and MX-03 shared some of the same futuristic design cues, the MX-04 was completely different. Revealed at the 1987 Tokyo Motor Show, the MX-04 was a front-engine rear-wheel-drive sports car chassis that had removable fibreglass panels, but not just one, but two different sets, allowing the car to switch from a glass dome roofed coupe to a beach buggy style open sided roadster. Powered by a rotary engine, this barmy shape-shifting sports car was never a serious contender for production, but little did outsiders know that Mazda was already developing the MX-5, and just two years later, the most famous car to wear a MX badge arrived.'

Source: 1987 Mazda MX-04 Concept | conceptcarz.com. https://www.conceptcarz.com/z30756/Mazda-MX-04-Concept.aspx

Images: Mazda; Concept Car Central