This concept showcases the best Mazda has to offer in 1985.
Mazda’s second-generation RX-7 was the star of the Tokyo show 32 years ago. It could be said that it stole MX-03’s thunder. The four-seater was equipped with all the technology that the Japanese marque offered at the time. It received a highly-tuned, turbocharged 1962cc engine producing a respectable 315 HP. The four-speed automatic transmission had a cool, pistol grip gearshift that channeled all that Zoom-Zoom power to both axles. It’s remarkable that the MX-03, a 1985 concept, had four-wheel steering. This was to improve cornering stability and the steering’s response time and precision. Full-time four-wheel drive system had an electronically controlled torque-split function that could be adjusted via a button located inside the cabin. This was in addition to a steering wheel that looked like a jet fighter. It doesn’t have a passenger side wing mirror. This is because Mazda decided that it was unnecessary to reduce drag and improve aerodynamic efficiency. To make the car look as sleek and modern as possible, an integrated rear spoiler was also added. The final result? The drag coefficient is only 0.25 Mazda was able to make the MX-03 a reality, even though it was a concept car.
Mazda claimed that the Mazda 2+2 coupe could reach 180 mph (290 km/h), however, it was only a theoretical figure as the MX-03’s maximum speed was not tested. The 0-60 mph sprint (96 kph) took around 4.7 seconds. It must have been fast.