Mazda’s RT24-P race car pulls 600hp from a tiny four-cylinder engine

By Stephen Edelstein November 16, 2016

Mazda used the 2016 Los Angeles Auto Show to unveil its 2017 CX-5 SUV, but it also brought something a little more exciting.

The Japanese automaker debuted its latest race car for the IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship, which will race under the new Daytona Prototype international (DPi) rules for that series. It’s called the RT24-P, and will make its racing debut at the 2017 Rolex 24 at Daytona 24-hour race in January.

Racing is a valuable marketing tool for automakers, which is why the Mazda has such an ungainly name. The “RT24” represents the Mazda Road to 24, a driver development program that provides a path for aspiring racers to enter the professional ranks. It’s something Mazda likes to promote to show its commitment to motor sports, which in turn backs up the “Zoom-Zoom” marketing of its road cars.

The “P” stands for “Prototype,” meaning the car is purpose built for racing rather than based off a production model. Mazda says the “24” also signifies the engine, which is a 2.0-liter turbocharged four-cylinder. Mounted behind the driver, that tiny engine produces an astonishing 600 horsepower.

Small engines have been Mazda’s calling card since it started racing in the Prototype class back in 2014. Its cars were initially powered by a 2.2-liter diesel four-cylinder, which was supposed to tie in with plans to offer the same engine in a U.S.-market production model. Those plans were eventually put on the back burner, and Mazda switched to the current 2.0-liter gasoline engine for the 2016 season.

While the engine carries over, the body is completely different. The new car is based on a Riley Mk. 30 design, but Mazda tried to incorporate some of its own “Kodo” design language. That’s especially apparent up front, where a grille similar to ones on Mazda’s road cars creates a distinctive look, although it probably serves no real function. Even if doesn’t take the checkered flag, Mazda is clearly aiming to win the race-car beauty contest at Daytona in January.

Topics

Stephen Edelstein

Contributing Editor

Stephen is a freelance automotive journalist covering all things cars. He likes anything with four wheels, from classic cars…

Cars

Best electric car charger deals: $100 off home charging stations

The handle of the Grizzl-E EV charger plugged into a vehicle.

A few years ago, electric vehicles were pretty rare or cost a fortune, but with more and more of the larger car brands getting into the game, there are a lot of excellent and even budget-friendly choices nowadays. That said, the electrical network for charging your cars might not be that widespread, so instead you'll have to rely on charging your car at home. Luckily, there are a lot of excellent car chargers at a discount, so if you've just bought an EV or want to upgrade your current charging solution, be sure to check out our favorite deals below.
Shockflo EV charger — $205, was $220

This EV charger by Shockflo is a Level 2 EV charger, which offers six times faster charging than a standard charger. It delivers 24 miles with just one hour of charging, and it can act as a mobile charger you can throw in the trunk or be mounted to a wall. It has an LCD display with useful information like charging rate, voltage, and charging time, as well as LED indicator lights that lets you know charging progress and errors.

Cars

Mercedes-Benz EQG: range, price, release date, and more

Concept image of the larger electric G-Wagon

The G-Class is going electric. We already knew that Mercedes-Benz was working on an electric, small-size G-Wagon, but it looks like the company is also working on a larger G-Class SUV, in the form of the EQG. In fact, Mercedes has gone as far as to show off a concept version of the off-roader.

While there's much we don't know about what will become the production model of the EQG, Mercedes has also shared a lot about it. Curious about whether the Mercedes-Benz EQG could be the EV for you? Here's everything we know so far.
Design
Fear not -- the EQG will retain many of the design aspects of the G-Class that you already know and love but with a modern face-lift. The EQG will keep the boxy design that gives the G-Class a classic look but with some additional modern styling, at least if the concept version is anything to go by.

Cars

Rivian R2 vs. Kia EV9: battle of affordable electric SUVs

Kia EV9 GT-Line Three Quarters

The long-awaited Rivian R2 has finally been announced, and it's an excellent option for those who want an electric SUV that doesn't completely break the bank. Sure, the R2 isn't cheap -- but it's a whole lot cheaper than most other EVs out there, especially when it comes to SUVs. But Rivian isn't the only company trying to tackle the problem of the budget electric SUV. The Kia EV9 is finally available, and it too offers a modern design and a range of helpful features.

Given the fact that the Rivian R2 and Kia EV9 are two electric SUVs in a similar price range, you might be wondering which is better for your needs. That's why we put the Rivian R2 and the Kia EV9 head-to-head.
Design
Both the Rivian R2 and the Kia EV9 are actual SUVs -- not crossovers pretending to be SUVs, like plenty of other EVs out there. The two vehicles offer big, boxy designs and plenty of interior space, making them excellent options for families or those who need that extra storage.