On Reflection
Drive back in time with Akio Hagiri and his Mazda Cosmo Sport, the world’s first rotary sports car.
When the Cosmo Sport broke cover in Japan in May of 1967, it was, quite simply, in a class of its own. The combination of space-age styling and the world’s first production rotary engine made it absolutely unique. This striking coupe seemed at least ten years ahead of its time. Nearly 50 years on and it’s hard to believe just how well this two-door classic sounds and handles.
“I bought my Cosmo 30 years ago,” explains Akio Hagiri, proud owner of one of the 500 or so Cosmos left on the road today. “My life truly changed after I bought it and I’ve made many new friends because of it.”
It’s easy to see why Hagiri-san says he will never let his Cosmo go. It has a special kind of magic that you just don’t find in sports cars today. The Cosmo Sport is the perfect show pony – a one-off design commissioned in-house at Mazda to highlight the uniqueness and performance of the company’s all-new, world-first production rotary engine.
Everything about this car – the luscious bodywork, eye-opening interior, rewarding steering, great ride quality, responsive engine, raspy exhaust note and the smell of the decades-old trim – permeates every pore, tugs at your heart strings and gets inside your soul.
You can’t just get out and walk away. You need to distance yourself from the Cosmo in stages, periodically looking back to take in the curves and lines, and reminisce about one of the most rewarding driving experiences you’ll ever have.
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