A Japanese reports claims that Mazda is working on a new sports car with a straight-six engine. The publication suggests that the model could be twinned with the next-gen Toyota GR Supra. The rumor contradicts earlier reports about a rotary-powered Mazda and a four-cylinder Supra.

Mazda, meanwhile, doesn't even make a sports car larger than the MX-5 any more. Both of those things could be changing soon, and a wild new rumor suggests that the related cars will both use the same inline-six engine.

For reference, Mazda’s last sports car hero model, the RX-8 discontinued in 2012, produced 170kW/211Nm from its 1.3-litre rotary engine, while the older RX-7 made use for a twin-turbocharged engine to produce up to 195kW/294Nm in factory form.

According to a report from Japan's Best Car, Mazda is abandoning its plans to revive the rotary yet again, but without abandoning plans for a sports car that would still be meant to fill the place once occupied by the RX-7.