Mazda is working on an upgrade from their RX-7 model, which will hopefully be available by 2013.

Mazda is taking their sporty RX-7 model and making enhancements to it so that it becomes an electric turbocharged vehicle, tentatively dubbed the RX-9.

RX-9 could get a boost in power to its Renesis rotary engine to make up for the somewhat slower engine used in the RX-8. Renesis is the latest engine breakthrough from Mazda.

The increase in power could come from a variety of technology being explored by the automaker. "We're testing the rotary in conjunction with technologies including an electric turbocharger," one unnamed source said.

Mazda is looking to tackle the electric sports car market - a line of cars with powerful electric powered, rechargeable engines and lots of horsepower. Other auto makers are already tackling luxury / high performance electric autos.

Mazda still has a goal of being the world's top electric car maker within the next few years, which is a high goal to attain yet very reasonable considering their recent growth.

This RX-7 / RX-9 prototype falls in with the Nagare (meaning Flow in Japanese) style of design Mazda began toying with back in 2007. Many of the Japanese auto maker's current designs have a bit of the Nagare look to them - think of the MAZDA3's "big smile" grill.