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.

Toyota and Mazda have rebadged each other’s vehicles before, such as the Toyota Yaris and Mazda2 hatchbacks in various markets, for example. More recently, Toyota supplied Mazda with hybrid tech for the CX-50, while Mazda lent Toyota its signature Soul Red paint for the Corolla Cross.

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.

Rumor has it that Toyota may get the rights to use Mazda's turbocharged gasoline inline-six in the next-gen Supra. According to Japan's automotive publication, BestCar,Mazda is supposedly prepping to use its latest all-new inline-six in its up-and-coming RX successor,

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.