Mazda RX-7 wins an award 35 years after launch
Almost three decades since the last Mazda RX-7 was built, the rotary sports coupe has won an award after starring in a heartwarming documentary.
The Mazda RX-7 may be a favourite in the modified car community, but the story of one owned by a Japanese pensioner has gone on to win an award.
In 2025, Mazda released a short, 10-minute documentary titled “Goodbye RX-7: Saying farewell to a dear friend”, tracing the final days of then-79-year-old Naoko Nishimoto owning her ‘FD’ RX-7.
Purchased in 2000 when she was 55, Nishimoto daily-drove the RX-7 until she turned 80, at which point she elected to hand in her driver’s licence.
The last three days of her owning the car were captured as a part of the documentary, which culminated in the RX-7 being given to the Kyushu Mazda Akasako Store, where it now serves as a promotional vehicle for the brand.
Just over a year after its release, Mazda announced the short film won a Bronze Lion in the Entertainment Lions category at the Cannes Lions International Festival of Creativity (Cannes Lions) 2026, a celebration of the advertising industry.
Ironically, the award comes amid speculation that the RX-7 will be revived or we’ll finally see a successor, understood to be based on the design of the Iconic SP Compact Sports Car concept from the 2023 Japan Mobility Show.
