Mazda x Initial D
Initial D, for the uninitiated, is a Japanese manga-turned-anime that follows Takumi Fujiwara’s journey through Japan’s touges. While the poster car is a Toyota AE86 Trueno, Takumi couldn’t have conquered the rest of Japan without the Takahashi brothers and their two rotary-powered Mazda RX-7s.
This collaboration pays homage to the two brothers who help spur the story forward: Ryosuke Takahashi in his FC3S Savanna RX-7 and Keisuke Takahashi in his FD3S Infini RX-7. Mazda Motor Corporation announced the collaboration in a press release, and the two cars will be sold as a set as part of an official collaboration with Initial D. This will also be the first time the two brands have come together for an official product.
Mazda
The Takahashi Brothers: 1/64 Scale
The FC3S Savanna RX-7 belongs to Ryosuke Takahashi, otherwise known in the manga as the “White Comet of Akagi.” His younger brother, Keisuke Takahashi, owns the yellow FD3S Infini RX-7, the second car to race alongside Takumi Fujiwara for “Project D,” an expeditionary team that sought touge battles across Japan in the manga.
I’m probably oversummarizing the importance of these two cars in the plot of the anime and manga, but one thing is for sure: Initial D’s author, Shuichi Shigeno, helped cement the legend of Mazda’s RX-7 nameplate. Canonically, these two cars retained their rotary powertrains throughout the course of the story – no K-swaps in sight!
Mazda
Celebrating 60 years of the Rotary
In addition to celebrating a landmark story for the brand, the collab also marks the 60th anniversary of the release of the Cosmo Sport, the first-ever mass-produced car powered by a rotary engine. Mazda was one of the very few manufacturers that took the Wankel Rotary Engine concept and made it feasible for the masses.
Even today, the rotary engine continues to make its mark on the industry, whether through its cult following or its potential applications in future Mazda models. Rumor has it that Mazda is working on a new version of the rotary engine that will actually drive the car.
This will be sold as a set and feature packaging depicting the two Takahashi brothers racing on the touge. Die-hard fans will note that the die-cast models featured follow the first versions of the Takahashi brothers’ cars. In later seasons and chapters, the cars became wilder with more aero bits. Anyway, if you flip the box over to the rear, you’ll see a picture of the two brothers plus a signature from Shuichi Shigeno himself and a quote from the manga expressing Ryosuke’s feelings about the rotary engine.
Mazda
Availability
This product costs ¥11,000 JPY, or about $70. If you’re lucky enough to be at the 2026 Mazda Fan Festa in Japan at Fuji Speedway, you might already have a copy. However, Mazda and Initial D fans can snag this historical collaboration at the Mazda Online Shop starting today.
Otherwise, you might be able to find this collab at the Mazda Hiroshima Head Office Building 2 Lobby Shop and the Mazda Museum Goods Shop starting October 5, 2026. In addition, Mazda dealerships in Japan will start receiving stock of these products from October 8, 2026 onward.
Mazda
