What is the RX-7 called in Japan?
The RX-7 is called the Mazda Savanna RX-7 in Japan, with the Savanna branding used on domestic-market literature for several years. In export markets, the car was marketed as the RX-7. The naming has varied by generation and era, but Savanna is a key part of the Japanese branding history for Mazda’s rotary sports car.
Domestic branding in Japan
In the Japanese market, Mazda used the Savanna nameplate for parts of the RX-7’s lineup, reflecting Mazda’s branding strategy for its rotary-powered sports cars at the time. While the Savanna badge appears in some Japanese dealer materials and literature, the RX-7 designation also appears prominently in official communications and later literature.
Generation-by-generation naming
First generation (SA/FB; 1978–1985)
In Japan, the early RX-7 was commonly associated with the Savanna branding in domestic materials, appearing as Savanna RX-7 in some documentation, while overseas markets typically used RX-7 alone. The SA22C designation is the internal chassis code for this generation.
Second generation (FC; 1985–1992)
The FC generation continued to see Savanna RX-7 branding in Japanese literature and marketing in certain years, though the RX-7 badge remained widely recognized and used in many markets around the world.
Third generation (FD; 1992–2002)
For the FD, Mazda generally marketed the car in Japan under the RX-7 designation (FD3S). The Savanna branding became far less common by this generation, with RX-7 serving as the standard domestically and internationally.
Summary
The RX-7’s Japanese naming reflects a nuanced branding history: while the model is widely known worldwide as the RX-7, Mazda’s domestic market in Japan used the Savanna nameplate for portions of the RX-7 lineup. Over time, the RX-7 badge became the prevailing designation in Japan as well, but the Savanna branding remains a notable chapter in the car’s domestic marketing narrative.
