How to Draw a Mazda RX-7

In this tutorial you will learn how to draw a Mazda RX-7, a rare sports car powered by a rotary piston engine.

The Mazda RX-7 quickly earned a reputation as one of the most distinctive Japanese cars of its era not only because of its performance but also because of its design

Of course, we are talking about one of the most beautiful Japanese coupes of the 1990s.

To bring you closer to this legendary sports car, we’ll show step by step how to illustrate the proportions and details that make the RX-7 truly realistic.

How to draw a Mazda RX-7: step-by-step tutorial

Step 1 – Sketch the smooth outline of the RX-7 body

The body of the Mazda RX-7 was created by all the standards of cars from the 90s – very smooth and rounded lines in all parts. And in the first step, draw this very rounded body of the Mazda RX-7 in the form of a simple sketch. Use long, and very flowing strokes. Make the hood stretched and the roofline sweeping back into a short rear.

Step 2 – Draw the simple tires and smooth window arcs

The rest of the Mazda body is also very smooth and soft. Let’s start with the tires, sketching them in the form of two circles. Next, indicate the headlight and taillight positions with gentle shapes since this generation used oval lamps.

Step 3 – Add the simple rims and coupe door

In this step, we will complete the elemental sketch of the Japanese sports car. Lightly draw the car door (this is a coupe, so we draw only one door), rims and wheel arches. To sketch the coupe door, create a long, smooth shape that follows the body’s side contour. Inside each wheel, place a simple rim guide – just enough structure to refine later.

Step 4 – Derail the Mazda RX-7 front bumper

The front of the RX-7 doesn’t have many details, as it’s a car from the 90s, where they tried to stick to minimalism in the design. Trace the front fascia carefully, finalizing the bumper with clear lines. Define the simple headlight and intake opening. Then, detail the curvature of the lower lip with dark lines. These details keep the car’s “face” authentic to its 1990s styling.

Step 5 – Draw out the sloping roof arc and windows

In the upper part, we see something similar to “eco-design”, which has smooth flowing lines. To finalize this part, trace the roofline with a smooth arcing stroke. Outline the windshield and side glass smoothly. Add the rearview mirror as a small and smooth shape. To detail the cabin, use very smooth and flowing liens, typical for 90s style.

Step 6 – Draw in detail the RX-7 rear bumper and spoiler

Now we need to trace and finalize the back, in which we see the rear light, a small but effective spoiler and bumper. All these details should be drawn using very flowing lines, to maintain consistency in the artwork. Using an eraser, clean the body of your Mazda sports car.

Step 7 – Finalize the Mazda coupe door and side features

And to complete drawing of the body, trace the side surface of the RX-7 in detail. First, darken the outline of the door firmly. Add the small front air intake as a small opening ahead the front wheel arch, then remove leftover construction marks.

Step 8 – Draw the 90s-style alloy rims and trace the wheels

To complete the car, we need to draw the tires and rims of the Mazda RX-7. Sketch them in the style of the 90s, as we did in the illustration below, or create a more intricate design. Inside the wheel rim shapes, construct the alloy rims with simple, straight spokes radiating from the hub. In the 1990s, many sports cars used simple multi-spoke patterns, so try to replicate it here.

Step 9 – Complete the RX-7 drawing with hatching

Shadows and highlights will make your Mazda RX-7 drawing look really dimensional. Add them in places of bends and places hidden from the light. Also, you can sketch a cast shadow under the body of your RX-7 to illustrate the ground under the car. On the glass, use short lines to simulate reflections.

Sketching different Mazda RX-7 body styles

The Mazda RX-7 was offered in several body styles, and each of them requires a slightly different approach when sketching.

The most common version is the coupe, which has a smooth roofline, so it’s important to keep the roof low and the rear section short.

Convertible versions, on the other hand, need a flat, open upper contour and more detail around the folded roof or soft top, which changes the entire silhouette.

Generational changes also play a big role in how the RX-7 should be drawn. The first-generation SA/FB models of the late 1970s and early 1980s are boxier, with square headlights and straight panels, so make sure to use sharper angles and rectangular shapes.

The second-generation FC from the late 1980s moved toward a more rounded look but kept pop-up headlights, so when sketching it you should use smoother body transitions.

The third-generation FD from the 1990s is the most iconic, with a very low stance, wide fenders, and oval headlights.

To capture this model correctly, pay attention to the larger wheel arches, the short rear overhang, and the elongated front section. These details in your drawing make the FD very recognizable and authentic.

By comparing these body styles and generations, you’ll see how much difference a roofline, headlight design, or fender shape makes.

And to learn the basics of different car bodies, visit our easy coupe drawing tutorial, and check out the equally simple sports car drawing tutorial.

We love cool sports cars from the 80s and 90s, and very often sketch them on the pages of DrawCarz.

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