The first edition of the Mazda RX-7 was manufactured in early 1978. Called as the Savanna and Efini RX-7, it was the first sports car to use the Wankel Rotary Engine. The chassis of the car was inspired by the design of the Lotus '©lan 2+2 and specially manufactured to replace the ageing Mazda RX-3 editions.

The car used a naturally aspirated, fuel-injected, twin rotor 13B-VDEI Wankel rotary engine. The engine could produce 146 BHP, while the turbo-charged edition, called the Turbo II, could easily churn out 182 BHP. The Wankel Rotary engine was designed to function at higher RPMs without producing any uncomfortable vibrations. Due to this nature of the engine, the car had a specialized 'live-axle' 4-link Watts linkage suspension with a 50/50 weight ratio. The powerful engine needed to be complemented by the radically new LSD-type clutch, heavy duty oil cooler and larger rear disk brakes for a smoother ride as well as stable handling. The engine could accelerate the car from 0 to 60 MPH in less than 7.8 seconds as well as generate 0.779 lateral Gs on a skid pad. The top speed of the car is rated at 160 MPH.

The 2600 pounds heavy, or rather light, RX-7 was the lightest ever Mazda car ever manufactured. The 1987 edition of the Mazda RX-7 featured a lower front fascia, a dashboard-mounted instrument panel, and an off-centered tachometer. The car used a rack and pinion steering along with 4-piston disc brakes for accurate handling. The car's design could accommodate only two people due to the absence of the rear seats, although an optional four-seat design coupe was offered in the region of Japan, Australia and several other countries. The RX-7 is rated consecutively five times among the Ten Best list of Car and Driver magazine and positioned seventh on the list of 'Top Sport Cars of the 1970s' by the Sports Car International magazine in 2004.