www.automotive news.com is offering free trial subscription at the moment so I took a look - interesting stuff.

No idea how authoritative it is, but there's a comprehensive list of product plans by manufacturer - here's the Mazda extract (bear in mind it's by model year, not necessarily calendar year):

2007
Mazda3 re-skin
MX-5 Miata hardtop debuts
CX-7 crossover debuts

2008
Mazda6 redesigned
CX-5 crossover debuts
CX-9 crossover debuts

2009
Possible Kabura 2+2 coupe (i think they mean 2+1 if it follows the concept)
Mazda3 redesigned

2010
RX-8 redesigned :rock:

What do the styling terms mean?
- Freshen: Sheet metal untouched; may include new grille, fascia, headlights or taillights
- Reskin: Minor changes to sheet metal
- Restyle: Extensive changes to interior and exterior
- Re-engineer: Vehicle’s platform or chassis and components receive an extensive makeover to reduce noise, vibration and harshness; and improve qualities such as ride, handling, braking and steering
- Redesign: New platform; new interior and exterior styling; engine and transmission could be carried over

Will

..and from another more detailed article:

"RX-8: A two-seat coupe was evaluated but deemed too expensive to develop for the incremental volume it would produce. A redesign comes in early 2009 as a 2010 model."

..and from another more detailed article:

"RX-8: A two-seat coupe was evaluated but deemed too expensive to develop for the incremental volume it would produce. A redesign comes in early 2009 as a 2010 model."


the rx8 is a 4 seat coupe. I thought the 2 seat coupe would have been designed after the kabura

2010. That will put me in the direct timeframe to swap over my current rx8 ...

On that note, I'm going to go for a drive through some twisty roads in the Adelaide hills, methinks, and perhaps stop off at Hahndorf for a parmy kilpatrick and some dark beer.

2 years too late for me.

Think I'll have moved on by 2009.

I'M NEVER GIVING UP MISSY :) Ok i need to go find a 2nd job to support my 2nd rx8....... hahahaha 2010..... umm i'll be......27yrs old OMG

I'M NEVER GIVING UP MISSY :) Ok i need to go find a 2nd job to support my 2nd rx8....... hahahaha 2010..... umm i'll be......27yrs old OMG


Me too I'm not going to give up Maxie now......I have him for 2 more years which makes that 2008 for another one...then will upgrade in 2010 for the new 8 :rock: Don't worry Missy I will be 39 and ready for a mid-life crisis car!!

Think I'll need a Porsche at 40 to reassure my sense of manhood. :p: :rofl: :piss: :us4allswi :jump:

Make sure you get a AWD Porsche ... You can't have too much fun with a proper RWD at that age, you might hurt yourself.

2010 eh? depending on my financial situation in, ohhhh 4 years I might be moving to something bigger and better then a RX8.

I Have had my RX8 for exactly 1 year - put 31K miles on it since new and love it to death. Considering the mazsport type I turbo here in about 6 months, but I'm still not sure on how long I want to keep the RX8, i.e. if i want to keep it alive with all it takes or switch to something new if it starts becoming a "problem" after another 40 or 50K miles.

I think that "2010" means the US model year, which is actually 2009 for us folks. It is scheduled to come out in early 2009 in real years.

Think I'll need a Porsche at 40 to reassure my sense of manhood. :p: :rofl: :piss: :us4allswi :jump:

Surely Viagra is cheaper.

I think that "2010" means the US model year, which is actually 2009 for us folks. It is scheduled to come out in early 2009 in real years.



2008 Second half will see the release of an upgraded ......RX8 :ylsuper:

Michael

Surely Viagra is cheaper.

Yes, but I can share the Porsche with more people than the porker. :cwm27:

Yes, but I can share the Porsche with more people than the porker. :cwm27:

What's the difference? With both, you can only have one along for a ride at a time.

What's the difference? With both, you can only have one along for a ride at a time.

Speak for yourself... Revolver can multitask... :hahano:

Speak for yourself... Revolver can multitask... :hahano:


Surely you meant Multi ....ASK even ....beg :) :Eyecrazy:

Michael

I wonder how the Kabura will be marketed in relation to the Miate and RX-8. Should be interesting to see.

What's the difference? With both, you can only have one along for a ride at a time.

Labby, I thought scientists knew that unreliable assumptions lead to unreliable conclusions. :rofl:

Speak for yourself... Revolver can multitask... :hahano:

Correct, my ability to walk and chew gum at the same time is legendary. :rock:

Surely you meant Multi ....ASK even ....beg :) :Eyecrazy:

Michael

Not all the world's a mirror Michael. Some of us are still desired by wifey. :cwm27: :cwm27: :cwm27:

I wonder how the Kabura will be marketed in relation to the Miate and RX-8. Should be interesting to see.

An extraordinarily brave effort to get this thread back on topic.

Good luck! :mdrmed:

Seriously though folks, I doubt they'll have all three in their model range at the same time. The Kabura is probably just a styling and packaging study to keep their designers busy and as a source for ideas for the updated RX8.

Mind you, since MX5 and RX8 are made on the same production line, perhaps they've worked out that the economics of same make a third niche model possible?

Who can tell, they're crazy wacky guys at Mazda HQ. :Freak_ani

I wonder how the Kabura will be marketed in relation to the Miate and RX-8. Should be interesting to see.

I think Kabura will be marketed to people who want to stand out, but whose wallets don't quite stretch to the next level (RX-8 and whatever supersedes it). Given that the MX5 (Miata) is built on the same line as the RX-8, it sort of suggests that Mazda have figured out how to make niche vehicles in a fairly economical manner. Thus Mazda will be in position to enhance its sporty image with 4 sports cars: rag top MX5, hard top MX5, Kabura and RX-8/Senku derivative. The zoom-zoom image will be boosted, and it should hold the position of the 3 and 6 family cars, not to mention the CX7. Not a bad marketing concept.

Nice to hear from someone in Baton Rouge. I visited there a couple of times, once to an alumina refinery (Ormet). The folks there took me to a seafood cafe on the levee, and I remember the beer was so cold my sinuses froze. On another visit, we were taken to Mulate's, and a nice women taught me how to dance two-step. Love Cajun music! Love Louisiana!

I think Kabura will be marketed to people who want to stand out, but whose wallets don't quite stretch to the next level (RX-8 and whatever supersedes it). Given that the MX5 (Miata) is built on the same line as the RX-8, it sort of suggests that Mazda have figured out how to make niche vehicles in a fairly economical manner. Thus Mazda will be in position to enhance its sporty image with 4 sports cars: rag top MX5, hard top MX5, Kabura and RX-8/Senku derivative. The zoom-zoom image will be boosted, and it should hold the position of the 3 and 6 family cars, not to mention the CX7. Not a bad marketing concept.

Hmm, maybe. Actually, bringing in the Kabura between the MX5 and RX8 might be a good excuse to FI the 8 and boot it further up the pecking order.

In that way, the RX8 could be sold as the highpowered (comparatively speaking) practical sportscar in Mazda's range with a cheaper Kabura for younger buyers, who want the style of a sports coupe but can't afford the performance of the 8, and the MX5 for the convertible lovers.

Hmm, maybe. Actually, bringing in the Kabura between the MX5 and RX8 might be a good excuse to FI the 8 and boot it further up the pecking order.

I can only see Mazda putting FI into the RX-8 if they can figure out how to do it without increasing fuel consumption. I suspect that getting it further up the pecking order will have as much to do with giving it some sort of green tinge, as much as boosting power. Interesting times ahead.

I can only see Mazda putting FI into the RX-8 if they can figure out how to do it without increasing fuel consumption. I suspect that getting it further up the pecking order will have as much to do with giving it some sort of green tinge, as much as boosting power. Interesting times ahead.

Unless Mazda makes some sudden breakthrough, its hydrogen solution looks to be some years away from commercial viability, not to mention the infrastructure required in a big country like Australia. I also think it's unlikely that the RX8 will be the model to introduce a Prius-type hybrid drivetrain. I would have thought the 3 or the 6 would be the recipients of that kind of thing.

As for fuel economy, both Porsche and BMW are developing solutions with turbo technology. Witness the variable vanes on the 911 Turbo and the more efficient fuel injection system used on the twin-turbo 335i. With Mazda's turbo experience, I don't think making fuel economy improvements is beyond their ability. It will probably never be as fuel efficient as a NA car, but relative to the power and torque gains, a case might be made for it, especially if consumers worried about consumption have the option to purchase a thriftier yet still stylish Kabura.

Remember, despite the endless "gas milage" threads started by the yanks, there are plenty of people who are prepared to pay a higher fuel price for higher performance when purchasing a car like the RX8. It's a practical sports car. It can't be all things to all people. So, while fuel economy should be managed to the extent possible, to me it's not and never should be the determining factor in the design (and desirability) of a car like this.

Unfortunately, the beancounters ascended in Mazda after the FD was released and only sold in very small numbers at a very high price. While the engineers managed to slip the 8 past them, I thought I read that many of the RX-8 team had moved on, so I'm not sure who remains of the team with the courage to bring forward a factory FI RX-8. That Allan Horsley couldn't even get a limited edition SP up in this market (as he has done previously with the RX-7 and MX-5) does not bode well, IMO.

I very much hope I am wrong on this, but the Kabura specs suggest not (it could so easily have been a rotor :( )

Which is precisely the kind of pussy product planning that will have me saying sayonara to Mazda in a few year's time and gutentag to an achtung baby from Porker, Audi or the house of flame surfacing.

Maybe Mazda's waiting to see if Nissan will fall flat on its arse with the next Godzilla?

And just maybe, the rotary doesn't have a big enough market to warrant the R&D investment.

Nissan is getting a brand new 3.5 ltr engine into the 2007 model 350Z and a complete body upgrade in late 2008 .

230KW AND 365NM in a new 3.5 liter

Mazdas biggest weakness has been new more powerfull engines :bootyshak

Michael

Nissan is getting a brand new 3.5 ltr engine into the 2007 model 350Z and a complete body upgrade in late 2008 .

230KW AND 365NM in a new 3.5 liter

Mazdas biggest weakness has been new more powerfull engines :bootyshak

Michael

It'd have to be a bloody major body upgrade to tempt me. I'm not at all impressed with the current fat arse and slab sides. The convertible is one of the ugliest cars on the road IMHO.

And I need four useable seats too...

The 350z is more of a muscle car anyway. Hard suspension, hard to drive in the city, you wrestle it through corners rather than just finesse it, uncomfortable ride, low rent interior, bad boy looks etc.

^^ its not very good looking car either :)

^^ its not very good looking car either :)

Dead right Kall. :ylsuper:

Although I will concede that current models have a much better ride than the earlier cars. They've made some noticeable suspension improvements.

I think Kabura will be marketed to people who want to stand out, but whose wallets don't quite stretch to the next level (RX-8 and whatever supersedes it). Given that the MX5 (Miata) is built on the same line as the RX-8, it sort of suggests that Mazda have figured out how to make niche vehicles in a fairly economical manner. Thus Mazda will be in position to enhance its sporty image with 4 sports cars: rag top MX5, hard top MX5, Kabura and RX-8/Senku derivative. The zoom-zoom image will be boosted, and it should hold the position of the 3 and 6 family cars, not to mention the CX7. Not a bad marketing concept.

Nice to hear from someone in Baton Rouge. I visited there a couple of times, once to an alumina refinery (Ormet). The folks there took me to a seafood cafe on the levee, and I remember the beer was so cold my sinuses froze. On another visit, we were taken to Mulate's, and a nice women taught me how to dance two-step. Love Cajun music! Love Louisiana!

Thanks for the good words for Louisiana. I must say, our food is quite good! I'm glad you enjoyed your visits!

On a side note...I didn't even realize this thread was in the Australia forum until I saw your post, whoops! My bust.


Carry on.

On a side note...I didn't even realize this thread was in the Australia forum until I saw your post, whoops! My bust.

Feel free to drop in anytime. :)

2 years too late for me.

Think I'll have moved on by 2009.

Theres no place like home....

Theres no place like home....

An automatic huh?

I prefer a manual six shooter!

(I made a gun joke :cwm27: ).