Some employees of a Mazda factory said that the new RX-7 will be shown at the Detroit Motor Show 2003 (that means that the car is ready; but will be for sale in 2004). In Januari, that is.....

Let's hope so! I'm very curious!

I really hope that this is true but I have some doubts. I am not convinced that Mazda has invested into an rx7 prototype without first looking at the interest/success of the rx8.

I hope that I’m wrong because I plan to go down to the Detroit auto shown myself. Hope to see a few others there.

just to read someone say that is givin' me the chills!! SERIOUSLY!!! oh my god...

i don't care if it's true or not for 2004... if by 2005, i'll be happy...
oh my god, i can't believe it'll be coming back... i really really REALLY hope so... then i can afford an FD... ;)

A production version is not going to happen for 2004. You may see a prototype of the new RX-7 at the NAIAS, though I would think it more likely that to avoid stealing the RX-8's thunder you won't see it until the Tokyo show next fall, with a "nearly" production ready version at Detroit the next winter, similar to how the first RX-8 prototype was at the 2001 Tokyo show with the near-production update at the 2002 NAIAS.

While Mazda won't approve a new RX-7 for production until the RX-8 can be deemed a success by their standards, to wait to start designing it until then would be foolish, the car wouldn't be out for another three years. Much development work is already done as the FE RX-7 will share much componentry with the RX-8.

Look for the FE RX-7 to hit dealerships approximately 12-24 months after the RX-8, most likely 18-24 months later. That puts it in late 2004, early 2005, most likely as a 2006 model.

I would not be surprised to see an NC Miata beat it to market, though not by much.

The first RX-8 prototype was shown in NAIAS 2001, not Tokyo 2001.

I'd really be suprised if they have a new RX-7 at NAIAS 2003. However, Nissan did essentially the same thing and unveiled the GT-R concept at the same time as the production 350z, so I guess anything's possible.

there was talk over at the big rx7 forum (the canadian portion of it) of the new rx7 rumour. Apparently they will have bigger rotors therefore producting more power.. i think they said 207kw? im not sure though....

14C baby....

I also got my doubts about a RX-7 in Detroit.....but you never know

Originally posted by MattFast
I also got my doubts about a RX-7 in Detroit.....but you never know They won't go dumping money into a much LESS 'usable' sports car like the RX-7 until they know that the RX-8 is salesworthy.

It's salesworthy to me... but to how many others?

Originally posted by Hercules
They won't go dumping money into a much LESS 'usable' sports car like the RX-7 until they know that the RX-8 is salesworthy.
Actually, there was a recent article where Mazda stated that they already had blueprints for the next RX-7, but that was no guarantee that they were going to produce it. At any automotive company, there's always concept cars being developed that may or may not be given the green light for production.

Look at how long it took the design of the RX-8 to "evolv" from concept to production -- if they waited for the 8 to become a success before starting work on the 7, it wouldn't be ready until 2010. Realistically, the new 7 will come out for model year 2005 or 2006, which means they must be working on it already.

In the January edition of UK "CAR" magazine, there is a road test of the RX-8. In the article an Mazda engineer who is interviewed makes some comments about how they "really want to do a new RX-7", and that they believe the demand would be there. There is also some speculation about how the RX-8 plaform would be modified for the new RX-7 and the possibility of a larger rotor. The person concerned seems to want to say a lot more than he feels he can! :D

I'll post the relevent extract when I get a chance, unless someone beats me to it!.

Originally posted by Hercules
They won't go dumping money into a much LESS 'usable' sports car like the RX-7 until they know that the RX-8 is salesworthy... The executives at Mazda have said in previous interviews that they now realize that having a flagship sportscar is important to the image of the whole line of cars from a car company. They realize that it is important enough to the big picture that it is worth it to the company, even if it's a slight loss.

---jps

There is also some speculation about how the RX-8 plaform would be modified for the new RX-7 and the possibility of a larger rotor

The new RX-7 ánd MX-5 will be on the RX-8 platform, for if you didn't know that yet. MX-5....I hope the car won't be too large! That would be a shame to the concept of the little roadster

And there also is a change that there will be a rotary in the new MX-5

yes, the RX-5??? i'm not sure if that does have a chance... it's just too different from what the Miata is right now, and Mazda really doesn't need to scare away their ENOURMOUS base of customers...

a short while ago, i thought to myself "instead of an FC, what about a Miata?? they're smaller, slower, maybe cheaper??"

nope. double the F***IN' price, i couldn't believe it. the demand for the car, just the way it is, is so big i don't think Mazda would screw with it too much...

oh, and Matt, the RX-8 platform just means the design of the chassis, which they'd cut and scale down in (i hope) every direction, so (i REALLY hope) it won't be too much biger than the current car. that smaller version of the RX-8 chassis would then be SOOOOOO stiff... woah, that's gonna be sick...

If we do see the RX-7 at the auto show, it's going to be all show and no go... I think they want to bounce the appearance of the car off the public for a year before they go ahead and see there is room for it in the market. They still have another year of auto shows before they have to finalize anything, and the car will sit on the RX-8 chassis regardless.... so it's not as much work that has to be done, only a shell to get it lookin pretty :)

No kidding, Wakeech.
I'm still looking for a decent older Miata, but even run-into-the-ground 13 year old examples are fetching $7000+. I'm still keeping my eyes open though, everyone once in a while I hear a story about "some old woman who sold her pristine 94 with 30000 kms for $4000" and stuff like that. Why can't I ever be in the right place at the right time? :p

Originally posted by Grimace
No kidding, Wakeech.
I'm still looking for a decent older Miata, but even run-into-the-ground 13 year old examples are fetching $7000+. I'm still keeping my eyes open though, everyone once in a while I hear a story about "some old woman who sold her pristine 94 with 30000 kms for $4000" and stuff like that. Why can't I ever be in the right place at the right time? :p Hehe, I'm keeping an eye out myself for a used Miata because that's what I'm getting my sister for her first car (she'll be of age for it by next year).

So I'm saving for my car and HER car :p

Originally posted by Grimace
...but even run-into-the-ground 13 year old examples are fetching $7000+... Don't forget folks, dem's Canadian dollars.

---jps

Originally posted by Sputnik
Don't forget folks, dem's Canadian dollars.

---jps I know :)

I've been seeing them for 4-5k US, and I won't be buying one till next year.. so I should be okay :)

Originally posted by wakeech
yes, the RX-5??? i'm not sure if that does have a chance... it's just too different from what the Miata is right now, and Mazda really doesn't need to scare away their ENOURMOUS base of customers...





I heard the next Miata would have a rotary option. So this shouldn't scare away the ENOURMOUS base:) This would add more base to it:D

I read in an article that the Mazda chief said that they'd only release a new RX-7 (non-turbo with RENISIS but with larger rotary well) if the RX-8 was a complete success.

Originally posted by T-von
I heard the next Miata would have a rotary option. So this shouldn't scare away the ENOURMOUS base:) This would add more base to it:D
Yes, with the new rotary engine, Mazda will keep getting more and more base. Pretty soon all base will belong to Mazda.

I crack myself up.

Hopefully we'll see a prototype, theres nothing wrong with making a prototype, they gotta put out some show cars to attract attention. Don't know how long it will take for prototype to become a reality. Realistically, i dont see it happening, in order to compete with the hp hungry public, the next incarnation of the RX-7 would have to pump out 300hp or weigh 2000lb's. The beauty of the FD RX-7 was that it had competitive power at low weight, and it was one of the sexiest cars ever made. For the RX-7 to realistically be produced, the RX-8 has to find a proper niche and prove to MAzda that a rotary niche vehicle can work. The RX-7 will probably be a niche vehicle too. I want to see what the prototype will be. Oh and by the way, a mazda priced over 40k U.S dollars is doomed for failure, so it has to be priced pretty low too. Would the people on this forum buy a RX-7 if it cost over 45k fully loaded?