Apparently so, according to Mazda's Head of Product Development, Joe Bakaj.....

The Miata brand name is being dropped in favor of MX-5, and the RX-7 is off the radar. The following quote is taken from this article (http://www.theglobeandmail.com/servlet/story/RTGAM.20050707.wxwhmiata07/BNStory/specialGlobeAuto/) .

Yet, this decade alone, the Hiroshima-based auto maker has, indeed, introduced two new sports cars and there are persistent rumours of a return of a high-performance RX-7, too.

Bakaj scoffs at that one. His engineering staff is far too busy launching this Miata, the new MX-5 wagon, the high-performance MazdaSpeed6 sedan, as well as doing updates of the Tribute SUV, the B-series pickup, remaking the MPV minivan and creating the all-new CX-7 crossover utility vehicle due to go into production in 2006.

In all that, the one new car that arguably matters most is the Miata, which over the course of the next year will switch globally to the MX-5 name. The name "Miata" is being phased out.

Gomez.

Doesn't really indicate much in the sense of "RX7 off the radar". What it does indicate is that no RX7 will come before these vehicles are done. Mazda has its hands full right now--in fact they had to push the release of the Mazdaspeed6 back to the fall due to the MX-5 release this summer. Good find--but there are far more other rumours that point to the development of a 2-door RX variant.

wtf is an MX5 Wagon? ew...

Yeah, I noticed the MX-5 wagon mention also...

That must be a reference to the Mazda5, which was released a few weeks ago. Its sort of like a Toyota Matrix or Scion xA.

That must be a reference to the Mazda5, which was released a few weeks ago. Its sort of like a Toyota Matrix or Scion xA.


Gotcha - makes sense :)

Doesn't really indicate much in the sense of "RX7 off the radar". What it does indicate is that no RX7 will come before these vehicles are done. Mazda has its hands full right now--in fact they had to push the release of the Mazdaspeed6 back to the fall due to the MX-5 release this summer. Good find--but there are far more other rumours that point to the development of a 2-door RX variant.

Yeah.......well if they ever do get around to doing one, I hope it looks like this.

yeah the article never said the mazda dude said 'no rx-7 forevar', just not now :p

Let us all just hope that the 7 will return.

Yeah.......well if they ever do get around to doing one, I hope it looks like this.
Wow... that's some seriously good photoshop work. Who made that?

What kind of wheels are on that "car"? I like those.

Well based on the following portion of the article Im not going to put much credit into him saying no Rx-7 is coming.

"Mazda's outgoing head of product development, Joe Bakaj"

Price range: $27,995-$33,995
I thought they were cheaper than that?

I've said this before, but if Mazda does a new rx-7, the only way it to be well received is to outperform the fd3s. And that probably won't happen without either FI, or more rotors.

Going to a three-rotor engine could be brilliant, yielding a car lighter than our 8's with probably something like 280-300 rwhp! The complexities of designing a 3-rotor Renesis are not insignificant, including a need for a second center plate with wider intake runners, and a new e-shaft.

I would expect either an FI or 3-rotor car to be around 2600-2700 lbs, beat an NA 911 on the track, and cost around 40k. If Mazda is going to do it, they need to do it right. Make a flagship car that is more than what the fd3s was, with better reliability and quality. Yes, it will be expensive, but the market is alot different than 93. I for one would sell my 8 for a new rx-7 if it matches those criteria.

Save your three-rotor for the next Cosmo. As for the Photochop, BN Sports has an FD with an RX-8's front end. I'd go look for the picture, but I'm too lazy.

IMO, Mazda doesn't need a swift return of the RX-7. My suggestion is they wait to see how successful the RX-8 is. I mean, it's only been two years in production and some are already clamoring for an RX-7. Maybe in a few years, Mazda will up the ante in power in their 13B-MSP, either by using forced induction (not likely), or by increasing displacement (my personal choice :D). Mazda has and only needs two sports cars. Three's a crowd if you ask me.

Yeah.......well if they ever do get around to doing one, I hope it looks like this.In the same way that the Ford GT resembles the GT40 and the new Mustang looks like the old Mustang, I hope it looks like an updated version of this.

^negatory, RX-7's from one generation to the next has always had revolutionary changes in its exterior design, and I PRAY Mazda can come up with something that'll blow the doors off of the FD, if that is ever possible :D

craaaaazy idea, but what if they made this hypothetical 4th gen RX-7 a MID-ENGINE RWD supercar???? :eek:

Yeah.......well if they ever do get around to doing one, I hope it looks like this.
I would buy one in a heartbeat if they made the next 7 look like that (providing of course that it performed better than the 8). ;)

^negatory, RX-7's from one generation to the next has always had revolutionary changes in its exterior design, and I PRAY Mazda can come up with something that'll blow the doors off of the FD, if that is ever possible :DWell, there's always a first time for everything. The Miata has been more evolutionary than revolutionary. The new MX-5 even kind of looks like the original to me. Although Road&Track's Sam Mitani may have declared the RX-8 to be the most beautiful car to com from Japan ever, I still slightly prefer my old FD RX-7. Maybe it's wishful thinking on my part, but one can still hope.

craaaaazy idea, but what if they made this hypothetical 4th gen RX-7 a MID-ENGINE RWD supercar???? Not so crazy. The RX-8 is practically a mid-engined car with the motor pushed so far back into the center. A new Renesis powered RX-7 would likely share this feature.

ok i mean the engine whirrling BEHIND your head lol

I've said this before, but if Mazda does a new rx-7, the only way it to be well received is to outperform the fd3s.

It better...it should be in the EVO WRX STI range...but like I said on another thread, I think the RX7 should be Mazda's Halo car. Don't build for 100K but build it to fight with the Vette/Viper and other high end sports cars.

Make it a NA rotary with 3 rotors 400HP and weighing in around 2.8K and you will have one heck of a HALO CAR!!!

That story did not even mention the RX8...why is Mazda being SO HUSH HUSH about the 8? I hope what ever they do it's a big improvement. I would love it if it stayed NA and had 300HP from a bigger rotary.

I can't wait to here what updates the 8 has in store...I'm dying I tells ya...

I see lots of people saying the rx7 should be a supercar. I dont understand why, most of us mere mortals could only stare in awe because we could never afford one. Mazdas premise with the rx7 was the affordable sports car. If they would not make it 40 or below, i would turn my back on the rotary. I dont want a viper fighter or vette killer, i want a reasonably priced sports car, like the rx7 was in the 80s, third gen is sweet, but when you double the price in one model change it tends to kill your faithful buyers.

I see lots of people saying the rx7 should be a supercar. I dont understand why, most of us mere mortals could only stare in awe because we could never afford one. Mazdas premise with the rx7 was the affordable sports car. If they would not make it 40 or below, i would turn my back on the rotary. I dont want a viper fighter or vette killer, i want a reasonably priced sports car, like the rx7 was in the 80s, third gen is sweet, but when you double the price in one model change it tends to kill your faithful buyers.

so blame the FD for making the RX-7 name synonomous with supercar? :o

maybe the RX-8 will carry on the tradition of the SA/FB and FC as the 'common man's sports car' while the elitist FD owners and wannabes drool over the next gen supercar RX-7? :p

hmm maybe Mazda should send out a survey to current RX-8 owners asking if they will be willing to shell out $40k for a 2 seater, 2700lbs, 300hp rotary supercar :p

He said no RX-7 anytime soon. Who's to say they won't release an RX-9? ;)

If they need a performance target, shoot for the Lotus Elise, not the Corvette or Viper. Super light and nimble, about 2500 lbs., only with a nicer interior in a cheaper car than the Elise. This wouldn't be too hard to accomplish if they just stuffed a light flywheeled renesis into a hardtop Miata. A turbo or other radical changes to the engine wouldn't even really be necessary. And throw on a mean looking body kit to keep the "chick car" snickers at bay.

Everyone's talking about the non-existant RX-7, no-one cares that the Miata name will drop off the face of the earth?

Everyone's talking about the non-existant RX-7, no-one cares that the Miata name will drop off the face of the earth?
Because it is old news. The Miata name was formally axed fo the 2006 model year on back in 2003.

Well there you go, I didn't know that. Thanks Jeff.

A rotary supercar would be cool, but I'd rather just see a stripped-down 2-seater coupe version of the RX-8/Miata platform with a Renesis, like Mazda had orignally planned.

If it only weighs 2500-2600 lbs, then the current engine will be plenty powerful, plus Mazda could sell them relatively cheap and still turn a profit. Maybe call it RX-6.

Everyone's talking about the non-existant RX-7, no-one cares that the Miata name will drop off the face of the earth?Only the name is gone, not the car.;)

hmm maybe Mazda should send out a survey to current RX-8 owners asking if they will be willing to shell out $40k for a 2 seater, 2700lbs, 300hp rotary supercar :p
they need to ask current 7 owners moreso...

they need to ask current 7 owners moreso...An average 3rd gen goes for $12-$16K, a 2nd or 1st gen can be had for peanuts. Somehow, I don't think most "current" RX-7 owners fit the demographic of one who might shell out $40K+ for a new 4th gen RX-7. Perhaps the original 3rd gen owners would, or current owners who just keep the RX-7 around as a hobby or project car.

A $40K 4th gen would be doomed from the start and would probably sell in even smaller numbers than the 3rd gen. Mazda learned from its mistakes with the FD, it won't happen twice. A low base msrp of around ~$32K with the performance of an EVO would do nicely. It still wouldn't sell in huge numbers, but the combined sales of the RX-8 & 7 would hopefully be enough to keep Mazda satisfied. (Heck the EVO & STi don't sell in large numbers for that matter either.)

I'd be surprised if Mazda totally axes the Miata name. I'll bet it continues on as MX-5 Miata. There's too much brand identification/customer emotion wrapped up in the Miata name to toss it. Nobody refers to the car as an MX-5.

I'd be surprised if Mazda totally axes the Miata name. I'll bet it continues on as MX-5 Miata. There's too much brand identification/customer emotion wrapped up in the Miata name to toss it. Nobody refers to the car as an MX-5.
Be surprised then--they have gone on market as abandoning the 'Miata' name. Of course everyone will refer to it as a Miata--but remember in every other market its known as the 'MX-5' or 'Roadster'--'Miata' is the USDM market name.

give up the rx7 is dead there will be no rx7 there is no incentive for mazda, their new matrix and scion xa fighter and crossover cars are going to be making them money, a rx7 could barely stay profitable at best, look at the rx8, they cant move them fast enough and sales are declining.