Picked up a copy of Sport Compact Car and they had a good article about a test drive in the Mazda Kabura prototype. Pick it up if you have a chance. They have some good pics of the car. The 3+1 seating is sorta trippy. They discuss the possibility of puting a rotary in it, but the prototype has the 2.0L from the MX-5 Miata.

http://www.hln.be/hln/artikels/foto/large_105970.jpghttp://www.ratgeberbox.de/ratgeber/artikel/images/972010_acff340a39.jpg
http://www.autorai.nl/images/NewsItems/Medium/Image3-20060213105100.jpg

You guys are way too harsh. chill out.

Its a good article- the SCC guys actually got to drive the car. Its clear to me from reading the article that the writer has read this forum's threads about the Kabura. more on that tomorrow when i have a chance to scan and post the article :D:

I'm chilled. I would like to see the article . :)

I'd like to see the article too. Go zoom44! :)

I win.

I win.


I want a recount! :p:

ok here are the scans. 1st is the cover where they make a "NEXT RX-7!" blurb just to sell mags. 2nd is their short bit about seeing the car at Detroit. the rest are the article.

When reading see if you can spot why i believe the writer has been reading our forum ;)

page 3 and 4

ya know- in the 4 years and 10k odd posts- thats the first time i scanned and posted an article :)

May issue of Motortrend has a new article where I believe they drive it also. I'm at work so I can't scan it yet.

LOl yah one of my friends called me , he was yelling saying dude go pick up MT they have the new rx7 on cover. then i told him read the article, it says that car is build off the mx5 platform. So hmm i do not think that is the rx 7 :P , then of course he said oh :mad:

the mx-5 is based on the rx-8 platform. why couldnt the next rx-7 be on the same platform?

Isn't the Miata platform based on the Rx-8 platform? Which would mean the Kabura platform is really based on the Rx-8 platform?

EDIT: Just because it's your birfday, doesn't mean you can post the same thing as me, before me!! :p:

lol hahahhaahaa :D: i like the new avatar btw

the mx-5 is based on the rx-8 platform. why couldnt the next rx-7 be on the same platform?

opps my bad, i stand corrected /bow


Mazda MX-5

The new MX5/Miata is both quite similar to its predecessor and yet also rather different.

Because it is based on a shortened version of the RX8 platform, the new car is far broader of track which gives it a significantly more masculine and less lithe feel to the car it replaces. This is accentuated by the larger wheels, more substantial body side section and RX8 style wheel-arch treatment.

But the car is also very similar to the previous MX5, particularly in its rear aspect and a front lamp graphic that stems directly from that of the first generation car, and is very similar to the Ibuki concept car shown in Tokyo in 2003.

A logically conservative new design that looks like its newfound more masculine design identity will broaden its market appeal, if potentially also reduce some of the uniquely lithesome and feminine appeal of its quintessential predecessor.

Related Stories:
Mazda Ibuki concept - Tokyo 2003

what? no one see's what im talking about, when i say the writer was reading this forum?

what? no one see's what im talking about, when i say the writer was reading this forum?

I read it, but I'm not seeing anything that screams RX8Club. Can I have a clue?

the first part is easy- actually read any rotary forum and there is alot of screaming for at least a rotary option- especially knowing the car was intially designed for the rotary.

then check these out

http://www.rx8club.com/showthread.php?p=1106159&highlight=MX-3#post1106159
http://www.rx8club.com/showthread.php?p=1193723&highlight=MX-3#post1193723
http://www.rx8club.com/showthread.php?t=83056&highlight=MX-3
http://www.rx8club.com/showthread.php?p=1255966&highlight=MX-3#post1255966
(more comments from me in that last link read thru a little ^)
http://www.rx8club.com/showthread.php?p=1260904&highlight=MX-3#post1260904
http://www.rx8club.com/showthread.php?p=1301580&highlight=MX-3#post1301580

btw i propose that Mazda let me Drive this car so i can review(read that "steal") it for RXTuner!!(if read "steal" previously change the last bit to "for myself")

the first part is easy- actually read any rotary forum and there is alot of screaming for at least a rotary option- especially knowing the car was intially designed for the rotary.

then check these out

http://www.rx8club.com/showthread.php?p=1106159&highlight=MX-3#post1106159
http://www.rx8club.com/showthread.php?p=1193723&highlight=MX-3#post1193723
http://www.rx8club.com/showthread.php?t=83056&highlight=MX-3
http://www.rx8club.com/showthread.php?p=1255966&highlight=MX-3#post1255966
(more comments from me in that last link read thru a little ^)
http://www.rx8club.com/showthread.php?p=1260904&highlight=MX-3#post1260904
http://www.rx8club.com/showthread.php?p=1301580&highlight=MX-3#post1301580

btw i propose that Mazda let me Drive this car so i can review(read that "steal") it for RXTuner!!(if read "steal" previously change the last bit to "for myself")

I saw that, but I didn't know that's what you were going for. I thought everyone was clamoring for a rotary because they want it to be the next RX-7. I don't think of this forum so much as a "rotary forum", but more about the 8 in general. I guess that's because of all the douche 7 owners I've met. I wouldn't want to be lumped into that crowd by just going under the umbrella of "rotary fan".

the second part is what really burns me:D: check out my links!! ive been saying MX-3/RX-3 since OCTOBER and as often as i can since then. Then they throw it in like its their idea. BS! they're quoted me without the attribution.

not that im tooting my own horn or anything;)

the second part is what really burns me:D: check out my links!! ive been saying MX-3/RX-3 since OCTOBER and as often as i can since then. Then they throw it in like its their idea. BS! they're quoted me without the attribution.

not that im tooting my own horn or anything;)

Well, I'd wait for the car to come out officially and then sue them. They'll definitely take you seriously -- just look at how many posts you have :Eyecrazy:

hehehe:)

ya know?.. until just now I thought the Kabura was one of the ugliest cars ever.. but it looks pretty good in these scans, looks good moving...

Kabura video at edmunds http://www.edmunds.com/insideline/do/AutoshowArticles/articleId=108811

what car video is more fun to listen to. especially when he says the concept has a rotary hybrid under the hood.

http://www.whatcar.com/news-article.aspx?NA=219009

I thought the same thing when I read the article! [I] They very well could drop by on the forum. Some of them used to (and still do) drop by the miatanet forum. I'm not sure why they would call us whinners for wanting a rotary, but oh well.. I'll keep my subscription for now.

what? no one see's what im talking about, when i say the writer was reading this forum?

It might be helpful if those scans were actually readable!

It might be helpful if those scans were actually readable!

Don't blame zoom for his incredible 20/10 vision and cat-like reflexes.

thanks for scanning that article onto here. a great read really enjoyed it!

so i was under the impression that mazda WAS planning on putting it into production. but in the video they say mazda does not plan on producing the kabura. what's the deal?

Okay, save to desktop and zoom in. That works.

If this comes out in 3 years, I still say it's going to replace the RX-8. It does what the 8 does, but better...and the 8 will be about due for a redesign in 2009 anyhow. With a sub-2800 lb. weight (hopefully, but not confirmed) and 4-cylinder base model (pure speculation), it would solve the only real problems with the 8 (mediocre power/weight ratio, less-than-ideal sales volume)

If this comes out in 3 years, I still say it's going to replace the RX-8. It does what the 8 does, but better...and the 8 will be about due for a redesign in 2009 anyhow. With a sub-2800 lb. weight (hopefully, but not confirmed) and 4-cylinder base model (pure speculation), it would solve the only real problems with the 8 (mediocre power/weight ratio, less-than-ideal sales volume)

How can you say that it does what the 8 does, but better when it's a prototype? There's absolutely no real information about this car -- at all. If this thing does in fact sell for ~$20k as predicted, it's not going to do everything the 8 does. There will be compromises in the interior appointments if nothing else. Also, if the 8 is still around in its current form when the Kabura comes out, I'd be flabbergasted.

Well, I'm working on the assumption that Mazda won't produce two RWD coupes that are only a few thousand dollars apart in price, it just doesn't make sense. I know they say they are going to build this to start out under $20k, but I'll believe it when I see it. Maaaybe they can ditch the convertible top and get the price down that low.

I think this car could do everything the RX-8 does better--if it has a rotary option of course. When I say that, I'm assuming that the seating arrangement is feasible, and that the weight can be kept well below the 8's 2,960+ weight.

Well, I'm working on the assumption that Mazda won't produce two RWD coupes that are only a few thousand dollars apart in price, it just doesn't make sense. I know they say they are going to build this to start out under $20k, but I'll believe it when I see it. Maaaybe they can ditch the convertible top and get the price down that low.

I think this car could do everything the RX-8 does better--if it has a rotary option of course. When I say that, I'm assuming that the seating arrangement is feasible, and that the weight can be kept well below the 8's 2,960+ weight.


convertible top? No, the Kabura doesnt have a convertible top. Just the weird all glass thing that surely wouldnt make it to production.

Whoops, what I meant was: The Miata costs over $20k, so how are they going to sell this car for $20k? But convertible tops add a pretty good bit of money to the price of any car, so by making it a hardtop they might be able to have a slightly-stretched, 3 +1 passenger, hardtop Miata for $20k.

Well, if the Boxster->Cayman and MZ4->MZ4 Coupe are any indication, selling a coupe for more than convertible can work.

Scion TC's have the all glass roofs and they are in production. the New MB's are going to have only all glass roof's. Dont see why Mazda couldn't make this work on a production Kabura.



convertible top? No, the Kabura doesnt have a convertible top. Just the weird all glass thing that surely wouldnt make it to production.

Just saw this car at the NY auto show. Have pics if anyone wants to see. I thought the car was very attractive in person. The lighting appointments (headlights, taillights, and other exterior lighting was ultra-cool, but the interior layout in bazaar. I do not agree that the 2+1 seating is ideal in any way. When I first heard this concept in the Kabura, I thought it might be a single center seat in the rear, but instead the seat is on the right behind the front passenger with what looks like totally wasted space behind the driver. Why not just design an honest 2+2? I know Mazda wants to be different, but the current lay jut does not make sense. In addition, the retractable real half-door, while looking and sounding cool in concept, looks completely useless for ingress and egress to the one rear seat. I love the coupe design, though, and wish to this day this is what Mazda designed for our RX-8's. I think this would be a cool replacement for the RX-8 if they could make it a good performer, use the rotary (of course - but maybe a bit more refined), and make the retractable door truly useful or get rid of it in favor of a RX-8 type hinged door or make it a 2+2 with no rear door at all. Still a really cool car, just needs some more R&D. ;-)

The retractable rear half-door adds weight and complexity and is totally useless, it might not make it to production, as with the 2+1, but i heard its actually 3+1, theres a seat behind the driver, you have to fold it down i think (from what i saw in the pic).

The glass roof MIGHT make it to production tho, there are more and more cars like that now, i think i've seen a few on the road. But it'll be $$ to replace
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Agreed, I saw a video of the half-door, and it's purpose is quite wetawded.

Just got an email from Kabura forums.

I didn't see these here anywhere so thought I'd post the new Kabura photos. (http://www.kaburaforums.com/forums/showthread.php?t=122)

http://www.kaburaforums.com/forums/attachment.php?attachmentid=230&stc=1&d=1151292454

there's no way i would want someone to look over and see me in that.

looks like the crossfires bitch or something. ugly written all over it. unmanly. horrible.

:Eyecrazy:

I'm praying this car is a decoy for the new RX8 that looks nothing like this with a 280 hp rotary.

From some angles it looks almost like a Z...really like the interior, however there is no way that the speedo on the steering wheel should ever make it into production!

Considering Mazda turned the Evolve into the rx-8 (quite a miracle I might add) the Kabura (if it goes into production) should be sexxxxxxyyyy as hell.
evolve (ugly) -> rx8 (attractive)
kabura (attractive) -> rx3/mx3 (godly!)