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

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."

 

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.

 

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 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.

 

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.

 

Surely Viagra is cheaper.

 

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

Michael

 

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

 

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

 

Speak for yourself... Revolver can multitask...

 

Surely you meant Multi ....ASK even ....beg

Michael

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

Good luck!

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.

 

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!

 

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.

 

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.