enforcer

In todays Courier Mail, Gordon Lomas has posted an article on the comeback of the RX7.

Whilst he may have raised some valid points, he certaintly didn't miss us by saying the RX8 was"too soft" and had a 'lukewarm' appeal in the market. WTF?

It makes you wonder where these guys get these statements...... http://www.news.com.au/couriermail/s...010760,00.html

Revolver

Well, I think the RX8 could do with some hardening up in the power and torque dept, which might improve its market standing.

It's still a great car and unique for lots of reasons but its performance has been overtaken by many recent models, including quite a few sedans.

erx8s

Apparently Mazda has found a few extra Ponies in the upcoming revamped RX8 that will debut in the Detroit motor show , Mind you after totally lying about the initiall rotary power for the last 5 years ,Why would anyone trust what they say ?

I feel sorry for the poor smocks that will put there hands for the 40th Anniversary model , then in 4 months a revamped RX8 appears

Cheers
Michael

auzoom

In answer to your question Trev, I believe that most of these guys just read around alot on the internet and write what they believe is going to happen.

A select few have actual inside information when the manufacturers make it available.

This partivular article appear to be ripped straight from the pages of this forums..."might be as close as four years away", "but there are indications that the RX-7 will be brought back to life as early as 2011".

But he also seems to have information, from events such as the Tokyo motorshow, that people from here were at but didnt get, eg "Clues to the future of a possible revival of the RX-7 arrived at the Tokyo show last year with the space-age looking Nagare concept that was claimed by Mazda design boss Laurens van den Acker as a strong possibility for the iconic badge to make a comeback in the future."

But he also has purely BS lines like the following (Note the lack of quotation marks, ie its his interpretation of what the person said, not an exact quote) followed by a direct quotation.

"Mazda's Ryuichi Umeshita said he believed if an RX-7 was making a comeback it would be about 2011-2012.

"If we can have one then that would be the timeframe," Umeshita said."

Is it just me or am I in a particularly synical modd today?

Cheers

Andrew

labrat

You are indeed a sinnick, but I concur. Concept models have a number of purposes. One of them is to keep people talking about the brand, another is to gauge market opinion and reaction for possible new model directions. While the "enthusiast" might applaud a two-seater coupe, the fact is they have limited market appeal, and sales quickly go off the boil. Case in point: the 350Z. According to He of Many Avatars, the 350Z is a superior car to his gutless, junky RX-8 made by the evil Mazda (and which he still owns, go figure). The RX-8 has way outsold the 350Z. Why? Because the idea of a 4-door coupe has had broader market appeal. The concept has now been taken up by up-market European car makers.

My take? With the MX-5 and the RX-8, Mazda have dominated the true sports car market with vehicles at a reasonable price. The MX-5 is the world's most popular sports car, and arguably one of the best. Forget about straight line performance - it's terrific fun to drive. The same goes for the RX-8. I find it a huge amount of fun to drive. Do I care about dragging off Falcodores from the lights? How crass, how vulgar, how crude, how declasse. Mazda will build on this concept of fun to drive, relatively affordable true sports cars. Here's my tip: a 4-cylinder coupe similar to the Kabura will be positioned around the price of the MX-5 hard top (which could be taken off the market). The RX-8 replacement will see a price of not more than the low to mid 60's, otherwise, it will get too close to the cheaper Audi TT. The market still expects a price differential between Japanese and German cars.

enforcer

Very well put Labrat and Andrew. If it wern't for people like yourselves thinking outside the square and others drawing from your ideas, we wouldn't have anything like the car we have today...or into the future!

dannobre

iTrader: (3)

I'm not sure why anyone thinks they will bring back a RX-7 badged vehicle......

Why not a RX-3, 4 etc.....They've never gone backwards before....Why not an RX-9

auzoom

RX-7 is the pedigree model for Mazda, its their shinning light and personally I think it will be for a while to come. I dont believe the RX-8 will become a long pedigree car like the 7. I think the 8 was more a test car for the new rotary engine so they didnt spoil the reputation of the 7. For this same reason I dont believe the first car released with the "16x" will be a 7. Once they get back on track with the 16x I am sure they will release a new RX-7...MHO.

DMRH

Its called "Creative journalism"............

We all know that the total sales of the FD (65,000 approx) took little under 12 months for the FE to smash. Seems this journo doesn't understand that budgets, practicality & ergonomics means a compromise car (aka - FE RX-8) will always outsell a pure sports car (aka - FD RX-7)

So his "lukewarm" theory is sure sunk because if he actually did a little research. He would have found the 1st + 2nd generations where compromise cars with 2 doors hence their superior sales to the pure 3rd generation.

REgards

ASH8

With the price of gas to hit $1.50 a litre plus if Mazda can not improve consumption in the DI Rotary version ( if it really does eventuate) then I am worried that this new 8 may be the last RX made for a while.

The reason the 8 did well is because it is unique 4 doors, the first rotary for 10 years) but sales have slowed dramatically and this new model 8 has to last 4 more years.

I can't see a business plan to revive the RX-7 or any 2 door rotary, maybe a lightweight mx-5 type rotary off the 5 platform (low production cost), but that would hurt sales of the 5.

And yeah we all know Mazda are committed to the rotary, but if the beans do not add up!!

erx8s

Mazdas strength has allways been in its innovative car design , its way ahead of other Japanese brands but its engines have lacked in engineering finnese even their piston engines are poor in fuel efficience ratings .

As ASH8 has stated in the above thread , with oil , fuel prices going up plus the overall economic situation overseas, crisis in the Middle east , pakistan , Nigeria , Afganistan and Iran insisting on Nuclear power year 2008 and beyond is not looking promising i predict a major rise in oil prices and a likely war in the near future in the Middle east

Cheers
Nostradamus ..........(Michael)

enforcer

I totally agree with you on Mazdas strategic vision, but I hope you're wrong on Nostradamus's interpreted predictions....

"...and I think there could be worsening economic problems also in 2008-10 in Europe, possibly a stock market crash in Europe. Also, watch out for the world economy sinking in 2008-2010. World economic chaos and economic disaster I think will exist 2008-2010.

During this time period expect to see economic chaos and disaster, wars, Muslim terrorist attacks, Sunni-Shiite Muslim war in Iraq and the Middle East, disease epidemics, great earthquakes, great storms and global warming causing sea levels to rise, and possibly asteroids or pieces of a comet may hit earth. This ends with the Armageddon, World War 3, in Nov. 2010. After that, after 2010, hope for the world will come from the Southern Hemisphere...."

Theres hope for us yet...

lone_wolf025

Wow that's creepy and funny both at the same time. Come to think of it, doesn't the aztec calendar end in 2012 anyways?

stevefredbelle

Since when did Nostradamus have any credibility ? I prefer to trust the fairy at the bottom of my garden...............

enforcer

...and thats precisely my point on this thread. Everything we read has been open to peoples own interpretation, and may not be all that correct...including Nostradamus.