Looking at the other cars there and this struck me. Any one else notice this? Must be platform-concept sharing. What's with the big-wheels these cars have - strange looking blownup donuts IMO.

 

The big question is will this ever see the light of day. Probably a really watered down version 3 years from now.

 

what car is the lower one?

(is it from Ford/Mercury/Jaguar/Volvo?)

as for the big wheels, I agree it looks ridiculous...on a car that size 17s are probably just right...but maybe we'll see 18s...share rims with the 8 or Mazda3? not out of the question

 

Yep. As I said in one of my earlier post, putting a rotary in this light weight low priced car would be the sh*t.

 

makes for a better show car

 

The lower one is the Mazda Senku concept.

 

I think it is the Ford REFLEX, not Senku.

http://www.conceptcarz.com/view/phot...,,0/photo.aspx

 

Your right. Is Ford copying concept cars too?

 

Not sure who is copying who, but given the relationship between Ford and Mazda, I wouldn't be surprised if the two concept cars came from the same design center, or even the same design team.

 

Here's the link I was looking at http://www.autoweek.com/files/specia...x/pages/01.htm

if it's a Ford, well that sucks if it was ever meant to be an RX-7, as it isn't a Mazda design, i.e., not a Japaneze original like the 8

 

Here is a link with more real photos of this car...

http://images.rotarynews.com/images/...a/target0.html

 

Nice! ... I really like this one..(left). taking away that front chrome on the grill... imagine a 1.5L rotary under that plexi-hood viewport, call it an RX-8II, and me in it on the track.

Now we're talking.... listening Mazda????

 

its a mazda platform so its a mazda design- ford is sharing the platform

 

I think you are correct. The Kabura is based on the MX-5 platform, which is based in the RX-8 platform (as far as I know). And the RX-8 platform is a Mazda design. When I said the Kabura and the REFLEX might be coming from the same design center, I was refering to their exterior styling. I should have been more precise about that...

 

I really like the car, except for the front end styling it's pretty hot. But of course that front end would be toned down a lot for production. The overall concept is really neat, and the 2+1 would hold to production likely, since a big part of the design was the panel that retracts right behind the passenger seat to allow easier access to the back seat.

Just keep email Mazda to put a rotary in it ... from talking with people today, I think there's still just as much chance for a rotary as anything, but hearing from everybody will make a difference.

 

No, I was told they were not sharing design ... and also the Ford Edge/Mazda CX-7. Despite similarities, I was told that Ford and Mazda were totally on their own for each project.

 

How would you recommend getting to the right people/group at Mazda? Any suggestions on email address or names to address the possibility of rotary power? Thanks.

 

MAZDA KABURA COMMENTS TO MAZDA


Just leave your input here, and we'll make sure that all the powers that be at Mazda get a copy of your comments!!

Read what others have already said:
http://rotarynews.com/node/view/758#comment

-Bern

 

I'm not trying to rain on the Kabura's parade, but does the Emperor really have new clothes? I hate to say it, but the more I look at the Kabura, the more I dislike it. It's certainly not the Aston Martin "like" coupe some described it to be to me.

As exciting as a new Rotary car might be, it seems like an uphill battle to convince Mazda to put the rotary in the Kabura (if they ever really make it to begin with). Man, I just want Mazda to get their act together and produce the long over due MS RX-8.

Seriously, which car would you pick, the blue MSII RX-8 on the left or the Kabura on the right?

 

It all depends on the final specs for the Kabura, and of course that it's Rotary Powered... the Kabura is supposed to weigh in the -2500lb range.

I say... damn, I like both of them!!!

-Bern

 

I love my 8, but if they cleaned up some of the messy details, and it weighed ~2500lbs, had the Renesis engine, ...

.... I could easily see owning both

The K could rock on the track at that weight!

 

2500 lb? .... if it has 200hp, it will have better power to weight ratio than the rx8 thus be faster. but if its a 2.0l I4 that redlines at 7500rpm, it probably wont be able to make 200hp. Put the renesis in there, itd be insane... might as well call it the RX7.

i wonder why mazda is trying to make so many niche market sports cars? if it does well on the market and is a hit, its still bund to be a low volume selling car.

 

Well at $18k-$20K price-point, it's bound to be seller... Mazda would like to take a little bite of the SCION and other entry level market, and if the specs all hold, it will be a HIT!!!

I know that if the specs hold, and it gets the Rotary it deserves, I'm in, in a heartbeat!!!

-Bern

 

Another thought would be if the put the MS6 turbo 4 in this.. hummmm

That could rock! and be more than real competition for the 350z, evoX, almost anyone. Something special if Mazda could lord it over all those other for a change!

2.3L DOHC 16-valve inline 4-cylinder engine with turbocharger and direct gas injection
Peak horsepower 274 @ 5500
Peak torque (lb-ft) 280 @ 3000Redline6700

 

Perhaps so, but it takes the fun away if Mazda doesn't do it with a Rotary.

While it's fun to dream about what the Kabura "might be", the RX-8 is in the here and now. And all it would take is a ~280+ hp MS RX-8 to forget all about the Kabura. Even with a rotary, I don't think I'd buy one. I know it's a show car, but it's just too funky for me. I really don't care for the design. If it did look more like a mini Aston Martin (as some were saying before), I'd be much more excited.