Mazda RX-VISION Concepts
#727
more than just that. I don't pretend to know all the factors, or what Mazda's numbers are, but ...
There are probably more that are pretty model-specific.
I would guess though that Mazda's per-car costs have come down enough that a future RX would have similar or slightly lower production costs than the RX-8. I theorize this because of how much they can share with the ND, because of their specific work reducing costs, specific work in increasing production efficiency, etc... Pretty much everything else in the list is probably really standard/typical, and would have applied to the RX-8 too, though the costs on that may have gone up some, even if just from currency exchange rates.
Given an expected $20,000 price tag increase over the RX-8, that's a lot of margin room that I'd have to be really far off on something in order for it to fall to just the RX-8's profit margin. So yes, I expect that there will be a clear profit on the next RX.
- R+D (to a point)
- Tooling
- Materials / Parts
- Assembly labor
- Inspection labor
- Shipment
- Estimated warranty costs
- Government testing and certifications (emissions/crash/etc...)
- Advertisements
- New training for techs (even trivial amounts add up fast)
- Taxes / Import / Export costs
There are probably more that are pretty model-specific.
I would guess though that Mazda's per-car costs have come down enough that a future RX would have similar or slightly lower production costs than the RX-8. I theorize this because of how much they can share with the ND, because of their specific work reducing costs, specific work in increasing production efficiency, etc... Pretty much everything else in the list is probably really standard/typical, and would have applied to the RX-8 too, though the costs on that may have gone up some, even if just from currency exchange rates.
Given an expected $20,000 price tag increase over the RX-8, that's a lot of margin room that I'd have to be really far off on something in order for it to fall to just the RX-8's profit margin. So yes, I expect that there will be a clear profit on the next RX.
New metal plating, new machining, new processing. It's a moonshot, but considering all the ancillary technical benefits that came from the real moonshot, there's probably plenty of side-benefits in the back end that make it worthwhile.
#728
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Surely a lot of the R+D will have ancillary applications - it won't just be rotary only. New production processes and Concepts will have benefits elsewhere across the brand. It's not just rotary-only....
New metal plating, new machining, new processing. It's a moonshot, but considering all the ancillary technical benefits that came from the real moonshot, there's probably plenty of side-benefits in the back end that make it worthwhile.
New metal plating, new machining, new processing. It's a moonshot, but considering all the ancillary technical benefits that came from the real moonshot, there's probably plenty of side-benefits in the back end that make it worthwhile.
#729
40th anniversary Edition
Even after R&D costs, Mazda did made overall profit on the FD's production run in the US from 1992-95 and in Japan until 2002, so I agree with RIWWP's explanations and assertions of how Mazda can make a clear profit on any new RX-Vision with a $40,000+ price tag, especially with their new production efficiency.
#732
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Thread Starter
On a side note in the USA..
New Japanese boss of MNAO Masahiro Moro is already being a pro-active one by starting a marketing push in the snow belt States with Mazda's AWD product (like CX-3)...almost certain you guys will see more AWD models soon, like Mazda 3 and 6.
As the US media said, does Mazda have AWD?
Compare this to the previous J J O'Sullivan's 're-active' approach who was frankly dead from the backside up, full of platitudes.
OH, and the RX-Vision just 'Won" the 'Most Beautiful Concept Car of the Year' award in Paris.!!
New Japanese boss of MNAO Masahiro Moro is already being a pro-active one by starting a marketing push in the snow belt States with Mazda's AWD product (like CX-3)...almost certain you guys will see more AWD models soon, like Mazda 3 and 6.
As the US media said, does Mazda have AWD?
Compare this to the previous J J O'Sullivan's 're-active' approach who was frankly dead from the backside up, full of platitudes.
OH, and the RX-Vision just 'Won" the 'Most Beautiful Concept Car of the Year' award in Paris.!!
#733
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I also suspect there is a motorsports reason too. The talk of the people that matter almost has a quiet subsurface yearning to return to their victory, and I suspect that they would be happiest doing it with the rotary.
#734
1% evil, 99% hot gas.
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Just to fan the flames, more news from the bullshit factory that is motoring.com.au:
Mazda rotary to go turbo
Yeah, well, personally I think a rotary with good fuel economy and emissions would be good.
And I think I want a pony too.
I WAAANT A PONY!!!1!
Mazda rotary to go turbo
Speaking to motoring.com.au, Mazda’s drivetrain and powertrain assistant manager, Tetsushi Marutani, said: “Personally, I think that a rotary with some turbo or compressor would be good."
And I think I want a pony too.
I WAAANT A PONY!!!1!
#735
40th anniversary Edition
Mazda Engineer: Turbocharging a New Rotary Engine "Would Be Good" ? News ? Car and Driver | Car and Driver Blog
Mazda says turbocharging RX-Vision would be good idea
Mazda says turbocharging RX-Vision would be good idea
#737
Who knows, maybe they will do something like the CX-9 and use a small turbo for quick spool up and better torque down low. I remember reading they were working on an electric turbo, maybe they will incorporate their ieLoop system + caps to spool up a larger turbo faster at low rpm's to eliminate lag and then let the engine take over at higher rpms. I guess it would be kind of a superchargerturbo in that sense. That would be ideal to me assuming they got somewhere with working on their electric turbos.
#740
Super Moderator
Thread Starter
Just to fan the flames, more news from the bullshit factory that is motoring.com.au:
Mazda rotary to go turbo
Yeah, well, personally I think a rotary with good fuel economy and emissions would be good.
And I think I want a pony too.
I WAAANT A PONY!!!1!
Mazda rotary to go turbo
Yeah, well, personally I think a rotary with good fuel economy and emissions would be good.
And I think I want a pony too.
I WAAANT A PONY!!!1!
These Aussie guys are the ones that always start it (claims) and the rest of the motoring world picks it up as gospel truth and churns it out as fact or something to talk about (usually about 8 hours later), they plagiarize off each other like so many good journalists today, or so called.
Don't get me wrong a lot of these guys do talk to factory guys at industry meets, releases, motor-shows, but, so many times what is asked and what is replied is miss-interpreted (or lost in translation) and or they tell the guy what he wants to hear.
Personally witnessed it.
Another one recently was that Mazda has ''100 techs working on the new SA Rotary'', well they are actually doing both the new gen Skyactiv II's (Bangers) first and the RE comes a long second, they are not exclusive RE as it is represented.
All good though, I hope Mazda comes through with RE, but not at any price, even $40K (USD) is going to be a hard sell, unless it make 350hp without falling apart in 2 years.
Some interesting news on the new CX-9 and it's turbo SA 2.5l.
Makes 250 HP Max on premium fuel, about 220 on low grade gas.
Uses a water cooled (from radiator) EGR Exhaust gas tank to cool some exhaust before being recycled.
#741
Super Moderator
Thread Starter
Mazda Rotary to Become Turbocharged
MAZDA ROTARY TO BECOME TURBOCHARGED
Now it is 'a' fact, more great churnalism...
MAZDA ROTARY TO BECOME TURBOCHARGED
Now it is 'a' fact, more great churnalism...
#742
Super Moderator
Thread Starter
"Personally, I think that a rotary with some turbo or compressor would be good," Mazda drivetrain and powertrain assistant manager Tetsushi Marutani ..
His Personal 'opinion' becomes a fact.... and then becomes 'MAZDA says'.
The rumor from day one has been some form of 'a' turbo, was said to be 'electric'.
His Personal 'opinion' becomes a fact.... and then becomes 'MAZDA says'.
The rumor from day one has been some form of 'a' turbo, was said to be 'electric'.
#744
40th anniversary Edition
Hey, we can only hope that half of the "rumors/news" is true. I do personally think it will be either turbo and/or supercharged to deal with low torque on the bottom end of the power curve, and to produce the max power out of a compact rotary powerplant. I am sure there will be some real surprises and technical innovations with regards to ignition and emissions , for better efficiency and tougher world emission standards. It will all sort itself out in the next few years, and I will be ready to add the next RX to my stable.
#746
40th anniversary Edition
As a professional journalist for over 30 years, who has covered the auto industry and motorsports, I can say yes we don't know what is fact or fiction yet. We won't know how much these journalists got right or wrong until the total car is revealed, which is years away. In the meantime don't kill the messenger, it is their job to report all that the Mazda folks wish to say to the press. The journalists are giving us stuff to debate ,discuss and/or dismiss. Enjoy the thread. LOL
Last edited by gwilliams6; 02-06-2016 at 07:43 AM.
#747
As a professional journalist for over 30 years, who has covered the auto industry and motorsports, I can say yes we don't know what is fact or fiction yet. We won't know how much these journalists got right or wrong until the total car is revealed, which is years away. In the meantime don't kill the messenger, it is their job to report all that the Mazda folks wish to say to the press. The journalists are giving us stuff to debate ,discuss and/or dismiss. Enjoy the thread. LOL
#748
40th anniversary Edition
People love to hate the media, just listen to any of the political candidates at the debates. So it is useless for me to try and defend all media. But just travel to the many countries that don't have any credible or independent media and see what kind of society they have. For all the times someone in the automotive press is misinformed or inaccurate, we still rely upon them, and want them to let us know what is happening ASAP when we want to know the inside scoop. You can't be everywhere all the time or be listening all the time, so we rely on the media as one important source of knowledge.I am proud to be a career journalist, and a journalism professor,as well as a RX lover.
Last edited by gwilliams6; 02-06-2016 at 02:10 PM.
#749
Super Moderator
Thread Starter
They get a bit of a laugh ''feeding the chooks'' (media) with crumbs.
Facts are @ Mazda in Japan you will lose your employment position and never be promoted IF anyone leaks real facts.
Why Mazda and the Japanese are tight as drums with real factual detailed information until they are ready.
Been like this forever.
#750
40th anniversary Edition
And yet Mazda knows they NEED the media to get whatever "crumbs" out to the public. Without the media, where would their RX-Vision reveal be ? Nowhere. They need the media to help reach folks and gauge reaction. That helps Mazda determine if they should even build such a car, and/or can it be successful. Only so many folks can visit an auto show in person. Mazda reaches millions more through the media. So say what you want about the media ASH8 and RIWWP, Mazda knows it needs them and will always cultivate them for its corporate benefit.