Still fugly as hades though, looks like some lazy @ss designer took an XKE pig and applied a pallet of modern day lipstick to it. That hood looks long enough to house an 8-rotor engine, but only because the overall visual proportioning is pure sh-t imo when you consider it's really the same length as the Maxda 3. The RX8 was a little bit oddball looking, but this hideous monstrosity is an outright insult to the timeless beauty of the FD3.

Technically no one is exempt and everyone must apply. Smaller manufacturers have had more success with the process.

Not selling it may not be as big of a downside as you think. Mazda has been pushing hard to raise their brand image and having a flagship car that can hang with the big boys would go a long way to helping them out. Every single article you read about Mazda these days is how beautiful but underpowered they are. It wouldn't surprise me if they only did a limited run of 1,000 or so units as an anniversary edition. Depending how well that is received we may see a detuned version in the 300hp range as a regular production model at a more modest price range. This would be the strategy I would propose to the brass in Japan.

The only issue with a run of 1000 is that the certification for roadworthiness/safety with NHTSA and emissions for the EPA are very costly if they pass. That would make a small volume run very expensive for us. I would offer to fly overseas, become a Takumi, and build my car along side yours just to get it done.

If that's the case, I'll probably never own one.

Only reason I have an 8 is because the values tanked.

Maybe a ten year old one with rust on the sills, iffy compression and blown shocks..... but never a reasonably cared for one.

Well they can start with a limited run, say 1000/yr and if demand rises they can raise production. The idea of the flagship car is to get feet in the door to purchase the other cars that are affordable. The GTR did wonders for Nissan, and I imagine the next Supra will do the same for Toyota (not that they need it).

If it returns to be a legendary car like the FD people will buy it or at least stop by the dealership. The best thing Mazda could do is release the 2.5 turbos in all their cars at the same time so when those feet walk through the door, there is something people want to buy. I love the look of the mazdas, but there is nothing I would buy from them right now. Mazda 6 doesnt have enough power for me in the mountains and no AWD, 3 is too small, CX - I am in the market for an SUV, however I want one I can use as an SUV not a tall station wagon/minivan (that goes for most SUV's btw).

That's not how it works. Demand never increases after the first year of a new model. For niche cars, demand usually falls of a cliff after a year or two. The FD is the poster child for cliff-diving sales. Nissan has never sold more GT-Rs than they did in 2008.

Mazda can't put the 2.5 turbo in everything because it would kill their government-mandated Corporate Average Fuel Economy. CAFE might be the best argument for a low-volume car because it would do the least damage when they can't sell enough MAZDA2's to make up for a petrol-guzzling rotary.

so they should bundle a Mazda2 with the RX-9 - problem solved

2 things.

1. Nissan never sold more GTR's than in 2008 because they raised the price every year by like 10% and in 2008 you could lease the crap out of them for ridiculously cheap.

2. I'd like to see someone run the numbers but if Mazda replaced every model in their lineup with the 2.5L Turbo in CX-9, I'd bet they would still sit in the middle of the pack for fuel economy. Currently they rank #1 of the non EV only manufacturers. Their lack of any EV technology may set them back in the future but they are currently sitting pretty with plenty of room to at least offer the 2.5 turbo on other models such as the 6, CX-5 and Miata. Not saying it is the best engine choice for those models at all but come on Mazda...I know driving matters but give us some damn Zoom-Zoom!

What are your top 3 SUV's you are looking at? I'm curious because I recently moved and had to let go my 2016 CX-9 and will be replacing with another SUV. A 2017 CX-9 is at the top of my list. I'm in a rental atm and it's nice to have the room (Yukon XL) but it is absolutely useless to drive.

I am fairly intrigued by the new X3 M40i however I don't know if I can give up the 3rd row for that odd time I need the extra seats.

I wish I knew what the redesign of the Santa Fe had in store because value wise...that Santa Fe is hard to beat...it's just kinda small for a 3 row.

I heard two rumors at the dealership today. Again, DEALERSHIP rumors.

1. A mazdaspeed 3 will be announced late this year (I didn't believe this one for a second because he had zero other information about it).

2. A lot of managers were recently invited to a Mazda event in Montreal where there was a lot of discussion surrounding the RX-Vision concept. This one leads me to believe there very well could be some interesting information at the Tokyo Motor Show.

Are-Ex-Eight, my top choices are the new Volvo XC60, the Jeep Grand Cherokee (diesel only now that they can start selling them again) and the new Chevy Colorado ZR2 (I know it isnt an SUV, but like its capabilities).

Of those 3 I think the JGC is probably my top choice as it is more capable than the Volvo and I like the diesel powertrain. The only knock on the ZR2 is no cooled seats (every trip we take i am always sweating in my dam seats so that is a big deal for me). The JGC can tow more, best mileage and offroad capable.

Are things getting interesting ?

https://www.wheelsmag.com.au/news/17...ally-happening!



https://www.autoevolution.com/news/b...ar-120175.html

Thanks Brettus, the second link works fine, but the first link isn't working ( comes up "page not found").

Try this one:

https://www.wheelsmag.com.au/news/17...ally-happening!

If that doesn't work, search "Mazda" and sort by "Newest".

They can't meet conventional ICE emissions requirements with the rotary but they continue to improve seals and lubrication? But combine that with the "range extender tech" and a "sports car engine"...

So, a plug-in electric with a rotary-based range extender?

As usual, this new "information" is just grist for the speculation mill.

The problem with the wheelsmag.com link is there is an exclamation point at the end of the URL, which is stupid. You guys keep omitting it, or not have it as part of the link itself.

This link should actually work.

https://www.wheelsmag.com.au/news/17...lly-happening!

rumors ahead Tokyo Motor Show are increasing....

In my opinion we'll see a more close to production concept based on RX-Vision.

Still curious about the powertrain (Hybrid or not, Turbocharged or not)

keep the rumors coming! RX-9...RX-9...

Rotary News....sort of..

Mazda Japan has confirmed there will be a range extender RE in a Mazda 2 some think 3 next year into production, you will see it at Tokyo Motorshow next month.
This is the 330cc single rotor engine/generator for an all electric Mazda of I think 75 KW (motor)..range is about 400 km or 240 miles.

Anyway, yeah it is a RE, but really who cares.

No news yet on 'where' this will be exported/sold or not, I am thinking Japan only at this stage.

Plus I am beginning to think we will not see any RE only this time, possibly 2019 TKMS.

My wild-ass speculation of the day:
I bet they field test it in a plug-in electric with RE range extender in the 2 (a'la BMW i3) while they finish up the engineering on a Fisker Karma/BMW i8 type setup for the sports car. If nothing shits the bed in the first couple of years, they'll put the new electric with RE range extender sports car into production.

I personally wish it's kinda like the Honda Insight engine setup, where you have the electric motor assisting the engine. Of course, it should be more performance-oriented.

This could help with the low-end torque(electric motor = instant torque), fuel economy and allows a MT version of the car.

The only thing that's kinda lame about hybrid supercars like i8 and NSX is no MT, and lots of supercars don't have MT options anymore. If Mazda can come with a MT, that would be awesome.

Also, Mazda doesn't currently have DCT technology, and we all know RX-8 AT wasn't very well received, so I wonder what Mazda will use for the 2-pedal version.

I prefer electrical faeries being the primary internal power transfer medium. Much more efficient and flexible.

And, honestly, I think the whole "manual transmissions are going extinct" hysteria is, well, hysterical. I'm sure people said similar things about horse-drawn carriages but the world is a better place without them. Also, I have sciatica and live in a big city so clutch pedals suck.

That said, as a small volume vehicle (from a small volume mfr) Mazda will probably just license the technology from another company. That or stick with their existing slushbox technology. Automagics have come a long way and many mainstream manufacturers are moving away from DCTs again.

automatics in a sportscar suck (yhea i know how fast they are in exotics and still dont care) evectric rotary is an oxymoron to me. i like burning dinos. the fookin tree huggers dont seem to understand the impact all the mining has on the child slaves and the planet getting the materials to make those batteries but hey they feel better and musk needs a new jet right?

It's not dinos, it's prehistoric plants. Get with the program.

Mazda has nothing to do with Musk (beyond possibly using the patents that Musk opened to the public). Get over the cult of personality and ecomentalism problems. Electric drive systems have some pretty cool benefits. Pairing them with gasoline engines in the until battery technology matures offers some nice benefits, too.