I don't know why they would try to make it look like a vert. They would have to make a completly new soft top to be able to cover the wider chassis of the miata. Mazda has said the new miata wouldn't be rotary and would be narrower than the current miata. This miata is wider than the current one. Of course they also said the 7 wouldn't be back for a while.

 

fool the spies?! it wouldn't take too much time to cut and sew some cloth an attach it to a couple or 3 ribs. being wider instead of narrower lends credence to gordo's idea that it is a disguised 7 mule. the top would help with the disguise.

 

Well this looks really one piece, not something stiched together like the bodywork. I don't see why they wouldn't just stich something together if they were trying to fool the spies. I meant I don't think they would have spent extra effort creating a whole new top if it wasn't a convertible. I think they would have tried to hide the fact it was wider from the split rear bumper by making a one piece of that instead of two miata sections. It looks genuine vert to me. If they ever were planning to come out with a convertible version of the 7 it would do much better if they engineered it as a convetible in the first place. From an engineering standpoint it is easier to turn a convertible into a hard top than vice versa.

 

tech garage :D I have owned two rx-7 s in Puerto Rico and one here in Florida. I don't have a rotary at this moment but am hoping to buy an rx-8 in the not so distant future .:D I wanted to let you lucky rx-8 owners to find out about this super wonderful one time use product called "tecrolan". you guys are going to absolutely love it . you're supposed to put some of the liquid indide the engine and some in and the one that goes in the tranny and yet a different one for the differential It is a one time application and you'd swear the engine feels so much smoother and loose it feels like you're driving a caddy plus you get all that mechanical prottection from it.
It also gives it 10% better gas mileage or so they claim. Ihad an old rx-7 that was leaking oil and one time I forgot to add oil to the crank case . I went without oil for like a couple of days if not longer and because of that protection the engine suffered no damage whatsoever. Their website name is Tecrolan please rx-8 owners you've got to try it. Plus it also lowers your engine temperature and there is also one that they have for your water pump which simply goes into your radiator via you radiator cap.
another product which is really good as an oil *** on is oilextreme concentrate:D they claim it increase horse power. Tecrolan is a metal conditioner that adheres to the pores of the metal giving it superb wear resistance and oil extreme concentrate is an oil additive like no othe in the market that actually increases horse power. I recommend them both. visit heir web sites and use the product on your rx-8s you wont be dissapointed.:D

 

Re: the 5 lugs - that's actually inconclusive. As you point out yourself, the RX-8 platform will be the basis for Mazda's future sports cars. We know from Mazda that the NC Miata will be based on a narrower, shorter version of the RX-8 chassis, and will use the RX-8 suspension. Mazda is not likely to design 4 lug hubs when the current 5 lug hubs would work fine. Also consider that the new Mazda3 has gone to 5 lug hubs, whereas the previous Protege had 4 lugs. I think it's probable that the NC Miata will end up with 5 lug hubs.

Now, the sooty tail pipes and width arguments do point to an RX-7 convertible in disguise!

Regards,
Gordon

 

Gotta bump this one up- Automotive news had the white mule car listed as the up and coming new Miata.

 

Link Elara? :o

If that is to be the next Miata, what's going to happen to the RX-8's image?

 

i think they could be wrong given the new pics of the 2006 miata in the other thread as gord says "is put together with body panels stamped with PRODUCTION dies" but i am still waiting for gord to answer my question in that thread. oh well i guess it will have to wit until i get back from seven stock

 

Sorry, I just read work's copy because subscriptions cost about $100. Darn trade magazines. But, it's in the section about upcoming changes to automotive lines- that, and Mazda's plan to offer a RX-8 coupe and convertible around 2006-2007 were also in there. If I can get the magazine back from whoever has it now, I'll type it up it in here. If you can get your hands on a copy, it's in the August 16th issue. s13lover posted more here: https://www.rx8club.com/rx-8-media-news-11/2007-rx-8-coupe-convertible-38731/

 

Auto News Weekly? I wonder if I can get a discount if I rejoin ASME.