Socr8tes

...well, according to Joe Bakaj anyway.

From Sept. Motor Trend:

Mazda will introduce 16 new models worldwide in the next three years, product development chief Joe Bakaj promises. Most are replacements for existing models and count sedans and wagons as two models. Sad to say, an RX-7 isn't among them. "We can't just keep launching sports cars," Bakaj says. He acknowledges that the concept has been designed, and it's feasible. The bulkhead, engine cradle, and dash of the RX-8 can be grafted onto the short-wheelbase floorpan of the MX-5.


*Seemingly obligatory disclaimer to the repost *****: sorry if this is a repost.

s13lover

Before they say "not feasible" Mazda should show the public some images of the design study. There's nothing wrong with having too many sports cars, as long as they all sell.

shakRpahX8

Yah, I think it's little too soon for them to put new rx7 out
when Rx8 just came out.
They should work on improving Rx8 and other vehicles that are recently out.

RX-Hachi

I've been one of the many who hope to see a new 4th gen RX-7 released some day. But I'm starting to have a change of heart.

It maybe better and wiser to just stick with the RX-8 name, as it's in the here and now. They can still build a MS RX-8 and even a true 2 seater coupe and rag top if they want. Call it the RX-8 Coupe & Roadster or something. All the time improving the car's performance and pedigree. This would allow the RX-8 name to gain a greater following of it's own and be easier for Mazda to justify.

Technically speaking, they wouldn't be releasing a new RX-7, just new variations of the RX-8. On the other hand, Joe Bakaj maybe just keeping things "hush hush" until they're ready.

Steiner

If Mazda put out a 300hp Mazdaspeed RX-8 nobody would complain about not having a 4th gen RX-7. What in the hell is the hold up?!?!

brillo

While I don't give much credit to the mag's as far as this stuff goes, and as much as I want a new RX7, I have a hard time making a business case for a RX7, even based on the RX8/Miata platform.

As small as Mazda is, having three sports cars doesn't really make financial sense. Granted they would all be rather similar and could share parts (especially the RX7 and RX8), but when you factor in all the marketing, extra training, down time for tooling etc...its a big cost, thats not going to ever sell in near the numbers that your mainstream cars will.

I could see the RX8 phased out in favor of the "RX7" or the posibility of a two door version with some overlap for a year, but I know the bean counters will have issues with more than 2 sports cars at the same time. Thank god the 8 can be considered a 4 seater, which has prolly helped keep sales stable.

I hope I'm wrong, but being in banking, I think in $$$, and Mazda for its size, is almost over stretched on sports cars.

mjd

Well said Steiner...all we need is an 8 with 300 horses and some more torque and all will be well; at least I will be.

RX-Hachi

^agreed.

NgoRX8

iTrader: (1)

^
^agree with the guy who agrees

We need an 8 that kicks booty in the straights. HAHA

PaulieWalnuts

For once I agree with Steiner

Sigma

Except for that if/when Mazda gets around to releasing a 300hp RX-8, Nissan will be releasing a 350hp 350Z/G35 at the same time; perpetuating the horsepower arguments for all eternity.

PaulieWalnuts

Now is the time for a 2.0L 2 or 3 rotor Renesis. 360HP N/A. Bring it.

playdoh43

competition rocks. but this is easier said than done, say mazda manage to put out a 360hp rx7, it actually takes a couple of years for nissan to respond. they have to do market research to see if its economically viable to come out with a bigger engine, R and D to tune the engine to desirable power and strenthen the chasis or even redisign the entire car. So if timed right, Mazda can enjoy a couple of years of hp dominance in the segment before other companies can respond in kind. of course as you just said, the cycle continues. but in the end i think consumers win.

Kel Rx8

I completely agree

im sticking around with mazda for one last rotary and I hoped it would be a new rx7 in 06 or 07'

Sigma

Nissan isn't sitting around waiting to see what Mazda releases before beginning work on its' own stuff.

The successor to the 350Z, including the successor to the VQ35 that Nissan is so heavily-dependent on, is already being worked on, that much is for certain. Nissan also has the benefit of virtually its' entire lineup relying on that engine growing, rather than Mazda which has to divert significant resources to develop an engine only used on a single car when it could be using them on its' own MZR or fine-tuning Ford's upcoming Duratec35 for its' own use.

Development of the Renesis is dependent on just what the competition of the RX-8 is doing. Development of the VQ is dependent on what the competition is doing in virtually every segment of the market since everything Nissan makes uses it. Basically, development of the VQ is going to be a much higher priority for Nissan than Renesis development for Mazda because Nissan depends significantly more on the VQ than Mazda relies on the Renesis.

When Fords releases its' Duratec35 next year, Nissan will once again up the ante to something larger for its' own sedan lineup soon afterward. By virtue, the 350Z will get the same engine. It gets to benefit from what's going on elsewhere in the automotive market -- the RX's don't. On its' own, the 350Z might not warrant investing in a larger engine, but since Nissan is investing the resources for everthing else in its' lineup, the Z will get to benefit from it.

Nissan also had a 1-year jump on the RX-8 in the market and therefore will probably be releasing a major update either earlier or at the same time as the RX-8; and certainly not more than one year later.

Chances are very slim than an RX (aside from a MazdaSpeed) will ever out-power a Z. If Mazda releases a 330hp RX (360 is a little unrealistic, IMHO) it's at least 3 years off. Nissan is due to release an entirely new Z in 2007 as an '08 which is almost certain to eclipse that figure.

playdoh43

yeah i agree, i was refering to an imaginary condition where mazda somehow do manage to get the jump in hp before Nissan is ready to respond. in reality its highly unlikely a RX would overpower a Z. Toyota has a chance at doing that though, according to the auto week's info reguarding the 4.0L V6 powered supra.

VikingDJ

No doubt. It will put an end to the critics criticizing the power of the rx8, which is rightfully justified, since the RX8 is lacking quite a bit. If they ever made a 300hp MS RX8 roadster, I'd be at dealer so fast trading in my S2000, and I'd likely be in love enough to pay full msrp, and not even care about the price. I always wished my old RX8 had the power of my STI. We shall see.

th1rd3y3

+1

cas2themoe

I agree. Just doesn't make good business sense to have many sports cars. You have to appeal to you consumer base and what they want. Most want a Sedan.

zoom44

well mr bakaj is the outgoing guy right? and this article pposted yesterday int he supra thread says it is coming. i dont understand bakaj's statement" we cant just keep launching sportscars" of course you can!!!! you already have the otehr segments covered or are abotu to cover them.

http://www.autoweek.com/news.cms?newsId=102996

zoom44

btw past experiience fromt eh launch of the Mazda6 and the RX-8 tell me when Mazda says "year x" they mean during that calendar year not the fall before for the model year. so when they say 2007 they mean sometime in 2007. not fall of 2006.

DARKMAZ8

I'm happy with the current 8. I don't find it slow for regular street driving. I think mazda should bring out a high peformance 7 but in very low quantities and of course it should weight about 2700lbs and have 300hp. We'll see if the supra comes out, if it does than the 7 should follow.

Steiner

Out of curiosity, how did the 3rd gen RX-7 FD sell in the USDM during it's production run here. I'm guessing Mazda sold almost as many or maybe even more RX-8 models in the USDM in it's first model year than all of the 3rd generation RX-7 models put together...turbo charged or normally aspirated. The old high performance, mid 90's versions of the RX-7, Supra and 300ZX were not affordable. IIRC they were nearly as much as a Corvette or M3 of the day. Eventually they were all snatched up, but they didn't sell like the manufacturers anticipated.

If Mazda's bean counters are drawing on past USDM experiences for future direction, I think it's unlikely we'll see another RX-7 anytime soon. Even with parts and platform sharing, the R&D alone would drive the car into at least the $40k-$50 range IMO. It makes much more sense to just develop a more robust, turbo charged version of the Wenkel. Besides minor upgrades to the drivetrain and suspension, that's all you need for 13 second, turbo charged RX-8 costing somewhere between $31k and $34k. At those prices you're digging into the demographic of the 350Z, Evo, STi and even the new SVT Cobra. Plus the added "cool factor" of a turbo rotary will draw up nastalgia and inevitably bring people to the dealerships to at least take a look, if nothing else.

What's the holdup on the MS RX-8 anyways..seriously? Do the Japanese have it yet? Are people expecting to see it debut at the Tokyo auto show in October?

zoom44

no what is expected at the tokyo show is the 2 door rotary powered coupe

rotary crazy

whats the date for the tokyo autoshow? I now is october, but what day?
also I heard that the rotary coupe was for the detroid auto show and for tokyo was the increase hp rx-8?