The fact that Bakaj confirmed that the 7 concept has already been built indicates there maybe more going on behind the scenes. The top brass has always denied the 7, yet work seems to continue.

It seems stupid to build a prototype and do nothing with it. Even if they currently have no plans to put it into production, I think they'll at least show it at the Tokyo Motor show to get a public reaction. And at the same time, keep their rivals guessing at what their next move might be.

I'm also wishfully hoping that they might give us a preview of the MS RX-8 at the show as well. We know they've been working on the MS 3, so it's more likely that we'll see that car. But they've got to be working on an MS 8, the 8 being the flagship and top performance model. It's just a matter of time. However, they are taking their sweet old time (hopefully to get it right), so it better be damn good when it finally breaks cover.

The Tokyo Motor Show is scheduled for Oct. 22nd-Nov. 6th '05. http://www.tokyo-motorshow.com/eng/index.html

Sometimes I wish I was Japanese...or had money :p I really wish I could go to that auto show. If anyone here goes, please take lots and lots of pictures :D

The FD RX7 had 255 HP(factory spec). Not that much more than the spec for the RX8. Horsepower wars have raised the bar.

I've heard of stock FD's hitting 13's. They must be very light in weight.

Stock FD's were about 2800 lbs even (2789 lbs as rated by Mazda to be exact), but the twin turbos also gave it more torque 217 lbs. Add in the fact that our US spec 8 is not making the full 250 ps that the Renesis was designed for.

But Mazda has never been about beating the competition with brute force hp. Instead, it follows Colin Chapman's Lotus theory of make it lightweight and big butts will fall. So don't ever expect an MS 8 or a 4th gen 7 to have greater hp numbers than it's rivals, that won't happen. What will likely happen is an overall balance that the rivals can't touch.

Actually when gas starts costing $3.50 a gallon in parts of the country, a hydrogen rotary will start looking a whole lot better.

Hydrogen isnt going to be cheap. The infrastructure for it's production and delivery really doesn't exist on the scale necessary to meet demands. It's more of a clean burning fuel at this point than a renewable option.

yes and this is another subject entirely but in order to "force" the building of the infrastructure they should start requiring cities to buy fuel cell buses when replacing vehicles in their public trans. fleet. this would get teh infrastructure started adn the buses have amble room for everything. i believe toronto had some fuel cell buses running already like 4 years ago.

edit- vancouver http://www.msnbc.com/news/248093.asp?cp1=1