Numbers Add Up For RX-7 Revival!
 

Found this article in my local News Ltd state daily..
'The Advertiser', CarsGuide.com.au

RX-7 comeback along with the RX-8....possibly.?

nice article, to bad it doesnt hold much weight.

looking at the picture,
so we getting the fd? or fc?

Just more speculation from reporters.

Everyone always says the 7 is coming back because it sells.

well if it looks like that, count me out

Actually I liked the Nagare.. I couldn't stop looking at it when I was at the NY Auto Show. I wouldn't mind if they used it as the basis for the next-gen (or 3rd gen) RX-8. Here's some pics I took.

nagare = success version of Kabura

Well, I'm sure Mazda will come out with something... Ive heard about this rumor since 2003 and I'm starting to see the light at the end.

With the new 16X debut at Tokyo Auto Show, I'm almost certain something will come out.. But do I think its going to be par with the New Skyline?? I have to say, its going to be tough unless they put turbo on that 16X, which is similar design as the renesis, meaning its not going to happen.. I guess Mazda never listened to us enthusiast and decided not to go with 3 rotor engine.. which will definitely increase torque and HP..

Why would Mazda want to compete with the GT-R? That's pretty much utter suicide right there in terms of market placement. Mark my words, the GT-R will be a long term sales failure in the US. It might be popular in the beginning, but once the first wave runs out sales will quickly dry up and it won't have the sustainability that Porsche enjoys with the 911 or how Chevy does with the Corvette. The day Ghosn decided he was going to badge it as a Nissan in the US was the day he sentenced it to death.

I agree, but it doesn't mean the death. It's gonna be like the last gen Rx-7. Not gonna kill the brand but its gonna b a failure. Still will sell in decent quantities. Anyways, Happy 1000 posts LionZoo!

Mazda should put the Rx-7 next gen (if so) in a higher price range, but not GTR level or NSX level. Should be more around the Z4 cost, mid $40k would still be able to sell decently at a Mazda dealer yet boost performance wise. Look at the Challenger, the v8 option pushes 40k and I hope for the best for that car. A good pedigree import car would be able to sell at that price.

Short term is probably more appropriate. I have a fairly good source at Nissan North America...he predicted to me "2 years" of North American sales "if we're lucky".

He said he can't figure out who will purchase the car. Because the demographic that wants it the most ~30 and under, doesn't have the money. And the demographic that can 45+, doesn't care about it.

Haha, I don't think they're stupid enough to go for another car thats over 40k.

That sounds about right. What I meant by long term sales failure is sales will dive faster than a Stuka after the first year of the car coming out. It seems like your friend agrees with my assessment.

Personally, my feeling is Mazda doesn't have the brand cache to compete in any segment that is above mid-30s. At around that kind of money, things become a lot more brand conscious. The first two generations of RX-7s, when they were affordable fun cars, were the most successful. As much as the FD was great, sales were pretty dismal.

40k now is alot less than 40k years ago. Adjusted for inflation, i remember reading that the rx7 was round 50-60k in today's money. 40k today is comparable to a boxster, not that extrodinarily expensive and extremely affordable compared to the other import legends (GTR and NSX when they are released).

This is the best time for retro cars, toyota will be joining soon with a new supra, or at least should. The rx7 should make a comeback.

Along with muscle cars (mustang, camaro, and challenger)

I don't agree to an extent because they do need a halo car. Whats a company without pride? mid 40s is not that expensive and certainly not that much considering decked out SUVs reach that level with highlanders/RX 300/Veracuz/cx-9. Mid 40s would also be around what point 20-30 year olds can luckily afford after college or just because they are rich.

Of course it is. Chances of Mazda building a sports car that starts at 40K+ and selling it successfully is slim to none. There is no demand for that from Mazda.

sorry off the topic but i like your avitar SayNoToPistons :Eyecrazy:

I like your awesome pics of the RX8. How bout some high res ones? :)

It's Keyra Augustina btw. Known as "The Ass".

pretty much the epitome of a perfect ass

New Rx7 News
 

Autoblog commented on the Autocar story here...

http://www.autoblog.com/2007/12/06/r...-rx-7-revival/

A couple of choice comments from the blog--
-Autocar has had its digital image wizards whip up what they think the car might look like. We hope not, as it looks like what might happen if a Corvette stopped short in front of a Testarossa. In other words, it looks like 1988.

-Reshaped combustion chambers are said to improve thermal efficiency, burn more completely, produce more low end torque, and return better fuel economy (woo-hoo!). We're surprised they didn't switch it's fuel to Unicorn sneezes, as the rest of the improvements seem like a fairy tale outcome for the wimpy, thirsty Wankel we know and love.

The story just states fiction as fact, no sources, no heresay. Thay know jack chit, it's just a bunch of ideas we've all seen many times before. They wish ..that's all.

besides ... it'll look more like my avatar ... I have that on good authority. So there!

More BS... That article came from SPEED btw...

They even stated they made the drawing, so they made up a story to back it up.
________
Medicalmarijuanadispensary.net

This means it will be a RX9. RX7's are 2 seat sports cars. The fans won't accept it.

actually every coupe model of the RX-7 was a 2+2 everywhere in the world except North America (with the exception of a few Infini and Efini racer models like the Infini IV).

Only convertibles were all 2 seaters.

why is my friends 93' RX7 2 seater? it's not from north america...
it is an auto tho...

and where was the car built to be sold???

next year 16X into rx8?

wow I dont believe this shit

We need a new General Topic: Rotary Tabloid

RENDERED SPECULATION: New RX-7?
 

I saw this on a blog i keep up with, and thought you guys might enjoy it. Keep in mind it's just speculation, so nothing definite. Enjoy!

http://www.autoblog.com/2007/12/06/r...-rx-7-revival/

moved all new "new rx-7" threads to the general auto and also merged.

the 16 x will not be in a car next year. they have only built a few units to date. should i take the time to sign up to autocar.uk to tell them?

You always have that 'all-knowing' way of declaring what will be without reservation (thanks Dad!). I've always wondered, do you have little mice (like Santa) running through the halls of Mazda Japan relaying otherwise secret info?

Or more directly, what engine specifically WILL be in the next rotary car from the trochoid black hole, otherwise know as Mazda developemt?

PS. feel free to pm me so you don't have to shoot me after I gain this info :lol: plus I promise I won't tell!!:)

oh yes and no, they don't really want to know.

i should be more specific. the 16x will not be in the rx-8 next year. it will be in the handful of hydrogen/gasoline/hybrid electric mazda5s they put into use. but it will not be in a full fledged production vehicle until 2010 at least (actual year not model year)

they arent ready to proceed with full production of the 16x yet as it isnt in its final form yet. for one , as we have already been told, they have not yet decided the optimal production position of the direct injection.

Charlie,
I have not been following this at all but am concerned on the future of ANY Rotary Production if this becomes US Law...

CAFE...
The US Senate on Friday slammed the brakes on a wide-ranging energy bill that would hike vehicle fuel economy standards 40 percent to 35 mpg during the 2011 to 2020 model years.

The fuel economy provision, potentially the biggest change in the corporate average fuel economy program in 30 years, is not in dispute.

But for other reasons the Senate failed this morning to muster enough “yes” votes to move forward with the broader bill, which was approved 235-181 by the House of Representatives on Thursday.

The Senate vote was 53-42, seven “yes” votes short of the 60 needed under Senate rules to move forward.

Senate Republicans, like President Bush, objected mainly to tax provisions and a requirement that utilities use more renewable fuels.

Senate leaders were expected to work behind the scenes over the weekend to revise the package and try to move it again next week. Any changes also would have to go back to the House.

In the House on Thursday, Democratic leaders hailed the bill as a big first step toward independence from foreign sources of oil.

Automakers, in a historic about-face, support the higher CAFE standards.

Despite industry support for the bill, Rep. Joe Barton of Texas warned that higher CAFE standards, even if technologically feasible, will add several thousand dollars to the price of every vehicle. He is the ranking Republican on the House Energy and Commerce Committee.

So I gather if an auto maker can not achieve these fuel economy figures then they are penalized with higher sales taxes/duties...YES?

This does not look good for Mazda's Rotary

Don't worry, Mazda may likey introduce the US to...

"an impressive little performer that is expected to return 44 mpg with a 1.3-liter engine" .. that is, the new Mazda 2, and the sales volume could swamp any rotary sales by orders of magnitude. Then there's the Mazda 3, which is already doing that. I can't see as to why they should have a problem balancing the mix to allow a few oddball rotary sales to car nuts.

right .

ash cafe is - corporate AVERAGE fuel economy- as long as the company's lineup as a whole meets this average its all good

I see, thanks Charlie, I knew you would have all the low down...

So, it is the Average of a particular brand/make..the CAFE really had me concerned.

No wonder guys like Lutz are worried at GM, this new legislation/requirement would force GM/Ford/Chrysler to market smaller more fuel efficient motor cars.

BTW, Just in passing the first full ship load of Pontiac G8's have just left my home state (South Australia) here bound for the US.
The rumor here is that the Ute version of the VE Commodore/G8 will be a goer for the US market next year.

I don't know why Mazda is so tight lipped about eveything. Everyone says leaking info about future rotary cars will hurt sales of the RX-8. I disagree. Sales suck already and probably won't get much worse. The thing is, the rotary is almost strictly a niche car that has not caught on to the general public, so you have a small niche group of buyers. So everyone that wants a rotary powered car pretty much already has an 8. And you have people like myself, who usually buy a new car every 4 years or so. I have an '04 and '04 was probably the biggest year of sales because rotorheads wanted this new rotary vehicle that marked the return of the wankel. Now it is 4 years later and what am I going to do? Am I gonna buy another 8 that is pretty much exactly the same thing I bought 4 years ago...NO! I would have expected improvements by now but there have been none. I think Mazda owes it to the rotorheads to let us know what is planned or going on. In the grand scheme of things I don't think it would matter if they told us. We care about the rotary, but the general public could care less. They'd rather have their american muscle cars.

Sadly, I think the new RX-7 will not live up to its predecessor. Safety regulations and demand for more equipment will cause it to weigh much more than the FD, and emissions equipment will limit power as well. It's also likely that the ECU will be as inaccessible, if not more so, than the RX-8's. I'm sure it'll be a great car, but if you're expecting a giant killer, you may want to look elsewhere.

That said, it'll surely lower the prices of FDs...

i don't know, 2500 lbs seems light weight enough to me.

It would be an FF if you follow the trend...

FB33/SA22C
FC3S
FD3S
FE3P (FE3P is the 5spd version of the 8)
FF3?

Yes it does, but until Mazda themselves weigh in (no pun intended) on the matter, it's all just smoke and mirrors.

Thank god that if they do plan a new RX-7 (which frankly I have not heard of it progressing at all, and only the new 8 and MX-5 is in development) that they won't try to be like the failure that the FD was.

I just don't get why people think the FD was so great when they couldn't sell any. If it was truly great they would have sold more than the first year FE did.

As said before... the absolute last thing that Mazda needs to do is to create another lame ass over priced, under sold, sports car that lacks the true spirit of the RX-7.

True spirit of a RX-7? The true spirit that a RX-7 is a light weight, nimble, balanced, practical, and affordable sports car... not some teenagers (or near teens) wet dream of a rotary powered super car.

But this is all academic, as only dreamers trying to sell paper or Internet advertising are the only ones saying that there is going to be another RX-7

Oh I get it! You mean like this?

http://videos.rotarytuner.com/catego...29e1746d52.htm

If you want to measure success by sales, then let's just declare the Toyota Camry the winner. If any Mazda car was as truly great as the Camry they'd have sold more.

And I don't see how the FD lacks any of the lightness, agility, balance, and practicality that the FB did. So don't give me any of the "lack of spirit" BS. My point was that for all the virtues the FD had, they were virtues that came with significant flaws that will not be allowed in today's market so I look forwarding to owning an FD. Now sod off.