reddozen

iTrader: (1)

sadly... 100% true... lol

I ALWAYS buy base models where I can. I don't need all that ****. I don't even like sunroofs. It's just added weight.

lesper4

iTrader: (3)

Very excited, price is doable also. But that will not fit with in my car plan. I will be needing a new car I think with in 2-3 years meaning the next car will have to be a lease or hold on to the 8 longer or switch out now.

canaryrx8

iTrader: (3)

the title of this thread should be "rx7 confirmed!!!!...again!!!!'

honestly, I"m pretty cynical at this point, I won't believe it until I see it, and even then, I'll be waiting at least 1-2 years before buying one as I'll never ever ever buy a first year model car ever again after the mechanical/reliability disaster that has been my current Rx8.

alnielsen

iTrader: (4)

The difference here is this isn't just some rag reporter making up a story. We seem to have quotes from a Mazda VIP.

Red Devil

Sure we can! The principles of business have not changed.

Bladecutter

That's because you live in Texas, where if they can have a bigger version, they want that one.

BC.

Spin9k

Could be good or could as easily be an weird odd duck when released. Musts include - reliability... and did I mention reliability? Plus light(er) weight than we'd hope for, and the power we've never had in the 8... some low end torque... and some high end power. And a significantly spiffed up interior. The 8 is great and all, but only between 40mph and 95mph. Any new car MUST offer real performance on either side of that band, as well as non ECU smothered in-band response.

Minimum to win in 2015 or 2017 it'll need to out Porsche a Cayman on the road AND track, else sadly it won't get enough sales traction, just like the 8. You've got to stand out, and I mean in front of something significant, or end up simply hawking (yet) another low end sports car to people who don't want to pay. There are Toybarus and old Miatas for them. And too many compromises need be made then to compete or standout, and most esp. demand a price to give back a decent profit to Mazda.

I wish them good luck with that little shopping list, it's a real toughie!! I just hope it's suitable for old folks too, as I'll be one by then

zeru57

I'm very excited to get confirmation that 1.6 development will come to fruition more or less on schedule. It sounds like model year 2017, which will probably drop in 2016. And if we take the CX-5's launch as any indication, the launch could be closer to three years out than 4. We're almost in 2013 as it is.

I always thought the RX-8's design compromises are pretty close to perfect for a daily driver. Plenty of power to do whatever is necessary on the street, with space in the back for a couple kids and a very usable trunk. The price point of the car is what enabled me to buy one used and join the rotary family - even if it also meant a parade of replacement parts (coils, I'm looking at you) and a new engine thrown in on Mazda's dime.

If the RX-8 had been an expensive toy along the lines of the RX-7, I would never have bought one and come to understand what rotary design is about. Because I like having my cake and eating it too, I really want to buy a successor to the discontinued RX-8, a 2+2 that I can continue to use as a daily driver and family car, while enjoying the awesome benefits of a rotary chassis, at a reasonable price.

Bottom line, though, there just aren't enough people like me. Mazda tried to broaden the sales base of the car beyond RX-7 devotees, but the uniqueness of the car precluded that. So now we'll see a car built and marketed toward the old RX-7 crowd. Doubtless the feedback on this board has contributed to Mazda's perception that it needs to move the rotary product in that direction.

I'll still be able to buy a late model RX-8, or maybe I'll just continue to drive what I have now. But I also hunger for the new technology and the advances Mazda is making, and would love to see all that in my daily driver. In three years, I'll probably be at a point in my life where I'll be able to purchase the new rotary car, whatever shape or form it comes in. But as it is described in the article, I won't be able to spend as much time in at as I do my current 8, and that makes me a little sad.

TALAN7

They can't. Rotaries are more expensive to begin with. In order for Mazda to get the weight down to where 300 hp would be good they would have to have a lot of aluminum and or carbon fiber or they would have to make it so small that I wouldn't fit. I can't fit into the BRZ/FRS. Also, I'm not interested in a 2 seater, I have a kid. I think the RX8 is perfect in size. Just use more lightweight material and get the weight down say 200 lbs, then put a larger more powerful engine that gets more low end torque and they would have me. Say 2700 lbs loaded, 300-320 hp, over 210 lbs torque with much more low-end torque would be great for a base model. Then look at some typeof forced induction for S model or Mazdaspeed version. I don't see why they couldn't have some electric assist and still have a sporty feel/sound.

Regardless, my 2 seat sports car fantasy is the corvette, but I feel the next model would be to expensive for me. I'm getting excited for the next Mustang. Ford is smart in staying committed to keeping the price down and with finally a independent suspension giving itmore of a sports car ride, and the looks of the drawings, they are going to rule.

confuzdbycloudz

You can fit fine in a Rx–8,but not a toybaru? You must have a weird body configuration because I find there to be more room in a brz than my rx8. I also have a sport without the sunroof and power seats so it has even more head room than gt's. Not saying that you don't fit I just find it weird.

Bladecutter

Actually, they very much succeeded in expanding the ownership base by creating and selling the RX-8. Remember, the number of people who had owned an RX-7 by '04 was smaller. Bring in the RX-8, and now there are more people who can justify the purchase of it, since you can actually put 4 people inside of it. Strap child seats in the back. Drive cross country in comfort.

What they screwed up was the reliability of the car.
How many people did they drive away from ever owning a rotary powered car with what happened to those first 4 years of RX-8 owners?

But, there's a larger pool of people who would be willing to buy a rotary powered car now than there was back in '04.

Lets hope that they sell both an RX-7 and an RX-8 at the same time.
That would make more sense, financially. Then the engines could cost less to produce, since you're building many more of them, and the chassis costs less since there's 4 cars total being built off of it (Miata, Alfa, RX-7, RX-8).
I would 100% buy a new RX-8 with the 16X engine in it, even if it got only high 20's in fuel economy. The RX-8 is that good of a car, in my opinion.

Then, Mazda could have it's cake, and eat it too.

BC.

olddragger

iTrader: (3)

I have had second thoughts.
Let me preach on it.
At no time --no place has it been said how many rotors will be spinning?
Maybe a na 16X 3 rotor? NOW WE ARE TALKING!
If this will be a halo car--then the gas mileage be damned?
Also remember mazda is doing a tremendous amount of research/work on friction reduction--so drive train lost may be minimized? Heck it could have have an on demand alternator by then?
Arent they still looking at the laser sparkplugs too?
So add it up and a 2800 car with a 325-350 hp to the wheels would be silkilicious.
Maybe?
Now 9K does have a point too. There are a lot of cars out there that continue to be developed, the Mustang has come a LONG way and in 2015 there will be independant rear suspension. The Camaroo SS 1le package and the magnetic shocks( sweet), the 2015 SRT Barracuda--what will the Hyundai Genesis be by then and the BRZ will be boosted by then.
Tough competition........ at a good price.

HiFlite999

iTrader: (2)

The edge of the roof at the drivers' window in the BRZ barely misses the side of my head where the 8 clears by 5", and I'm 5'09". I "fit" but it's annoying to be that close.

Mazmart

iTrader: (12)

Oy Vey! Denny, OD. It's not going to happen sir. Don't worry though, I'm sure you will enjoy the new RX-7 and find ways to modify it properly to your satisfaction.

On a side note, Mazda trivia: Nobuhiro Yamamoto is the engineer responsible for the 3 rotor eccentric shaft design and was heavily involved in the FD project as well as the R26B for the 787B. Mazda sports cars are in EXCELLENT hands .

Paul.

TALAN7

The BRZ is way smaller than the 8. I satin it at the car show. It's narrower, I had the seat all the way back and still didn't have enough legroom. Most importantly, when i looked in the back there was no room for my 5 year old. It was that small. You need to look at the specs again

laurichj

Speak for yourself.

9krpmrx8

iTrader: (46)

The sales figures speak for themselves. I don't think I have ever seen a base model RX-8 6 speed with no Xenons, no spoiler, no appearance package lip or sides, no rotary accents, no Bose, and no TCS. There is a reason the 5 speed manual 4 port RX-8 base was not sold here.

200.mph

iTrader: (9)

i have the app package and had rotary accents and a spoiler but dont have the other stuff you listed

missinmahseven

They should call it Cosmo. Half a century of Rotary Madness.

As for pricing, Top Speed had this to say:

I"m still keeping my shinka if I can.

reddozen

iTrader: (1)

You just described my car 100%. I have NONE of that. like I said, I buy raw base models. They're always lighter, and I don't need the unnecessary ****. I don't even have a sun roof. I guess I should be happy there's no tape deck... lol

pdxhak

iTrader: (2)

I have a GT. LOVE my cup holders, sun roof, power windows, power mirrors, heated seats, A/C and all the other nice and comfy stuff I've had stripped out hardcore street cars. They are fun...for a while. It gets old as a DD.

reddozen

iTrader: (1)

My car's not stripped out... it's all factory interior. Just nothing more than the base model.

pdxhak

iTrader: (2)

My comments were general and not directed at anyone in particular. Just pointing out everyone has their own specific needs in a car. They are opinions so it is not like anyone is more right than the other.

reddozen

iTrader: (1)

I don't disagree, but I would agree with that that stripping out your interior on anything but a pure race car is retarded. Buy the options you want to keep with the car, or don't bother.

I would love a cut down sports trim model on the new 7... All I need is a radio, and nothing special, just something to break up road noise on long trips. It'll never happen though I think.

fuztupnz

iTrader: (4)

What is this car going to compete with? In 5 years the 370z or its successor will likely have 100+hp on it, and the brz/frs will probably be close to 300, but cost a ton less.

Mazda has set its sights way to low for that far in the future IMHO. Based on the rumored numbers here, it won't outperform an already aging e46 M3 or even a current 135i. It might be faster around the track than a current 370z, but only if it's as well sorted as an rx8.