The RX-7 and Miata are finished....?
07-08-2005, 09:01 AM
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The RX-7 and Miata are finished....?
Apparently so, according to Mazda's Head of Product Development, Joe Bakaj.....
The Miata brand name is being dropped in favor of MX-5, and the RX-7 is off the radar. The following quote is taken from this article .
Gomez.
The Miata brand name is being dropped in favor of MX-5, and the RX-7 is off the radar. The following quote is taken from this article .
Yet, this decade alone, the Hiroshima-based auto maker has, indeed, introduced two new sports cars and there are persistent rumours of a return of a high-performance RX-7, too.
Bakaj scoffs at that one. His engineering staff is far too busy launching this Miata, the new MX-5 wagon, the high-performance MazdaSpeed6 sedan, as well as doing updates of the Tribute SUV, the B-series pickup, remaking the MPV minivan and creating the all-new CX-7 crossover utility vehicle due to go into production in 2006.
In all that, the one new car that arguably matters most is the Miata, which over the course of the next year will switch globally to the MX-5 name. The name "Miata" is being phased out.
Bakaj scoffs at that one. His engineering staff is far too busy launching this Miata, the new MX-5 wagon, the high-performance MazdaSpeed6 sedan, as well as doing updates of the Tribute SUV, the B-series pickup, remaking the MPV minivan and creating the all-new CX-7 crossover utility vehicle due to go into production in 2006.
In all that, the one new car that arguably matters most is the Miata, which over the course of the next year will switch globally to the MX-5 name. The name "Miata" is being phased out.
07-08-2005, 09:07 AM
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Doesn't really indicate much in the sense of "RX7 off the radar". What it does indicate is that no RX7 will come before these vehicles are done. Mazda has its hands full right now--in fact they had to push the release of the Mazdaspeed6 back to the fall due to the MX-5 release this summer. Good find--but there are far more other rumours that point to the development of a 2-door RX variant.
07-08-2005, 09:24 AM
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RX8 and a Truk....
Originally Posted by tuj
That must be a reference to the Mazda5, which was released a few weeks ago. Its sort of like a Toyota Matrix or Scion xA.
Gotcha - makes sense
07-08-2005, 09:40 AM
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Originally Posted by DreRX8
Doesn't really indicate much in the sense of "RX7 off the radar". What it does indicate is that no RX7 will come before these vehicles are done. Mazda has its hands full right now--in fact they had to push the release of the Mazdaspeed6 back to the fall due to the MX-5 release this summer. Good find--but there are far more other rumours that point to the development of a 2-door RX variant.
07-08-2005, 11:30 AM
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Originally Posted by Gomez
Yeah.......well if they ever do get around to doing one, I hope it looks like this.
07-08-2005, 12:00 PM
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Well based on the following portion of the article Im not going to put much credit into him saying no Rx-7 is coming.
"Mazda's outgoing head of product development, Joe Bakaj"
"Mazda's outgoing head of product development, Joe Bakaj"
07-08-2005, 12:23 PM
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I've said this before, but if Mazda does a new rx-7, the only way it to be well received is to outperform the fd3s. And that probably won't happen without either FI, or more rotors.
Going to a three-rotor engine could be brilliant, yielding a car lighter than our 8's with probably something like 280-300 rwhp! The complexities of designing a 3-rotor Renesis are not insignificant, including a need for a second center plate with wider intake runners, and a new e-shaft.
I would expect either an FI or 3-rotor car to be around 2600-2700 lbs, beat an NA 911 on the track, and cost around 40k. If Mazda is going to do it, they need to do it right. Make a flagship car that is more than what the fd3s was, with better reliability and quality. Yes, it will be expensive, but the market is alot different than 93. I for one would sell my 8 for a new rx-7 if it matches those criteria.
Going to a three-rotor engine could be brilliant, yielding a car lighter than our 8's with probably something like 280-300 rwhp! The complexities of designing a 3-rotor Renesis are not insignificant, including a need for a second center plate with wider intake runners, and a new e-shaft.
I would expect either an FI or 3-rotor car to be around 2600-2700 lbs, beat an NA 911 on the track, and cost around 40k. If Mazda is going to do it, they need to do it right. Make a flagship car that is more than what the fd3s was, with better reliability and quality. Yes, it will be expensive, but the market is alot different than 93. I for one would sell my 8 for a new rx-7 if it matches those criteria.
07-08-2005, 01:42 PM
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Save your three-rotor for the next Cosmo. As for the Photochop, BN Sports has an FD with an RX-8's front end. I'd go look for the picture, but I'm too lazy.
IMO, Mazda doesn't need a swift return of the RX-7. My suggestion is they wait to see how successful the RX-8 is. I mean, it's only been two years in production and some are already clamoring for an RX-7. Maybe in a few years, Mazda will up the ante in power in their 13B-MSP, either by using forced induction (not likely), or by increasing displacement (my personal choice :D). Mazda has and only needs two sports cars. Three's a crowd if you ask me.
IMO, Mazda doesn't need a swift return of the RX-7. My suggestion is they wait to see how successful the RX-8 is. I mean, it's only been two years in production and some are already clamoring for an RX-7. Maybe in a few years, Mazda will up the ante in power in their 13B-MSP, either by using forced induction (not likely), or by increasing displacement (my personal choice :D). Mazda has and only needs two sports cars. Three's a crowd if you ask me.
07-08-2005, 01:56 PM
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Originally Posted by Gomez
Yeah.......well if they ever do get around to doing one, I hope it looks like this.
07-08-2005, 02:21 PM
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Originally Posted by Gomez
Yeah.......well if they ever do get around to doing one, I hope it looks like this.
07-08-2005, 02:29 PM
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Originally Posted by ZoomZoomH
^negatory, RX-7's from one generation to the next has always had revolutionary changes in its exterior design, and I PRAY Mazda can come up with something that'll blow the doors off of the FD, if that is ever possible :D
Originally Posted by ZoomZoomH
craaaaazy idea, but what if they made this hypothetical 4th gen RX-7 a MID-ENGINE RWD supercar????
07-08-2005, 02:52 PM
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I've said this before, but if Mazda does a new rx-7, the only way it to be well received is to outperform the fd3s.
Make it a NA rotary with 3 rotors 400HP and weighing in around 2.8K and you will have one heck of a HALO CAR!!!
That story did not even mention the RX8...why is Mazda being SO HUSH HUSH about the 8? I hope what ever they do it's a big improvement. I would love it if it stayed NA and had 300HP from a bigger rotary.
I can't wait to here what updates the 8 has in store...I'm dying I tells ya...
07-08-2005, 05:01 PM
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I see lots of people saying the rx7 should be a supercar. I dont understand why, most of us mere mortals could only stare in awe because we could never afford one. Mazdas premise with the rx7 was the affordable sports car. If they would not make it 40 or below, i would turn my back on the rotary. I dont want a viper fighter or vette killer, i want a reasonably priced sports car, like the rx7 was in the 80s, third gen is sweet, but when you double the price in one model change it tends to kill your faithful buyers.
07-08-2005, 05:06 PM
#24
Originally Posted by adim_x
I see lots of people saying the rx7 should be a supercar. I dont understand why, most of us mere mortals could only stare in awe because we could never afford one. Mazdas premise with the rx7 was the affordable sports car. If they would not make it 40 or below, i would turn my back on the rotary. I dont want a viper fighter or vette killer, i want a reasonably priced sports car, like the rx7 was in the 80s, third gen is sweet, but when you double the price in one model change it tends to kill your faithful buyers.
maybe the RX-8 will carry on the tradition of the SA/FB and FC as the 'common man's sports car' while the elitist FD owners and wannabes drool over the next gen supercar RX-7? :p