He said no RX-7 anytime soon. Who's to say they won't release an RX-9?

If they need a performance target, shoot for the Lotus Elise, not the Corvette or Viper. Super light and nimble, about 2500 lbs., only with a nicer interior in a cheaper car than the Elise. This wouldn't be too hard to accomplish if they just stuffed a light flywheeled renesis into a hardtop Miata. A turbo or other radical changes to the engine wouldn't even really be necessary. And throw on a mean looking body kit to keep the "chick car" snickers at bay.

 

Everyone's talking about the non-existant RX-7, no-one cares that the Miata name will drop off the face of the earth?

 

Because it is old news. The Miata name was formally axed fo the 2006 model year on back in 2003.

 

Well there you go, I didn't know that. Thanks Jeff.

 

A rotary supercar would be cool, but I'd rather just see a stripped-down 2-seater coupe version of the RX-8/Miata platform with a Renesis, like Mazda had orignally planned.

If it only weighs 2500-2600 lbs, then the current engine will be plenty powerful, plus Mazda could sell them relatively cheap and still turn a profit. Maybe call it RX-6.

 

Only the name is gone, not the car.

 

they need to ask current 7 owners moreso...

 

An average 3rd gen goes for $12-$16K, a 2nd or 1st gen can be had for peanuts. Somehow, I don't think most "current" RX-7 owners fit the demographic of one who might shell out $40K+ for a new 4th gen RX-7. Perhaps the original 3rd gen owners would, or current owners who just keep the RX-7 around as a hobby or project car.

A $40K 4th gen would be doomed from the start and would probably sell in even smaller numbers than the 3rd gen. Mazda learned from its mistakes with the FD, it won't happen twice. A low base msrp of around ~$32K with the performance of an EVO would do nicely. It still wouldn't sell in huge numbers, but the combined sales of the RX-8 & 7 would hopefully be enough to keep Mazda satisfied. (Heck the EVO & STi don't sell in large numbers for that matter either.)

 

I'd be surprised if Mazda totally axes the Miata name. I'll bet it continues on as MX-5 Miata. There's too much brand identification/customer emotion wrapped up in the Miata name to toss it. Nobody refers to the car as an MX-5.

 

Be surprised then--they have gone on market as abandoning the 'Miata' name. Of course everyone will refer to it as a Miata--but remember in every other market its known as the 'MX-5' or 'Roadster'--'Miata' is the USDM market name.

 

give up the rx7 is dead there will be no rx7 there is no incentive for mazda, their new matrix and scion xa fighter and crossover cars are going to be making them money, a rx7 could barely stay profitable at best, look at the rx8, they cant move them fast enough and sales are declining.