rXter

Cool, a collector car in 3 short years. I'll put it in a big plastic bag and sell it for $40K in 2025. uh huh

m477

Mazda is bringing the next gen Miata for 2006. So they're not gonna release another new sportscar in the same year.

A new RX-7 makes perfect sense -- they get to use mostly parts they already have to make a whole 'nother car.

BlueEyes

G8rboy

Sorry- but you're way off. The RX-8 is NOT the new RX-7. They share the same type of motor, and that's about it. The RX-7 was a pure, light weight purpose built sports car produced in small numbers aimed at the enthusiast market. That is not the RX-8's intent at all- it's a 4 door sports coupe with luxury and practicality in mind. The 8 competes with the Infiniti G35 more than it does with the 350Z when you look at amenities, ride quality, and practicality.

A new '7 would complement the RX8, not conflict with it. Yes, a small segment of rotary enthusiasts would choose the RX7 over the RX8, but that is not Mazda's target audience with the 8. And don't be so sure that there's going to be a turbo under the hood if Mazda does (and I believe they will) make a new 7- my bet is they learned their lesson with the FD and will make a beefed up naturally aspirated rotary with higher displacement , and leave the turbos up to the aftermarket and tuners. I'll bet Ford and Mazda are looking very closely at the success of the Renesis in the RX-8 to determine if they should greenlight the next 7... and based on the last 18 months that I've seen, the Renesis has proven itself.

G8rboy

Considering the RX-8 fully loaded is MSRP at $35-36k, I don't think it's a stretch to see a new RX7 in the low 40's. Hell, wasn't the FD selling in the high $30's over 10 years ago? I don't think Mazda produces a car like the 7 to sell millions and make a small profit on them... they build the 7 to rebuild their enthusiast and performance car image, and further the R&D on the rotary. Much like why Honda builds the NSX... (not that I want to see the next 7 priced in that exotic car stratosphere).

zoom44

thought i would bump an o;der thread instead of anew one

found this pic today and was wondering if anyone knew the mag it came from or had seen it before. as to the post by G8rboy- i think they would price a new 7 starting as cheap as possible. low to mid 20k for a stripped base model like the solstice. but upwards of 35k to 40k for a fully optioned one

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v6...da/2007RX7.jpg

DreRX8

That car is no FD--but I definately would buy it if it made it into production.

Gambit

I think i've seen that pic before....it's ok. It looks too much like the 3 and not enough like the 8. I'm not a big fan of the split front grille

Ike

Zoom, that's just a chop and it looks to be G35 based. It was posted here a several months ago in a similar thread to this but don't remember what publication. I believe it was a british publication or a web based auto rumor site though.

Japan8

Actually on Sunday I was checking out recent JDM new/future car mags. In the "scoop" section in one, they said that they have confirmed with Mazda that developement for the next RX-7 has officially begun. The exact specifications... s/c renesis, t/c renesis, RX-8/Miata based platform, body design, etc. haven't been decided. The production target looks like '07/'08. I'd expect that there would be a good chance for something in motorshows the latter half of next year.

devious12

If they do indeed bring it back it should look very close to the pic that abbid posted above, that car looks soooooo hot!

Japan8

Actually rendered drawings I've seen look more and more like a beefy RX-8 coupe. The hood/fenders is more masculine and the lines flow back into the doors to the rear of the car... the openings in the front larger (i.e. oil coolers, etc.) and the rear looks like it will be different. But that's just a mag rendered sketch or clean photochop... so who knows what it will really be like.

Mzdarx8

I do not understand Mazda! Why produce the RX8 8 years later if it is not a
sports car. Seems the 8 is having fun in racing and winning some events!

Bringing back the 7 cause it is more of a sports car is wrong! Let it live in
history.

You need to move forward. Yes the 7 was bad ***. But the 8 his having it's glory
too. I love the rotary but did not have a chance to own a 7. I have driven a
friends 7 and it was fast. He likes my 8.

Maybe the 4 doors is the problem?

In two more years if the 7 is in production, bye that time i will have about 300-
350whp.

Japan8

The idea is 350Z/G35c my man... get both markets. Someone who wants 2+2 sports car and can carry their golf clubs and for someone who wants a ***** to the wall sports car (350Z, S2000, etc.). Thus we have the RX-8 and the RX-7. Plus use your heads... the platform has already been remade into a 2 seater for the miata... dev costs spent and will definitely recoupe... some costs were already spread on the 8 as well. SO now coming to the 7.... hard top miata with a unique hot body, 19" rims, and a FI Renesis.... or a larger displacement Renesis. Done... low dev costs and how many people are going to turn this car down? how many are holding out for the next 7 instead of getting an 8? How many 8 owners are ready to trade their 8 in on a 7 when it comes out? There you go... Mazda/Ford ain't dumb.

Mzdarx8

Yes they are dumb! I will not trade my 8 for a miata- 7 or so for any reason!
The aftermarket has alot to say too. You put a Greddy turbo on a 8 and it
will run with a FD7 all day. Just ask some expert's

The RX7 will not return as far as i know!!

Japan8

Yeah yeah... and put on the GReddy single turbo kit on the 7 and it will kill the turbo 8. Port the 7 on top of that and there's nothing to talk about. It's like running an 8 against an STi (even with turbo).

Who said it would look or feel anything like a miata? Do some learning before you make dumb comments. Using the platform as the base for the 7 and just dropping the Renesis in a hardtop Miata are two entirely different things. I said the 8 platform has been REENGINEERED for a 2 seater sports car already.

Mazda doesn't care if you don't want one. There are plenty of other people who do.

DreRX8

Yeah the FD is nearly STI and EVO MR level stock--all you'd need on an FD is a downpipe, exhaust, intake, and boost controller--you are very low 13s and high 12s with that type of setup.

crossbow

It also doesn't make economic sense to refresh the mazda6 twice in two years, but mazda's doing that anyway. Minor aesthetic refresh in 06, major overhaul refresh in 07.

And remember...
mazdaspeed = time to move on to a new style/chassis. Kinda of a last "huzzah!" of an outgoing platform.

Mazdaspeed Protege comes out...bye protege's, hello Mazda3
Mazdaspeed Miata comes out, bye old platform, hello new MX-5 chassis.
Mazdaspeed 6 comes out, bye old sporty mid-sized, hello --deleted--

zoom44

what do you mean 8 years later. you must think 7 production stopped 8 years before teh 8 was starting production. you are wrong. the last rx7 was produced just a few months before they started production of the 8 on the same production line.


i did and all my experts say you are right when comparing against an fd not beat it but run with it yes. now a new 2seat rotary coupe called a rx7 or rx9 or Mazdaspeed RX8 coupe limited will kick the 8s *** out of the box. and dont give me any of that "well if i mod my 8then it will be better" crap. stock for stock or mod for mod.

how far is that? not nearly as far as you think

zoom44

what are you talking about- like they would go and supersize the car or something after just a couple of years. that new guy in charge of "americanizing" the cars at MNAO have an itch for something Millenia sized?

khtm

ewwwwwww

djgiron

I think it would be in Mazda's best interest to build a new 7. It would be a flagship car for them, like the Viper, or Vette is for those companies. Look at how hot the Elise is right now, selling like crazy! An FE (which is what it would be) has the potential to out class an Elise stock for stock (more power, 2600lbs, and you know Mazda can tune a suspension better than anyone) and with a few mods should be able to run with the Vette and Viper (Just like the FD back in its day) Nissan is bringing over the Skyline from what I am reading, I am sure Toyota is building a Supra like car in the near future also. Yep fella's, with the STi, Evo here, it is the return of the Japanese muscle cars once again! Forced Induction, the replacement for displacement!

zoom44

try 2400 lbs initial target

JanSolo

I read this over on Motor Trend's web site. Not much info obviously.

2007 Mazda RX-7 : On the drawing board is a shortened, lighter coupe boasting 280-330 hp.

Thetitanium8

I would take that power. Where do I sign up :D