twenty seven

nobody's going to forget this car. its bodystyle alone definitely left its mark in sports car history.

i personally think the 8 doesnt look enough like the 7, not enough like the badass sports car it should stand out as, and too much like an s2k.

i still plan on getting one. thoughts?

MazdaMan182

i agree

Rich

I agree, but I keep hoping that when the new RX-7 comes out it will have a strong resemblance to the 3rd gen RX-7s. The RX-8 is a 4-door, 4-seat car, and that shape just wouldn't work.

twenty seven

im not really sure about this pickup truck crew cab 4 door look. but i guess for insurnace reasons its pretty nice though; sports car madness disguised in a family 4door.

wakeech

i REALLY hope that Mazda will keep the ol' flip-up headlights... i don't wanna see the next 7 turn out like the new NSX or the pictures of the new (concept??) corvette... i just feel that because it's always been flip-ups, it should stay that way... although the Miatas don't look so bad, but it would separate its looks further from other sports cars, which are all going to projectors...

Styjan

I'm not a big fan of the pop-up headlights. They effect the aerodynamics when they are up.

twenty seven

i only like flip-ups when they're up, not when they're down. the head lights are the eyes of the car-- they can make or break a car by giving it personality.

the r34's headlights make the car extremely aggressive; same can be said for just about every bmw (angel eyes especially), not the mention the viper. then there are cars like the corvette, with flip-ups-- and the rx7-- which are almost always photographed from the side or the rear (the rear especially for the vette). it doesn't look mean from the front, because it has no visible lamps.

im happy for the do-away with the flip-ups. but im no so happy with the new tails. i think they should have kept the same relative idea with those. reshaped them a bit, a little touchup, something new. but there's nothing from the old rx7 i see in the 8-- its a travesty. especially considering how much the rear looks an s2k.

my .02

ZoomZoom

I totally agree! :D

They also look bloody awful when they are up.

applejax

I like pop ups. Perhaps those who don't, would if they didn't pop up as far?

Pop-ups are dead for two reasons:
1. They affect the aerodynamics
2. They are expensive and easily damaged.

Styjan

There's nothing like seeing a winkie coming at you with one busted pop-up.

wakeech

true, they are expensive to fix, and ya, they do kinda break (just like everything else), but i don't think the aero impact has anything to do with it... i mean, look at the "wings" that cars are equipped with these days... i'm not just talking about the REALLY stupid ones (although some are functional, and not ugly) that the racer boys put on their cars, but even (sometimes ESPECIALLY) the ones that come on the car as an option or something... ever take a good look at one of those things?? they're flat for goodness' sake!! (excepting the very serious sports cars... but even the new Celica has it that way!) i know a little about aerofoils (not much in the way of the math, yet) and having one flat is completely useless (no difference in air speed = no difference in air pressure = no d/f), not to mention the cord on those things is usually about and INCH, with NO TAPERING!! but, i digress...
my point is that aero isn't a big deal to anyone these days, especially those with sports cars, and "sports" compacts (see those big-*** airdams and fender flares?? those racer boys ain't exactly improving their Cd...) with all that crazy crap on the front and back (though the shaved stuff on the sides is slick, if plain)...
now, YOU fellas maybe have a problem with it, and okay ya, they do create quite the vortex behind the light (especiallly those FC's!! but, they're my fav for looks in their era...), but when considering the production design, i hope Mazda sticks with the flip ups, not just for nostalgia, i also think they're really cooL!!
besides!! 7's have always had supplimentary running lights that (if you put an HID system in 'em and reoriented the reflector) would negate the use of the main lights... or you could convert 'em (although that kinda looks funny to me...)

Rich

Count me in for one fugly vote. Can't stand flip ups.

I agree with the person that started this thread, there isn't enough family resemblance with the old 7, or even the 99+ Miata. Both are two of my favorite designs. Hopefully everything will go right for the introduction of a new RX-7, and that will have more of the classic 3rd gen shape.
Part of the reason, I think, that the 8 doesn't resemble the 3rd gen RX-7 is that it's a 4 seater. I can't imagine how they could have kept the shape and added real space in the back.

8th in line

I agree...except for one small point. No where have I read that Mazda is claiming this to be a 4th gen RX-7. Other than similar powerplants and calling them sports cars, I see very little they share in common. Maybe they're giving themselves the room to bring back the RX-7? Any rumors?

twenty seven

why was adding 2 seats in the back such a concern for the rx8? maybe for extra incentive over the 350z, which has no backseat at all?

Styjan

The 2002 RX-7 Type-B & C Spirit R have back seats. I wonder if we should call them sports cars?

http://www.mazda.com/publicity/public/200203/0325e.html

Strider

I've searched this before, but just to make sure... the 3,998,000 yen is about the equivelent to about $38-40k isn't it?

Styjan

Today 3,998,000 yen is $33,895.17 USD

Rich

Are you responding to my post? I never said anything about the RX-8 being a 4th gen RX-7. Re-read my post and you'll see that what I was saying is that part of the reason the RX-8 doesn't resemble the 3rd gen RX-7 is that it is a 4 seater. In other words, it doesn't look like and RX-7 because it ISN'T an RX-7. Maybe if they make a 4th gen, it will look more like the 3rd gen.

Rumors of the RX-7 in development have been around for a long time. Check www.rotarynews.com .

twenty seven

a rotary powered sports car from mazda after the rx7, even called the rx8 isn't the predecessor to the 3rd gen rx7? are you kidding me?

it took forever for people to be convinced the rsx was the new integra. rx8 = new rx7

Styjan

The RX-8 is not replacing the RX-7! Mazda has said this many times. The next gen RX-7 is in development.

Rich

How many times do we have to go through this? Here's the link

From an Interview With Shigeo Hirata "Designer of RX-8 Concept"

Question: Is the RX-8 the RX-7 Successor?

Reply: Absolutely not, its a whole new idea in sportscars designed to appeal to those who want the performance of a two seater sports car combined with the convenience of a family oriented 4 seater. That is not RX-7's philosophy.

SmokingClutch

As far as I'm concerned, the RX-8 is the successor to the 1972-1978 RX-3. Room for four (though admittedly RX-3 was little more than a 2+2) in a sports car sized package.

Plus the front end bears a very strong resemblence to the RX-3. Show the pics in my post on this page to anyone that says Mazda is copying the five-point grille from Acura - Mazda did it back in 1974!

http://rx8forum.com/showthread.php?t...2&pagenumber=4