Mazda halts rotary engine development (?)
08-12-2011, 09:57 AM
#77
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I don’t see Mazda having a rotary anytime soon, it’s just not a priority. If they can’t get a comfortable profit margin where is the business case for a rotary engine? I don’t think they will abandon it but I do think they will shelve it until there is money for them to work on what is essentially a “pet” project.
That’s not saying they won’t create a larger sport coupe above the Miata it’s just that it probably won’t be a rotary engine in it.
That’s not saying they won’t create a larger sport coupe above the Miata it’s just that it probably won’t be a rotary engine in it.
08-12-2011, 10:44 AM
#78
Momentum Keeps Me Going
IF the Toyota/Subaru coupe comes to market and IF those sales numbers are good enough AND then Mazda sees those cars taking market share away from their lineup then they MIGHT see it worth their while to intro/reintro another 2+2 sports coupe to compete/retain market share. Whether it will have a rotary or a nice Sky Active motor with good mileage is the $.50c question. I'd guess buyers will expect great mileage, even in a sports car, and bringing a comparitively crappy mileage rotary rocket to market, no matter how good it is otherwise, will never happen again.
08-12-2011, 12:36 PM
#79
I think the big problem I've see with the rotary is that it belong in a small and light car. Current regulations make selling a small and light car very difficult. The miata is no longer a miata anymore.
08-12-2011, 07:31 PM
#81
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When you think about it, Mazda could take the 2.3 turbo from the Mazdaspeed3/CX-7 and drop in in the current R3 with a Kodo face lift until they feel comfortable releasing a RE. If they wanted to spice things up, they could offer an AWD option to fill the void of the MS6 and compete with the Evo/STi.
08-12-2011, 08:25 PM
#82
Super Moderator
/\ YOU ARE KIDDING..Oh yeah, Mazda will just **** all their RX-8 customers and put a banger in the same body!!...
Sorry mate, but this is the 'comment of the year'...and you did not Think about it,,,
Sorry mate, but this is the 'comment of the year'...and you did not Think about it,,,
When you think about it, Mazda could take the 2.3 turbo from the Mazdaspeed3/CX-7 and drop in in the current R3 with a Kodo face lift until they feel comfortable releasing a RE. If they wanted to spice things up, they could offer an AWD option to fill the void of the MS6 and compete with the Evo/STi.
08-12-2011, 08:42 PM
#84
Super Moderator
Oh Really..I guess all the former NA and NB owners who own the NC think that also.
Typical of NA, NB owners who have never lived with one.
Like FD owners who have never lived with an FE.
As for the ND, Yeah it IS going to be lighter and smaller...
Lets see...
It will be 5 mm Shorter, and 8 mm narrower and it will weigh only 25 kg less than the current NC Softy.
And all that comes from the SKY Engine (15kg) and the other 10kg from more Plastic...and a lighter suspension components in the front.
So AGAIN we will see all these Journalists complaining they won't fit, the fatties won't fit, still won't have enough POWER.
Remember the NA,NB and NC had the same Chief Tech/Design Head and 60% of the same original design Team in NC....ALL but a few remain for the ND, Chief Design Head has retired about 3 years ago.
I REALLY hope that the ND is not completely stuffed up by being CHEAP...cross fingers.
Typical of NA, NB owners who have never lived with one.
Like FD owners who have never lived with an FE.
As for the ND, Yeah it IS going to be lighter and smaller...
Lets see...
It will be 5 mm Shorter, and 8 mm narrower and it will weigh only 25 kg less than the current NC Softy.
And all that comes from the SKY Engine (15kg) and the other 10kg from more Plastic...and a lighter suspension components in the front.
So AGAIN we will see all these Journalists complaining they won't fit, the fatties won't fit, still won't have enough POWER.
Remember the NA,NB and NC had the same Chief Tech/Design Head and 60% of the same original design Team in NC....ALL but a few remain for the ND, Chief Design Head has retired about 3 years ago.
I REALLY hope that the ND is not completely stuffed up by being CHEAP...cross fingers.
08-13-2011, 08:47 AM
#85
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08-13-2011, 08:56 AM
#86
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If Mazda is still working on the next RE, and there would be a huge hole in their sports car segment, what's the harm in taking a near 10 year old chassis that's still leaps and bounds better than any other chassis near its cost, and using a decent piston engine with turbo? It obviously wouldn't be an RX, but its would most certainly be interesting and cost effective. The least they could do is give the MS3 power to the rear wheels if its SACRILEGE to use the RX chassis on anything but an RX (even though you own a ******* MX-5).
08-13-2011, 11:17 AM
#87
If Mazda is still working on the next RE, and there would be a huge hole in their sports car segment, what's the harm in taking a near 10 year old chassis that's still leaps and bounds better than any other chassis near its cost, and using a decent piston engine with turbo? It obviously wouldn't be an RX, but its would most certainly be interesting and cost effective. The least they could do is give the MS3 power to the rear wheels if its SACRILEGE to use the RX chassis on anything but an RX (even though you own a ******* MX-5).
FWD < RWD is another problem
so I dont see this as cost effective way. it will just cost Mazda even more money for all the trouble that it will bring.
MZR 2.3 is not a bad engine, but I wouldn't call it good. if I want a good turbocharge engine I rather get EJ20 from Japan.
08-13-2011, 11:19 AM
#88
Oh Really..I guess all the former NA and NB owners who own the NC think that also.
Typical of NA, NB owners who have never lived with one.
Like FD owners who have never lived with an FE.
As for the ND, Yeah it IS going to be lighter and smaller...
Lets see...
It will be 5 mm Shorter, and 8 mm narrower and it will weigh only 25 kg less than the current NC Softy.
And all that comes from the SKY Engine (15kg) and the other 10kg from more Plastic...and a lighter suspension components in the front.
So AGAIN we will see all these Journalists complaining they won't fit, the fatties won't fit, still won't have enough POWER.
Remember the NA,NB and NC had the same Chief Tech/Design Head and 60% of the same original design Team in NC....ALL but a few remain for the ND, Chief Design Head has retired about 3 years ago.
I REALLY hope that the ND is not completely stuffed up by being CHEAP...cross fingers.
Typical of NA, NB owners who have never lived with one.
Like FD owners who have never lived with an FE.
As for the ND, Yeah it IS going to be lighter and smaller...
Lets see...
It will be 5 mm Shorter, and 8 mm narrower and it will weigh only 25 kg less than the current NC Softy.
And all that comes from the SKY Engine (15kg) and the other 10kg from more Plastic...and a lighter suspension components in the front.
So AGAIN we will see all these Journalists complaining they won't fit, the fatties won't fit, still won't have enough POWER.
Remember the NA,NB and NC had the same Chief Tech/Design Head and 60% of the same original design Team in NC....ALL but a few remain for the ND, Chief Design Head has retired about 3 years ago.
I REALLY hope that the ND is not completely stuffed up by being CHEAP...cross fingers.
Compare to te original NA, NC weights like a pig. Can't help it, all car manufacture gotta reach stupid goals set by politicans who don't know **** about science.
08-13-2011, 12:30 PM
#89
Registered
The rotary sports car is dead. The very best we could've hoped for was 1 more generation but the Great Recession put an end to that. Maybe the Wankel will survive as a range extender in a series hybrid but that's hardly the same. Still interesting, but not another RX-7. And yet, if Mazda finishes a few 13x engines and puts them into lightweight concepts, they can still gain some PR benefit from their tradition of engineering creativity.
08-13-2011, 01:48 PM
#91
08-13-2011, 04:38 PM
#92
.Paul.
08-13-2011, 06:13 PM
#94
Super Moderator
Power to weight ratios between NA and NC there is little to no difference..NC just in front...a pig..?
Within the price specifications for a Miata, it would be impossible to shed 700 lbs, 300KG!...yeah I read that Internet gossip also...
Carbon Fibre or all Aluminium would be the only way...cost way too much.
Remove all electric non essentials...power windows.., next....Ummm??..they cant remove anything else BY LAW!..
As I said, we already know the engine is 15 KG lighter 34 lbs....so where are you going to find 660 lbs??
08-13-2011, 06:23 PM
#95
Super Moderator
Paul, an NC weighs about 450 lbs (200 kg) more than an NA.
08-13-2011, 06:37 PM
#96
Super Moderator
If Mazda is still working on the next RE, and there would be a huge hole in their sports car segment, what's the harm in taking a near 10 year old chassis that's still leaps and bounds better than any other chassis near its cost, and using a decent piston engine with turbo? It obviously wouldn't be an RX, but its would most certainly be interesting and cost effective. The least they could do is give the MS3 power to the rear wheels if its SACRILEGE to use the RX chassis on anything but an RX (even though you own a ******* MX-5).
There is Not one Floor Panel or front or rear Chassis Rail that is interchangeable or the same....There are 2 small bushes that are the same on the rear suspension, apart from that it is Totally different in NC,..
Similar to the front suspension, but more similar to the 8, but again about 6 parts out of 100 are the same.
Platforms (Design Style) are the same...as many other Mazda models.
And what happened when he FD left the shores of the USA????
NO Different than the FE.
08-13-2011, 07:10 PM
#97
I played around with the hyundai sonata hybrid when i started it i didnt even know it was on. Also the drive was so smooth i felt like I was floating on a cloud. Also test drove the 340hp genesis coupe track edition that is a nice car. Im in the market for another car and when it comes to quality hyundai has came a long way. At the moment no one can match their warranty and thats why Im considering the sonata hybrid for my GF's daily driver.
so far I would say it looks nicer than ANY car in the similar price range (30K) , it even look better than cars that cost couple K more (different manufacture)
BUT, handling wise this car is total crap, or maybe it's just a "Hybrid version" thing I don't know. at curvy roads this car rolls left & right like it's about to flip. or maybe because I'm too spoiled by all the Great Mazda cars.
At the same speed, same road, even my Mazda3 handles 10 times better than the Sonata Hybrid.
It might have something to do with the GARBAGE tires the Sonata has, as soon as I'm at around 10K miles I'm going to throw these garbage tires away and get some Continental DWS and see if it makes it better. but I dunno, it might need a thicker sway bar. will see.
How the **** can you "compare" the NA to an NC, the NA only had a 1600 cc engine.
Power to weight ratios between NA and NC there is little to no difference..NC just in front...a pig..?
Within the price specifications for a Miata, it would be impossible to shed 700 lbs, 300KG!...yeah I read that Internet gossip also...
Carbon Fibre or all Aluminium would be the only way...cost way too much.
Remove all electric non essentials...power windows.., next....Ummm??..they cant remove anything else BY LAW!..
As I said, we already know the engine is 15 KG lighter 34 lbs....so where are you going to find 660 lbs??
Power to weight ratios between NA and NC there is little to no difference..NC just in front...a pig..?
Within the price specifications for a Miata, it would be impossible to shed 700 lbs, 300KG!...yeah I read that Internet gossip also...
Carbon Fibre or all Aluminium would be the only way...cost way too much.
Remove all electric non essentials...power windows.., next....Ummm??..they cant remove anything else BY LAW!..
As I said, we already know the engine is 15 KG lighter 34 lbs....so where are you going to find 660 lbs??
Last edited by nycgps; 08-13-2011 at 07:15 PM.
08-13-2011, 07:22 PM
#98
Super Moderator
Yes, suspension on the Sonata is the issue...Jounalists and owners complained here, and apparently there is an update done recently in South Korea, bushes and a few other parts..
Journalist really like it, BUT, they say the Mazda 6 out shines it handling and ride wise..
Sorry, I don't want a mushy soft glider roll.
But yes there is value there...all to do with exchange rates...$$$'ss
Journalist really like it, BUT, they say the Mazda 6 out shines it handling and ride wise..
Sorry, I don't want a mushy soft glider roll.
But yes there is value there...all to do with exchange rates...$$$'ss
08-14-2011, 12:03 AM
#99
Yes, suspension on the Sonata is the issue...Jounalists and owners complained here, and apparently there is an update done recently in South Korea, bushes and a few other parts..
Journalist really like it, BUT, they say the Mazda 6 out shines it handling and ride wise..
Sorry, I don't want a mushy soft glider roll.
But yes there is value there...all to do with exchange rates...$$$'ss
Journalist really like it, BUT, they say the Mazda 6 out shines it handling and ride wise..
Sorry, I don't want a mushy soft glider roll.
But yes there is value there...all to do with exchange rates...$$$'ss
the 2009 version was total crap, then 2010 came and it updated some bushing, thicker sway, and a few other things. it improved a lot. the 2012 version improve even more.
I am searching all the Sonata forums at the moment, so far nothing.
I 100% believe the Mazda6 will handle/ride better, but on the "luxury/eye candy" side of things Mazda6 just don't cut it, The Navigation is dated (same crap as my father's 2008 CX-7, even then it seems outdated), the interior is not as nice. MPG is not as good as I'd like it to be, etc.
I mean if they have the "JAPANESE" version of Mazda6 with SkyActiv, I would get that over anything Hyundai offers, but I can't wait that long, so I bought the Hyundai and hope I will get the updated parts soon so I can swap them myself.
Did I mention the tires are complete crap too? jesus. Car looks good, sits comfy, but handles like crap
Last edited by nycgps; 08-14-2011 at 10:11 AM.
