http://www.motortrend.com/future/fut...x_7/index.html

ugh! tone down that illustration

 

i really wish Mazda would lose the big smiley front ends. too bad I will never be able to get the next rotary any time soon.

 

Very nice article. Exciting even though we have no green light as yet. It makes me think back to them ensuring that the Kabura be designed with rotary power as a consideration.

Paul.

 

Interesting that that dubbed the rotary a two stroke. . . I'm not disagreeing, but interesting.

And, I've never owned a diesel car, but wouldn't the block have to be pretty heavy and strong to accommodate the higher compression that diesel needs?

 

We'll have to see what it is they have up their sleeves (Turbo diesel I imagine?). Who knows what they are doing regarding strength whilst reducing weight at the same time.

Paul.

 

the article quotes 300hp and significantly improved MPG numbers. i'm curious as to whether they're improved from the rx-8, or from older versions of the 16X. also, i think it will be a cold day in hell before the 16X makes 300hp N/A. i wonder if they plan on bolting a small twin scroll turbo on the little guy?

 

"Are you telling me that this sucker is NUCLEAR?"

 

I think a 16X could potentially make 300 hp but would never be delivered making that much due to emissions. Probably in the 270-280 range. It definitely could not do that on diesel though. If there were a diesel version, it is pretty much guaranteed that it would be turbocharged. I'd expect about 250 hp from such a beast but torque would probably be well over 300 ft lbs. I originally had felt less would be available from a turbo diesel version. Perhaps more is? I don't know. Don't expect more than an absolute peak of about 6K rpm though with power falling off well below that. A gasoline version would probably have an 8K redline which is plenty.

The rotary is not a 2 stroke. It can't be. It has absolutely nothing in common with one. The fact that they both have exhaust ports (although some 2 strokes have valves) does not in any way dictate how the engine fundamentally works. It always has been and always will be a 4 stroke engine.

I for one would buy a diesel RX-7 if it made at least 250 hp/ 300 ft lbs.

 

I like the "0-60 under 5 sec " part

I could care less if the new RX-7 or 9 came with the same HP as our RX-8, if it gets under 5 ticks from 0-60 that is fine by me. At least then it will be competitive with cars like the 370Z, Evo,Camaro SS, Mustang GT, BMW M3 , Corvette, etc. All those cars are in the 4.3-4.9 range.

Bring it Mazda and you will get my business for sure.

 

This is what makes you smarter than most other people. You understand that numbers on paper don't mean jack squat. It's how it actually performs that matters.

 

I know that , with that being said , if the next Rx is that range I am going to go out on a limb and say it going to be quite a performer. Mazda already said the next rotary is going to lose weight, thats a plus in the performance department.
As far as other aspects of the car all of us will just have to wait and see when it comes out.

 

unfortunately, they cant make the rx series too light. otherwise it would compete with the miata.

i would definitely look at a td rx7.

 

I would love to see a lightweight RX-7... I don't think it will happen though. Glad to see that Mazda is still pursuing a rotary sportscar, but it seems like they still have a ton of issues to work out before they even design a car to put it in. Still seems as if they're 3+ years away.

 

They could always do a refresh on the RX-8. Make it a 2 door and make it slightly more agressive than before. If Mazda threw a 16X in a 2 door RX-8 , I would buy it.

But back to reality, Mazda already plans to use the new Mazda Mx-5 chassis as there starting point. So designing a beautiful body to mate to that chassis would be the next step.

 

Good point. And a true 2-door RX8 would be a hell of a good looking car.

 

lol third time this has been posted.