Didn't see it mentioned (perhaps just missed it), so...
https://www.carscoops.com/2020/04/ma...halo-hypercar/

 

All these renderings are great but its just such a teaser to see them with the unlikelihood that these will ever get produced. We just love to torture ourselves with all these concepts. This is a beautiful one too, but these fan renderings are just killing me. Giving us all some false hope. Mazda, just let us know flat out, are we going to get another rotary powered sports car or no, kill all the rumors already. I'm holding out hope for another year or two before i decide to go in on an A90. Lol

 

IMO, an MX-5 with a rotary engine will be much better than this rendering, because it has a higher possibility to come into production.

I know I said a while ago that a hypercar could be a more viable approach because there is more tolerance for some of the rotary's natural disadvantages: fuel economy, emissions, etc. But now that I think of it, I don't think Mazda has the brand image to command such a thing to happen.

And unfortunately, Mazda isn't really in a great financial position to make even a rotary MX-5 happen. It is what it is.

 

I'm defiitely with you on that. Its unfortunate that they are in their predicament right now. They have such a good line up and formerly having a 14 Mazda6 GT, 2x CX9 signatures and the 17 mx5, they have come a long way in terms of build quality and materials. Hopefully sales picks up. As long as they keep making rotary engines for the supporting their 7's and 8's, im ok with that. Just start rotary swapping a bunch of cars... rotary swapped C8 anyone? :P

 

The turbo renesis patent from last year could easily be made a 3-rotor (or even 4! ) unlike our version. Now the cost on something like that might take it out of reach for most people, but that could definitely put Mazda on the supercar stage. It looks way better than the Frankensteinish Jaguar E + BMW Z4 “R9” monstrosity they previously proposed. This appears to be a progression of the Furai concept car.


.

 

The issue, again, has been economy of the scale. Things are cheaper when you make more of it. In order for Mazda to put the rotary performance engines on the table again, they need the shoebox range extenders.

The Big 3 in America can keep making V8s for their performance cars because the technology can trickle down to pick-up trucks. Most cars with engines lacking economy of the scale has been dead, like the S2000.

Rotary swapping a Corvette would be interesting to see, like that one C5 Z06 that had one swapped in. A 4-rotor C8 sounds crazy and I know it won't make much sense, but it would still be cool to see.

IMO the main problem with Mazda doing this is that it will share the same fate as the Acura NSX - stuck in that no man's land where it's not really accessible to most people, and the people who can afford one won't be looking at a Mazda or an Acura. They'd be looking at a Ferrari, Lamborghini, etc. There is just not much power with the brand unfortunately...

 

I'm guessing he's trying to apply for a job at Mazda?
Not good when your "rumored halo car" is being thrown out there by one of your Brand's competitors.

Mazda has no plans to build anything that appeals to any type of consumer that has a pulse, and actually like driving fast.
There just isn't any money (for them) in that market right now.

BC.

 

Very well said. And an RX-8 version that is affordable not only won't have the sales volume, but I think some might argue does not aid in marketing the brand much, since it really isn't a reflection on other cars in the brand. I really hate to say this, but we will probably see an electric version before a rotary.

 

It's a matter of economics. Mazda is just too small. Even the big brands (e.g. Toyota) are partnering up to share cost on these money-losing "passion projects." Unfortunately, it's probably going to get even worse with the coronavirus situation

 

I also mentioned this at B@W but I think it's good to mention here.

Back when RX-8 was sold, American pony/sports cars aren't really being taken too seriously. They have power and good torque, but they don't handle or corner well.

Unfortunately for Japanese and German, but fortunately for enthusiasts, GM and Ford have stepped up the game. If a Mazda rotary sports car is offered at or a bit above the price of, say, a Camaro SS 1LE, it's going to have a very hard time. So not only do they have to battle the brand image of the German luxury performance cars, but now they have to deal with the bang for the buck of American performance cars.

This is going to be a hard fight for Mazda if they decide to go back into it.

 

come on, it will be fighting against the Vette, not a 4000 pound duke’s of hazard sled.

did you even click the link? That’s no RX8.

 

Agreed that most potential buyers would only be interested in 'high end' vehicles but if small manufactures are able to keep their doors open, it doesn't seem entirely improbable. Just look at what Briggs was able to achieve / produce. I personally would've loved to have seen a mid-engined 3 or 4 rotor something by now and I've considered for many years sourcing a 911 donor vehicle to cut apart and experiment with for a project just like this.

https://www.bac-mono.com/
https://www.superlitecars.com/
https://www.sscnorthamerica.com/

 

Good thing this is just a concept made by some Joe. I can only hope for one last RX and that's all I'm hoping and praying. Some low volume halo car within the $50 - $70k range with a rotary engine and hopefully some kind of forced induction. Or rotary engine powering the rear and electric motor for the front wheels. Dumping all their tech in to this car. Just a last hurrah and fan service to all of us rotary lovers and then cut it off.

 

Looks like I was confusing this with another thread... My bad.

This looks like it will be taking on Ford GT. Just not sure Mazda will be able to pull it off. They are very broke.

 

well I agree with you in general; just like Detroit never saw Japan coming 5 decades ago, the same thing happened in reverse

Mazda screwed the RX8 pooch protecting the MX5. Had they stuck with the original RX-01 concept at 2420 lbs that would have been a sweet NA rotary car. Essentially what they did 12 years later with the ND MX5.

 

If they did the RX-01, the FD would have been killed off sooner in other markets. There are more FDs in existence because the RX-01 was never produced.

 

RX01 looks very interesting. All of these concepts people are making every other week are killing me. We need a new RX