The RX-7 confirmed to be in the pipeline for 2017---RX-Vision Unveil!!
Rotary powered miata would take away from the miata. The miata is the world's number 1 racecar. "More Mazdas found on race day than any other manufacturer." That's because the miata is such a great car that it has several of its own classes.
User the new mx5 chassis and build a new Rx7. Price around 40k. Use the 16x at 300 hp NA and 2700 lbs and same 50/50 weight distribution. That beats the Z and Evo and WRX. You'd be attacking 5.0 mustangs.
On top of that, halo car should be 24X 3 rotor 2.4L twin turbo with near 500hp. Price jumps to 70k but performance better than GTR cause GTR is 1100 pounds heavier (not 0-60 cause not awd). People will buy it. Big price tag on many luxury cars just because money burns a hole in people's pockets. Don't have to be a driver to make big dollars and spend big dollars. Mazda could do it but I think they're keeping it hush hush until the the 50 year anniversary. I think it will happen. The car is a legend and still a top performing machine today.
User the new mx5 chassis and build a new Rx7. Price around 40k. Use the 16x at 300 hp NA and 2700 lbs and same 50/50 weight distribution. That beats the Z and Evo and WRX. You'd be attacking 5.0 mustangs.
On top of that, halo car should be 24X 3 rotor 2.4L twin turbo with near 500hp. Price jumps to 70k but performance better than GTR cause GTR is 1100 pounds heavier (not 0-60 cause not awd). People will buy it. Big price tag on many luxury cars just because money burns a hole in people's pockets. Don't have to be a driver to make big dollars and spend big dollars. Mazda could do it but I think they're keeping it hush hush until the the 50 year anniversary. I think it will happen. The car is a legend and still a top performing machine today.
^ Why does your post make so much since to me? 
I've been saying this all along. Give us two engine options and you could very well have an Rx7 that fills the needs of everyone. In the grand scheme of things, it really wouldn't cost Mazda alot more to build a 24x as the only custom parts would be the e-shaft and thick center iron. Cost wise a mass produced 3 rotor and all associated components could really be only 10k more than a base Rx7 but, it's performance could easily justify the extra 30k. That's a huge profit margin.
I've been saying this all along. Give us two engine options and you could very well have an Rx7 that fills the needs of everyone. In the grand scheme of things, it really wouldn't cost Mazda alot more to build a 24x as the only custom parts would be the e-shaft and thick center iron. Cost wise a mass produced 3 rotor and all associated components could really be only 10k more than a base Rx7 but, it's performance could easily justify the extra 30k. That's a huge profit margin.
Joined: Jul 2001
Posts: 10,672
Likes: 413
From: Charlottesville VA 22901
^ Why does your post make so much since to me? I've been saying this all along. Give us two engine options and you could very well have an Rx7 that fills the needs of everyone. In the grand scheme of things, it really wouldn't cost Mazda alot more to build a 24x as the only custom parts would be the e-shaft and thick center iron. Cost wise a mass produced 3 rotor and all associated components could really be only 10k more than a base Rx7 but, it's performance could easily justify the extra 30k. That's a huge profit margin.
I've been saying this all along. Give us two engine options and you could very well have an Rx7 that fills the needs of everyone. In the grand scheme of things, it really wouldn't cost Mazda alot more to build a 24x as the only custom parts would be the e-shaft and thick center iron. Cost wise a mass produced 3 rotor and all associated components could really be only 10k more than a base Rx7 but, it's performance could easily justify the extra 30k. That's a huge profit margin.
Joined: Jul 2001
Posts: 10,672
Likes: 413
From: Charlottesville VA 22901
All of us rotary guys will just have to keep our fingers crossed that the execs and engineers at Mazda come through 
I know some peeps are loving the new miata but I'm not feelin it so even if they build it I don't see the next gen rx7 coming out all that great and the FD will likely stay a keeper.
I know some peeps are loving the new miata but I'm not feelin it so even if they build it I don't see the next gen rx7 coming out all that great and the FD will likely stay a keeper.
Senior Member
Joined: Aug 2013
Posts: 613
Likes: 44
From: Wolnzach Germany
All of us rotary guys will just have to keep our fingers crossed that the execs and engineers at Mazda come through I know some peeps are loving the new miata but I'm not feelin it so even if they build it I don't see the next gen rx7 coming out all that great and the FD will likely stay a keeper.
I know some peeps are loving the new miata but I'm not feelin it so even if they build it I don't see the next gen rx7 coming out all that great and the FD will likely stay a keeper.
Joined: Mar 2001
Posts: 31,837
Likes: 3,234
From: https://www2.mazda.com/en/100th/
i hope you're right. the near future has a lot of really cool things that could happen. the 25th anniversary of the lemans win is 2016, the rotary turns 50 in 2017, the miata turns 30 in 2019, Mazda turns 100 in 2020, the olympics are in Japan in 2020, i mean that is a timeline of events that is just a dream for any other automaker.
Full Member
Joined: Apr 2013
Posts: 222
Likes: 1
From: Reggio Emilia, Italy
i hope you're right. the near future has a lot of really cool things that could happen. the 25th anniversary of the lemans win is 2016, the rotary turns 50 in 2017, the miata turns 30 in 2019, Mazda turns 100 in 2020, the olympics are in Japan in 2020, i mean that is a timeline of events that is just a dream for any other automaker.
To be precise, the rotary turns 60 in 2017, as the very first rotary (the DKM54) was started on february 1st 1957 in Germany.
2017 is the 50th anniversary of the Mazda Cosmo, that is the 50th anniversary of the rotary for Mazda.
Andrea.
Full Member
Joined: Apr 2013
Posts: 222
Likes: 1
From: Reggio Emilia, Italy
An article appeared today on the website of the italian car magazine Quattroruote. It is about an interview with Derek Jenkins and there are specific questions about the new Rx.
Mazda - Derek Jenkins: "Il Massimo? Disegnare Una Sportiva Come La RX" - Quattroruote
The international car press seems to have a tendency to miss every piece of car news that is not written in english, so I thought I'd post it here.
Since Google translate seems to do a lousy job at translating from italian to english, I'll try to translate the most relevant parts (hoping to do a better job than Google translate
)
I'll skip the parts that are not Rx-related (I'm a little short on time):
Andrea
Mazda - Derek Jenkins: "Il Massimo? Disegnare Una Sportiva Come La RX" - Quattroruote
The international car press seems to have a tendency to miss every piece of car news that is not written in english, so I thought I'd post it here.
Since Google translate seems to do a lousy job at translating from italian to english, I'll try to translate the most relevant parts (hoping to do a better job than Google translate
)I'll skip the parts that are not Rx-related (I'm a little short on time):
Q: Will there be a new Rx?
A: I can't say. What I can say is that there is a lot of interest, and Mazda is very aware of this.
Q: Rumors about the Rx-9 have been circulating for months. 2017 is often mentioned...
A: I don't know (chuckles). I've always been passionate about the Rx-7, even before joining Mazda. It was an exciting product, especially the last generation: that car aged really well, it still looks modern, an example of how Mazda always offered a great design and a great technology, both for enthusiasts (like the Mx-5) and for the masses (Cx-3, Cx-5, Mazda 3).
Q: One day Maeda San comes in your office and says: Derek, from now on you can do whatever you want. Tell me a project and you can work on it. What would you answer?
A: Without a doubt I'd like to develop a sports car like the Rx, the dream of a career. The Mx-5 was the first one, making something like the Rx would be the second.
A: I can't say. What I can say is that there is a lot of interest, and Mazda is very aware of this.
Q: Rumors about the Rx-9 have been circulating for months. 2017 is often mentioned...
A: I don't know (chuckles). I've always been passionate about the Rx-7, even before joining Mazda. It was an exciting product, especially the last generation: that car aged really well, it still looks modern, an example of how Mazda always offered a great design and a great technology, both for enthusiasts (like the Mx-5) and for the masses (Cx-3, Cx-5, Mazda 3).
Q: One day Maeda San comes in your office and says: Derek, from now on you can do whatever you want. Tell me a project and you can work on it. What would you answer?
A: Without a doubt I'd like to develop a sports car like the Rx, the dream of a career. The Mx-5 was the first one, making something like the Rx would be the second.
For those of you that were saying a while back about how you want a lower power Rx-7 'tuner' car...
https://www.yahoo.com/autos/s/gm-for...160000229.html
Yes apparently Mazda is totally backing the tuner ideology 
https://www.yahoo.com/autos/s/gm-for...160000229.html
One of the inherent rights of owning a vehicle is the ability to get on one’s backside — a wrench in one hand and a grease rag in the other, and just tinker to your little heart’s desire. Since the vehicle was invented, it’s been an important facet within the community of gearheads.
General Motors — the same company responsible for 87 deaths related to faulty ignition switches, FYI — wants to take that right away from you citing safety and security issues. Along with a few other big names.
It’s called the Digital Millennium Copyright Act (DMCA). It’s been around since 2000 and started as anti-Internet piracy legislation. But automakers want to use it to try and make working on your own car illegal. Yes, illegal. The general premise is that unlike cars of the past, today’s vehicles are so advanced and use such a large amount of software and coding in their general makeup, altering said code could be dangerous and possibly even malicious.
RELATED: See Photos of the Chevrolet Corvette Z06
2015
Listing the vehicle as a “mobile computing device,” the law would hypothetically protect automakers from pesky owners looking to alter any sort of technology in the vehicle that relates to the onboard computer. Flashing your ECU would be a big no no, which could also lead to all sorts of problems for aftermarket shops.
What GM, and even tractor companies like John Deere, argues is that you, as an owner, don’t actually own your car. Rather, you’re sort of just borrowing it for an extended amount of time and paying for the rights to use the technology. If it sounds ridiculous— it is. But it gets even more ludicrous.
According to the Electronic Frontier Foundation, John Deere argued that “letting people modify car computer systems will result in them pirating music through the on-board entertainment system.”
That’s right— pirating music. Through a tractor.
RELATED: This Multi-Armed Tractor is Agricultural Erotica
2015 Chevrolet Corvette Z06
DMCA does give a little bit of leeway, though. While the act could hypothetically lock customers out of key safety features, it would still allow owners the ability to repair other areas of the vehicle’s onboard computer as they see fit. It’s a slim compromise, but one that may be more closely based in reality.
As it currently sits, there are 13 (!) large automakers on the list supporting the DMCA. Want to know who they are? Of course you do:
General Motors Company
BMW Group
FCA US LLC
Ford Motor Company
Jaguar Land Rover
Mazda
Mercedes-Benz USA
Mitsubishi Motors
Porsche
Toyota
Volkswagen Group of America
Volvo Cars North America
Ironically, one of the brands that relies most on technology in its vehicles — Tesla Motors — in not in support of DMCA. While other American companies like GM, Ford and Chrysler all agree that working on your own vehicle should be punishable by law.
Funny how three brands that pride themselves on American ingenuity don’t want customers to work on their cars.
General Motors — the same company responsible for 87 deaths related to faulty ignition switches, FYI — wants to take that right away from you citing safety and security issues. Along with a few other big names.
It’s called the Digital Millennium Copyright Act (DMCA). It’s been around since 2000 and started as anti-Internet piracy legislation. But automakers want to use it to try and make working on your own car illegal. Yes, illegal. The general premise is that unlike cars of the past, today’s vehicles are so advanced and use such a large amount of software and coding in their general makeup, altering said code could be dangerous and possibly even malicious.
RELATED: See Photos of the Chevrolet Corvette Z06
2015
Listing the vehicle as a “mobile computing device,” the law would hypothetically protect automakers from pesky owners looking to alter any sort of technology in the vehicle that relates to the onboard computer. Flashing your ECU would be a big no no, which could also lead to all sorts of problems for aftermarket shops.
What GM, and even tractor companies like John Deere, argues is that you, as an owner, don’t actually own your car. Rather, you’re sort of just borrowing it for an extended amount of time and paying for the rights to use the technology. If it sounds ridiculous— it is. But it gets even more ludicrous.
According to the Electronic Frontier Foundation, John Deere argued that “letting people modify car computer systems will result in them pirating music through the on-board entertainment system.”
That’s right— pirating music. Through a tractor.
RELATED: This Multi-Armed Tractor is Agricultural Erotica
2015 Chevrolet Corvette Z06
DMCA does give a little bit of leeway, though. While the act could hypothetically lock customers out of key safety features, it would still allow owners the ability to repair other areas of the vehicle’s onboard computer as they see fit. It’s a slim compromise, but one that may be more closely based in reality.
As it currently sits, there are 13 (!) large automakers on the list supporting the DMCA. Want to know who they are? Of course you do:
General Motors Company
BMW Group
FCA US LLC
Ford Motor Company
Jaguar Land Rover
Mazda
Mercedes-Benz USA
Mitsubishi Motors
Porsche
Toyota
Volkswagen Group of America
Volvo Cars North America
Ironically, one of the brands that relies most on technology in its vehicles — Tesla Motors — in not in support of DMCA. While other American companies like GM, Ford and Chrysler all agree that working on your own vehicle should be punishable by law.
Funny how three brands that pride themselves on American ingenuity don’t want customers to work on their cars.
Last edited by Montego; Apr 24, 2015 at 09:11 AM.
It does not seem like they are trying to restrict the ability to get under there and change your own oil or replace a part. It seems like both articles are centered around the computers in the vehicles now. Like making it illegal to reflash the factory ECU. Still sucks, but it doesn't seem like they are trying to make it quite as broad as the headlines let on.
I Raise Chickens
Joined: Jul 2001
Posts: 1,219
Likes: 35
From: Half Moon Bay, CA
It does not seem like they are trying to restrict the ability to get under there and change your own oil or replace a part. It seems like both articles are centered around the computers in the vehicles now. Like making it illegal to reflash the factory ECU. Still sucks, but it doesn't seem like they are trying to make it quite as broad as the headlines let on.
I have serious objections to this as I am sure most of you do. If you are passionate about this as I am, recommend you read this: https://www.eff.org/issues/dmca and join the EFF. The EFF, including a coworker at Twitter, are fighting the automakers trying to do this. Someone mentioned that Tesla is not on the list, which is true. They have decided not to participate, but that does not mean they are against using DMCA. IMO, their lawyers and policy team has other issues to work on
Ridiculous. In light of the fact that jailbreaking is legal, I don't see how that has any legs to stand on. Pretty much the entire tech industry is based on the manipulation of other people's code.
^ That's basically what I got from the article as well. Now as far as Gm and John Deer trying to say we are basically just borrowing the vehicle???? Well they need to put a lifetime warranty on the equipment they sell to dealers who in turn then sell to us consumers. Lol!
Last edited by t-von; Apr 24, 2015 at 12:52 PM.
It does not seem like they are trying to restrict the ability to get under there and change your own oil or replace a part. It seems like both articles are centered around the computers in the vehicles now. Like making it illegal to reflash the factory ECU. Still sucks, but it doesn't seem like they are trying to make it quite as broad as the headlines let on.
Correct. That is why is said:
Edit- With that said I am extremely glad that our cars do not fall into this category. However, if something of that nature ever became a law it would seriously impact on whether I would purchase a next generation Rx-7.
Last edited by Montego; Apr 24, 2015 at 01:18 PM.
Put yourself in the shoes of the manufacturers.
People reflash their ECUs, blow their engines and ask for warranty repair from the dealer. This is why Mazda has not given out their language/coding to the aftermarket.
Its kinda scary because if we apply that ideology to our model vehicles we would be no where in terms of performance. Think of a world with no Power FCs, pettit unlimited ecu's, no PFS purple motor eater boxes, no GReddy e-manage... and the list goes on and on. No one would have been around to push the performance envelope and truly unleash the capability of our cars.
Actually, all those methods you list replace the stock ECU entirely and do not depend on knowing the factory ECU language/coding- only the stock sensor outputs/ solenoid inputs.
On vehicles like the RX-8 where the stock language/coding isn't known the stock ECU is kept running with parallel inputs and the aftermarket ECU is run along side of it receiving inputs and providing the desired outputs.
A ROM tuned stock ECU for an FD would be an example for our cars of what would be illegal if the manufactures had their way.
Well, OK realistically Mazda is against any modification that would impact their warranty costs, but it is very hard for them to prove the replacement of components.
I guess they could start putting warranty void if damaged sticker/paint on every nut/bolt/electrical connection and only supply the dealers with an update-able log/stickers/paint for authorized replacement- but this program would likely add more cost than the the impact to their warranty program of unauthorized modifications.
Mazda would rather use the same language/coding across their model range without having to spend the $$ to make a new version every time someone hacks their language/coding.
I am not condoning their position, just pointing out why they would take it.
You should be thankful Mazda is so supportive of club racing of their cars with Mazdaspeed program providing stock and aftermarket parts at dealer cost to club racers.
Rumor is Mitsubishi actively searched internet race results for their customers names as a reason to not honor warranty repairs. You race, your warranty is void.
People reflash their ECUs, blow their engines and ask for warranty repair from the dealer. This is why Mazda has not given out their language/coding to the aftermarket.
Its kinda scary because if we apply that ideology to our model vehicles we would be no where in terms of performance. Think of a world with no Power FCs, pettit unlimited ecu's, no PFS purple motor eater boxes, no GReddy e-manage... and the list goes on and on. No one would have been around to push the performance envelope and truly unleash the capability of our cars.
Actually, all those methods you list replace the stock ECU entirely and do not depend on knowing the factory ECU language/coding- only the stock sensor outputs/ solenoid inputs.
On vehicles like the RX-8 where the stock language/coding isn't known the stock ECU is kept running with parallel inputs and the aftermarket ECU is run along side of it receiving inputs and providing the desired outputs.
A ROM tuned stock ECU for an FD would be an example for our cars of what would be illegal if the manufactures had their way.
Well, OK realistically Mazda is against any modification that would impact their warranty costs, but it is very hard for them to prove the replacement of components.
I guess they could start putting warranty void if damaged sticker/paint on every nut/bolt/electrical connection and only supply the dealers with an update-able log/stickers/paint for authorized replacement- but this program would likely add more cost than the the impact to their warranty program of unauthorized modifications.
Mazda would rather use the same language/coding across their model range without having to spend the $$ to make a new version every time someone hacks their language/coding.
I am not condoning their position, just pointing out why they would take it.
You should be thankful Mazda is so supportive of club racing of their cars with Mazdaspeed program providing stock and aftermarket parts at dealer cost to club racers.
Rumor is Mitsubishi actively searched internet race results for their customers names as a reason to not honor warranty repairs. You race, your warranty is void.
Yeah, and apparently Subaru and GM should have done the same thing since the "low" stress of autocross is enough to blow stock/near stock Subaru and LSx engines.
Seriously, those engines have shown they cannot survive autocross for the duration of a warranty period in my area.
Seriously, those engines have shown they cannot survive autocross for the duration of a warranty period in my area.