Here is our chance to Save the Seven!!
2/4 wheel cornering fiend
Joined: Nov 2002
Posts: 3,090
Likes: 3
From: Pasadena, CA
Originally Posted by Xeros
Unless the the next gen rotary power plant can get over our current gen power plant problems blah blah blah...
I stopped reading by the third sentence...
next rx-7?
According to rumors, facts, heresay, the grapevine, etc.:
Mazda does want to bring back the RX-7: name, performance and all. They will as soon as the $ says it's ok.
There is an RX-7 on the drawing board. ~$45,000.
The Kabura - a beautiful sub-compact 3 seater hard-top aimed at youth - could go rotary, using nothing but pre-existing parts: Miata suspension, RX-8/Miata platform, etc. It would go back to the original 1st-gen & 2nd-gen idea of good performance for cheap in a practical car. Super cheap, in fact, and practical with 3 comfortable seats plus a 2nd-gen like backside leaving room for bikes, snowboards, etc. It was received very well with the Miata drive train and, thanks to the hard top, an even lower weight! (and without so much expensive aluminum) Rotary or no rotary, they're going to make something like it. Oh, and there is a 4th seat behind the driver but, as in the past, here in the US it will most likely see large cupholder status.
And, while half true, please don't take my ranting about the corporate bottom line too seriously.
Mazda does want to bring back the RX-7: name, performance and all. They will as soon as the $ says it's ok.
There is an RX-7 on the drawing board. ~$45,000.
The Kabura - a beautiful sub-compact 3 seater hard-top aimed at youth - could go rotary, using nothing but pre-existing parts: Miata suspension, RX-8/Miata platform, etc. It would go back to the original 1st-gen & 2nd-gen idea of good performance for cheap in a practical car. Super cheap, in fact, and practical with 3 comfortable seats plus a 2nd-gen like backside leaving room for bikes, snowboards, etc. It was received very well with the Miata drive train and, thanks to the hard top, an even lower weight! (and without so much expensive aluminum) Rotary or no rotary, they're going to make something like it. Oh, and there is a 4th seat behind the driver but, as in the past, here in the US it will most likely see large cupholder status.
And, while half true, please don't take my ranting about the corporate bottom line too seriously.
Last edited by ericgrau; May 10, 2006 at 12:37 PM.
i know this is old but... it isn't about ford or any domestic car maunfacturer. it is about mazda of japan. ford owns mazda of america and decides which cars to import and not import. ford is not designing the rx-8... mazda is. so saying that the new rx7 would not be good because of ford isn't valid. the decision of whether or not a new rx7 is built is up to mazda's designers and engineers in japan. whether or not a new rx7 makes it to america is up to ford. big difference.
Insane Burning Diarrhea
Joined: Apr 2005
Posts: 1,796
Likes: 0
From: Noo Yawk City / San Diego
Originally Posted by ericgrau
According to rumors, facts, heresay, the grapevine, etc.:
Mazda does want to bring back the RX-7: name, performance and all. They will as soon as the $ says it's ok.
There is an RX-7 on the drawing board. ~$45,000.
The Kabura - a beautiful sub-compact 3 seater hard-top aimed at youth - could go rotary, using nothing but pre-existing parts: Miata suspension, RX-8/Miata platform, etc. It would go back to the original 1st-gen & 2nd-gen idea of good performance for cheap in a practical car. Super cheap, in fact, and practical with 3 comfortable seats plus a 2nd-gen like backside leaving room for bikes, snowboards, etc. It was received very well with the Miata drive train and, thanks to the hard top, an even lower weight! (and without so much expensive aluminum) Rotary or no rotary, they're going to make something like it. Oh, and there is a 4th seat behind the driver but, as in the past, here in the US it will most likely see large cupholder status.
And, while half true, please don't take my ranting about the corporate bottom line too seriously.
Mazda does want to bring back the RX-7: name, performance and all. They will as soon as the $ says it's ok.
There is an RX-7 on the drawing board. ~$45,000.
The Kabura - a beautiful sub-compact 3 seater hard-top aimed at youth - could go rotary, using nothing but pre-existing parts: Miata suspension, RX-8/Miata platform, etc. It would go back to the original 1st-gen & 2nd-gen idea of good performance for cheap in a practical car. Super cheap, in fact, and practical with 3 comfortable seats plus a 2nd-gen like backside leaving room for bikes, snowboards, etc. It was received very well with the Miata drive train and, thanks to the hard top, an even lower weight! (and without so much expensive aluminum) Rotary or no rotary, they're going to make something like it. Oh, and there is a 4th seat behind the driver but, as in the past, here in the US it will most likely see large cupholder status.
And, while half true, please don't take my ranting about the corporate bottom line too seriously.
2/4 wheel cornering fiend
Joined: Nov 2002
Posts: 3,090
Likes: 3
From: Pasadena, CA
Originally Posted by willub and company
i know this is old but... it isn't about ford or any domestic car maunfacturer. it is about mazda of japan. ford owns mazda of america and decides which cars to import and not import.
Originally Posted by willub and company
ford is not designing the rx-8... mazda is. so saying that the new rx7 would not be good because of ford isn't valid.the decision of whether or not a new rx7 is built is up to mazda's designers and engineers in japan. whether or not a new rx7 makes it to america is up to ford. big difference.
Spoolin
Joined: Feb 2005
Posts: 161
Likes: 0
From: Edmonton Canada
Originally Posted by dubulup
I don't want a new 7 either...leave perfection alone
yes we all love spending thousands on rebuilds. A new 7 would be ok but im sure it would drive out prices down huge and i dought they would ever make it look like our 7s do so....
Veilsidei
Joined: Feb 2006
Posts: 350
Likes: 0
From: Las Vegas
yeah i really hope they dont bring it back. look what dodge did when they broght back the challenger they murdered it. and if they try and bring back the rx7 and the concepts ive seen they rather hidious. just my opinion
If they are going to make a new flagship sports car, they need to get the ball rolling now or their going to miss the bus.
Bean counters and execs are the only group who have any say on whether it will be built or not. Engineers have no say in the matter by the way. Well, except for the director of Engineering and he/she really isn't an engineer anymore, they sold out a long time ago to get where they're at today.
Bean counters and execs are the only group who have any say on whether it will be built or not. Engineers have no say in the matter by the way. Well, except for the director of Engineering and he/she really isn't an engineer anymore, they sold out a long time ago to get where they're at today.
Joined: Oct 2001
Posts: 6,279
Likes: 728
From: Florence, Alabama
i was talking to the owner of one of the primary mazda dealerships in wisconsin yesterday. he told me he had been to a mazda preview meeting in san diego last week. mazda had the kabura there and asked the dealers for their opinion. he said the opinion was generally favorable. he was told that mazda had not yet made a decision as to producing the car. the rotary was not mentioned.
i do believe that among the hurdles re a new rotary car is that the plant that produces the motor is close to maxxed out volumewise and the investment needed to ramp it would require some really optimistic and solid sales projections. not necessarily a deal-breaker but a very TALL hurdle. on the plus side mazda is doing well financially, albeit w piston engined cars.
howard coleman
i do believe that among the hurdles re a new rotary car is that the plant that produces the motor is close to maxxed out volumewise and the investment needed to ramp it would require some really optimistic and solid sales projections. not necessarily a deal-breaker but a very TALL hurdle. on the plus side mazda is doing well financially, albeit w piston engined cars.
howard coleman
Originally Posted by Kento
Incorrect. FoMoCo owns a controlling stock interest in Mazda Motor Corp of Hiroshima, Japan. They helped shore up Mazda when the company was starting to wobble financially. Do an internet search on the subject, it was covered extensively.
"Owning a controlling stock interest" means they control the purse strings, meaning that actual final approval for any new model (i.e., major $$$ expenditures for R&D, etc.) must come from FoMoCo.
"Owning a controlling stock interest" means they control the purse strings, meaning that actual final approval for any new model (i.e., major $$$ expenditures for R&D, etc.) must come from FoMoCo.
Originally Posted by howard coleman
i do believe that among the hurdles re a new rotary car is that the plant that produces the motor is close to maxxed out volumewise
howard coleman
I too believe that the RX-7 is not dead. Some time in the future, Mazda will reintroduce a Rotary powered true sports car
Last edited by Julian; Jun 11, 2006 at 02:55 AM.
Originally Posted by Julian
Hard to belive that the RX-8 is maxing out manufacturing capacity. Many more rotaries were produced in the late'70s and early '80s. I don't have the figures on hand but the 1st gen sold like Hot Cakes and Mazda offered rootaries in other JDM cars at the time.
I too believe that the RX-7 is not dead. Some time in the future, Mazda will reintroduce a Rotary powered true sports car
I too believe that the RX-7 is not dead. Some time in the future, Mazda will reintroduce a Rotary powered true sports car
I say go for it MAzda, I left a good letter about bringing it back. It went like this:
Originally Posted by me
Dear Mazda,
I am only a 16 year old child who may not have alot of say in this but I am still going to leave my opinion. I own a 1987 Rx-7 Turbo II and the car is dear to me. I have admired Rx-7s ever since I first learned about the line when I was 13 and read religiously about them. The Rx-7 (FD3S model) is my dream car and has made a huge impact and inspired me to pick a carrer path (automotive design) and I feel it was a car that really gave Mazda an image. I think a re-release would do for Mazda, what the Saturn Sky is doing for Saturn. It may not be directed towards the largest group of buyers but it will be what people think about when they hear "Mazda". A diehard sports car with the unique rotary engine is what the company needs to give it that special something. Sure the Rx-8 is great but it isn't a diehard, track-dominating machine like the remake of a 2 seating, RWD, LSD Rx-7. The Rx-8 has gotten many to forget myths of unreliability of the rotary so it's uniquess would more likely increase sales than hinder it. I feel with a 3 rotor N/A utilizing RENESIS technology it could be priced to compete with America's Corvette. It would also give an alternative to those seeking to purchase the Nissan Skyline R35 GTR and can't afford to dish out $70,000 USD. So I ask you to help keep my dream alive and give your company an immage that no one will ever forget. Sincerely,
Chris
I am only a 16 year old child who may not have alot of say in this but I am still going to leave my opinion. I own a 1987 Rx-7 Turbo II and the car is dear to me. I have admired Rx-7s ever since I first learned about the line when I was 13 and read religiously about them. The Rx-7 (FD3S model) is my dream car and has made a huge impact and inspired me to pick a carrer path (automotive design) and I feel it was a car that really gave Mazda an image. I think a re-release would do for Mazda, what the Saturn Sky is doing for Saturn. It may not be directed towards the largest group of buyers but it will be what people think about when they hear "Mazda". A diehard sports car with the unique rotary engine is what the company needs to give it that special something. Sure the Rx-8 is great but it isn't a diehard, track-dominating machine like the remake of a 2 seating, RWD, LSD Rx-7. The Rx-8 has gotten many to forget myths of unreliability of the rotary so it's uniquess would more likely increase sales than hinder it. I feel with a 3 rotor N/A utilizing RENESIS technology it could be priced to compete with America's Corvette. It would also give an alternative to those seeking to purchase the Nissan Skyline R35 GTR and can't afford to dish out $70,000 USD. So I ask you to help keep my dream alive and give your company an immage that no one will ever forget. Sincerely,
Chris
Originally Posted by Julian
Plus the CEO is a Ford Man from Scotland. It is very very rare to have a foreigner running a Japanese company .. you may take that as it isn't Japanese anymore, just in location.
Senior Member
Joined: Jul 2005
Posts: 364
Likes: 0
From: Clearwater, FL
Originally Posted by '87 trubo FC
I say go for it MAzda, I left a good letter about bringing it back. It went like this:
A stock vette come with 400hp and can out run the new 500hp cobra, it's a solid 12 second car with just about any driver. It also pulls .98g on the skid pad and has world class handling. That just the base model.
Originally Posted by FLA94FD
Priced to compete, but not perform. It would have to make 350 at the motor and keep the same weight around 2800lbs or less. An new RX-7 would need at least 400-450 hp to really compete.
A stock vette come with 400hp and can out run the new 500hp cobra, it's a solid 12 second car with just about any driver. It also pulls .98g on the skid pad and has world class handling. That just the base model.
A stock vette come with 400hp and can out run the new 500hp cobra, it's a solid 12 second car with just about any driver. It also pulls .98g on the skid pad and has world class handling. That just the base model.
