New 450HP 3rotor mid-engine Mazda Furai concept car.
I like it for what it is, a concept car. I just can't figure out where Mazda is going in the high performance sports car market. I have been feeling for a while now that they have given up on that market. I mean, from what I am seeing, they have nothing even worthwhile in development. Spending all the R&D funds on things that, as cool as they are, can never be. Now if Mazda could only follow the path of Nisan, Toyota, and Honda and build something worthwhile they can put on the road to compete with the other manufacturers. I for one, grew tired of waiting for them and jumped ship to Nissan this year.
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Joined: Jul 2006
Posts: 75
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From: Mobile, AL
Mazda Furai Concept
Check out the Mazda concept, "Furai takes Mazda's unique Nagare (Japanese for "flow") design language a step further as it is translated into a concept car based on an American Le Mans Series (ALMS) racing car. The car utilizes the Courage C65 chassis the company campaigned in the ALMS series only two seasons ago, and the 450-hp three-rotor rotary engine that distinguishes it from anything else on the track."
Spec on the Courage C65 chassis
2003-2005 Courage C65 LMP2 Specifications
Designer: Paolo Cantone
Layout: Mid-engine, rear-wheel drive
Monocoque: Carbon fiber and aluminum honeycomb monocoque
Gearbox: Hewland TLS, 6 speed sequential + reverse
Steering: Rack and pinion
Suspension: Double wishbones, pushrods, horizontally located Dynamic spring damper units
Wheels: Magnesium
Front 18“ diameter x11“ width
Rear 18” diameter x 13” width
Brakes: Carbon or steel
Diameter 355 mm x 35 mm thick
Length: 4650 mm
Width: 1970 mm
Wheelbase: 2790 mm
Front overhang: 860 mm
Rear overhang: 1010 mm
Front track: 1750 mm
Rear track: 1600 mm
Weight: 738 kgs. (2003 Le Mans)
798 kgs. (2004 Le Mans average)
781 kgs. (2005 Le Mans average)
Tank capacity: 90 liters
Spec on the Courage C65 chassis
2003-2005 Courage C65 LMP2 Specifications
Designer: Paolo Cantone
Layout: Mid-engine, rear-wheel drive
Monocoque: Carbon fiber and aluminum honeycomb monocoque
Gearbox: Hewland TLS, 6 speed sequential + reverse
Steering: Rack and pinion
Suspension: Double wishbones, pushrods, horizontally located Dynamic spring damper units
Wheels: Magnesium
Front 18“ diameter x11“ width
Rear 18” diameter x 13” width
Brakes: Carbon or steel
Diameter 355 mm x 35 mm thick
Length: 4650 mm
Width: 1970 mm
Wheelbase: 2790 mm
Front overhang: 860 mm
Rear overhang: 1010 mm
Front track: 1750 mm
Rear track: 1600 mm
Weight: 738 kgs. (2003 Le Mans)
798 kgs. (2004 Le Mans average)
781 kgs. (2005 Le Mans average)
Tank capacity: 90 liters
Last edited by Rx-7Doctor; Apr 11, 2008 at 03:20 AM.
What is it?
Mazda Furai Concept
What's special about it?
Remember Mazda's overall win at the 24 Hours of Le Mans in 1991? The rotor-heads at Mazda sure do, and they created the Furai as a reminder of that accomplishment. Half concept car dreamery, half prototype racer, the Furai is less a car than a statement of Mazda's intention to re-enter the fabled endurance race at some undisclosed time, presumably in the near future.
Translating literally to "sound of wind," which we're certain is not intended to recall dinner with the Klumps, the Furai (say foo-RYE) is capable of making noise. The basis of the Furai is a 2005 Courage C65 chassis — itself formerly an LMP2-class entry in the American Le Mans Series — that Mazda reskinned in the style of its Nagare concept car. It's the fifth such design exercise as Mazda works to develop a new design language for the future, preceded by the Nagare, Ryuga, Hakaze and Taiki concepts. The company remains mum on when these design cues will finally take root in a production car.
The Furai's aggressive lines are the product of Mazda's studio in Southern California led by North American design boss Franz Von Holzhausen. Further developed by the prodigious brainpower of the racecar wizards at Swift Engineering, the Furai has been shaped with an eye toward function as well as form. Swift worked concurrently with Mazda's design team and performed computational fluid dynamics to ensure the concept wouldn't take flight and made sure the hot-running rotary had proper cooling.
Considering the Furai has never seen a wind tunnel, its ability to generate about 80 percent of the downforce of the original race-spec bodywork is respectable indeed. In fact, Mike Page of Swift Engineering is confident that the Furai could be made fully competitive without wholesale changes: "The overall form is solid. As it sits, it's a happy medium between form and function."
Most concept cars don't run. Heck, most of them don't even have engines. By contrast, the Furai is a runner, a point that Mazda was keen to emphasize by wedging us into the cockpit for a couple of hot laps around Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca piloted by ALMS ace Jamie Bach. There's barely space for a second person in the tight cabin of the former racecar, which sports a passenger seat only because class rules demand it.
Powered by a mid-mounted, three-rotor Mazda 20B rotary engine fueled by E100 ethanol, the Furai generates around 450 horsepower. As expected, it's rapid. Even without its aerodynamic front splitter (a measure to prevent damage to this one-off showcar), the cornering grip is substantial, while even earplugs can't control the crescendo of sound from the rotary engine. Bach kept things tidy and clean in the corners, as the Furai we're sharing is the same one that will occupy the stage at the Detroit auto show.
In addition to advice about the bodywork, Swift also contributed an innovative intake configuration. Unlike a traditional F1-style snorkel, the Furai breathes through a shallow, leaflike cup known informally as an "air fang." It looks something like the bow of a boat, rising proud of the roof in order to breathe relatively clean, turbulence-free air that has not been de-energized by the boundary layer. As the air rushes past, twin vortices on either side of the device are generated, which then dump fresh air directly down the intake without incurring the efficiency losses of a traditional snorkel. It's an elegant solution in keeping with the Furai's design theme.
The Furai sounds sensational at full cry. As we exited Turn 11 onto the main straight with the sound of the rotary exhaust reverberating off the concrete pit wall, the effect was not of a lone car, but instead an entire field of endurance racers. With the Furai, Mazda is suggesting that this aural deception will soon become a reality as it moves to join Acura and Porsche in an assault on the 24 Hours of Le Mans.
What's Edmunds' take?
It's fit for neither road-car duty nor true motorsports competition, but that's not the point. The Furai provides a glimpse of both Mazda's future design direction and its motorsports intent. — Jason Kavanagh, Engineering Editor
Mazda Furai Concept
What's special about it?
Remember Mazda's overall win at the 24 Hours of Le Mans in 1991? The rotor-heads at Mazda sure do, and they created the Furai as a reminder of that accomplishment. Half concept car dreamery, half prototype racer, the Furai is less a car than a statement of Mazda's intention to re-enter the fabled endurance race at some undisclosed time, presumably in the near future.
Translating literally to "sound of wind," which we're certain is not intended to recall dinner with the Klumps, the Furai (say foo-RYE) is capable of making noise. The basis of the Furai is a 2005 Courage C65 chassis — itself formerly an LMP2-class entry in the American Le Mans Series — that Mazda reskinned in the style of its Nagare concept car. It's the fifth such design exercise as Mazda works to develop a new design language for the future, preceded by the Nagare, Ryuga, Hakaze and Taiki concepts. The company remains mum on when these design cues will finally take root in a production car.
The Furai's aggressive lines are the product of Mazda's studio in Southern California led by North American design boss Franz Von Holzhausen. Further developed by the prodigious brainpower of the racecar wizards at Swift Engineering, the Furai has been shaped with an eye toward function as well as form. Swift worked concurrently with Mazda's design team and performed computational fluid dynamics to ensure the concept wouldn't take flight and made sure the hot-running rotary had proper cooling.
Considering the Furai has never seen a wind tunnel, its ability to generate about 80 percent of the downforce of the original race-spec bodywork is respectable indeed. In fact, Mike Page of Swift Engineering is confident that the Furai could be made fully competitive without wholesale changes: "The overall form is solid. As it sits, it's a happy medium between form and function."
Most concept cars don't run. Heck, most of them don't even have engines. By contrast, the Furai is a runner, a point that Mazda was keen to emphasize by wedging us into the cockpit for a couple of hot laps around Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca piloted by ALMS ace Jamie Bach. There's barely space for a second person in the tight cabin of the former racecar, which sports a passenger seat only because class rules demand it.
Powered by a mid-mounted, three-rotor Mazda 20B rotary engine fueled by E100 ethanol, the Furai generates around 450 horsepower. As expected, it's rapid. Even without its aerodynamic front splitter (a measure to prevent damage to this one-off showcar), the cornering grip is substantial, while even earplugs can't control the crescendo of sound from the rotary engine. Bach kept things tidy and clean in the corners, as the Furai we're sharing is the same one that will occupy the stage at the Detroit auto show.
In addition to advice about the bodywork, Swift also contributed an innovative intake configuration. Unlike a traditional F1-style snorkel, the Furai breathes through a shallow, leaflike cup known informally as an "air fang." It looks something like the bow of a boat, rising proud of the roof in order to breathe relatively clean, turbulence-free air that has not been de-energized by the boundary layer. As the air rushes past, twin vortices on either side of the device are generated, which then dump fresh air directly down the intake without incurring the efficiency losses of a traditional snorkel. It's an elegant solution in keeping with the Furai's design theme.
The Furai sounds sensational at full cry. As we exited Turn 11 onto the main straight with the sound of the rotary exhaust reverberating off the concrete pit wall, the effect was not of a lone car, but instead an entire field of endurance racers. With the Furai, Mazda is suggesting that this aural deception will soon become a reality as it moves to join Acura and Porsche in an assault on the 24 Hours of Le Mans.
What's Edmunds' take?
It's fit for neither road-car duty nor true motorsports competition, but that's not the point. The Furai provides a glimpse of both Mazda's future design direction and its motorsports intent. — Jason Kavanagh, Engineering Editor
I wanted to for the longest believe that Mazda was going to bring something to the table, but go have a look at the Mazda website, and look at their concept cars. What do you really think? Unless they have it buried somewhere I see nothing coming for a long time.
Nissan's GTR project started 7 years ago, and stayed focused and on track. Not sure how long ago Toyota started with the Lexus LFA, but the prototype is running laps at the ring so it's close. Honda is next with their NSX replacement and they appear to be moving in the right direction. For the most part, when you look at the other manufacturers concept vehicles, you see things that look plausible for a production car, something they may actually build in our lifetime, or at least before we are to old to care. I don't see that with most of Mazda's prototypes. Maybe it will all make sense in 2030.
I sure hope they do something, but I'm no longer waiting for it. If it happens great. Till then, I will keep my FD as it was the last real sports car Mazda made.
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Joined: Dec 2003
Posts: 164
Likes: 0
From: California
Well Porsche is legally acquiring VW & Audi so i'm sure it has to do with it and now that the Audi R10 has about 20 restrictions on it I doubt they will run next yr unless something gives. I'd like to know how much Mazda actually helps out the BK motor sports program vs other teams. You know in F1 they have everything calculated to the dollar and you can see who's rolling where...unless its Toyota which is the odd ball spending like mad and not finishing on podium.
An interesting thing is how close Penske team and porsche support is because Porsche claims its not a factory team but its operated like one. Now Dyson will run the Porsche's for some added competition. Can't wait for the 08 season to get aired
I'm sure the budget Penske has lets them spend extra on tips
An interesting thing is how close Penske team and porsche support is because Porsche claims its not a factory team but its operated like one. Now Dyson will run the Porsche's for some added competition. Can't wait for the 08 season to get aired
I'm sure the budget Penske has lets them spend extra on tips
The Mazda car is very nice to look at, but when you go to the Penske pits it's obvious the difference. The Penske crews literally detail their semis down to polishing the radiator. Not a spec of dust *anywhere*. You have to assume that with that level of detail on something so unimportant that they are doing the same with the things that are important. They have entire cars worth of spare parts in the 4 haulers they bring. They have steak dinners for staff, VIPs and workers at the track, pretty much anything they want from tools to tires to test days all over the country.
To me, in some small way, it feels similar to the difference between me showing up at NASA events with my pickup and $3000 trailer pulling my ~$25k tiny rotary powered wind up toy stuck together with blood and tears and try to beat up on the guys who roll in with Renegade toter-homes that they spent $300k on containing cars worth $100k+ that the owners don't even work on.
If you can run with them even for a short time, you consider it a success. If you can beat them it's a huge victory.
That said, I'd love to see what Mazda thinks they get out of the program. I'm in it for fun, what are they in it for?
Senior Member
Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 261
Likes: 0
From: norfolk,Va
http://www.edmunds.com/insideline/au...azdafurai02500
more info. I especially like the powerplant. 3rotor 20b eninge. 450hp. is it a Test mule?
**oops missed the longer thread. oh well.
more info. I especially like the powerplant. 3rotor 20b eninge. 450hp. is it a Test mule?
**oops missed the longer thread. oh well.
Last edited by MR2_spaceMONKEY; Dec 28, 2007 at 09:10 AM.
