On the cover of the June Road & Track: "+2009 & Beyond: Revamped Mazda RX-7"
the short article:

"Mazda RX-7
Our radar recently picked up some unusual activity in Hiroshima, Japan. We took a closer look and discovered that the boys at Mazda are quietly drawing up the plans for a new RX-7. That Mazda needs a new halo sports car is obvious. Sales of the RX-8 have been down, and although the MX-5 is sporty and popular, the burden of carrying the company's high-performance load is just too heavy for its narrow shoulders. The ace in Mazda's sleeve is the RX-7, a car once touted as the purest, most exhilarating sports car in the world. And the time has finally come for it to rise from its ashes.
It's still so early in the game that we know very little about this car. Our sources tell us that it has not yet been given a code name, like J61A (the Mazda6). The main challenge facing Mazda engineers is what to do with the powerplant. Reports indicate they're working around the clock to improve the output of the RX-8's 13B Renesis rotary, but a number of major obstacles still lie ahead. Some form of forced induction is probable, and could very well be an electric-motor-assist turbocharger.
This technology was first seen in the Mazda RX-8 Hybrid at the 2003 Tokyo Motor Show. At low rpm, an electric motor assists the turbocharger to increase induction efficiency. At high rpm, the turbocharger operates in traditional fashion, by the exhaust gas alone. This enables lean combustion and excellent power at all engine speeds, as well as cleaner emissions at low revs. A hybrid system, like that used by Honda, has also been rumored.
The Next RX-7 will be built on the MX-5/RX-8 platform, and the styling will be based on the Kabura show car that graced our April 2006 cover. We predicted then that this was the foundation for a new RX-7--the designer himself admitted that despite the Kabura's 2.0-liter inline-4, he designed it so it could hold the 13B rotary. So the possibility of the next RX-7 becoming a 2+2 is very high. If so, what happens to the RX-8? Well, we'll know by 2010 because that's when the RX-7 is scheduled to make its debut."

At the top is a drawing of a new RX-7 with the styling based on the Kabura show car.

Perhaps, someone could add the drawing to the thread, as I don't have a scanner.

 

Couldn't find anything on their website.

 

 

 

 

 

We know what the Kabura looks like, we want to see pictures of the drawing from Road & Track.

 

Very Nice.

 

................. that doesnt really.. look all... that... nice.

just my 2c

 

I love the electric assisted hybrid turbo, the key to that system is that at anything much above cruise it becomes a compound turbocharger, driving the weels through the hybrid unit, from power made by the turbo. Systems like that on piston airplanes in the 40's and 50's mad e huge improvments ine BSFC, like .38 or lower which is diesel teritory. The limit to the system was the amount of backpresure built up between the exhuaust valve and turbo......

 

I bet it's the new rx-8 design... When i talked to the Mazda Representative, they said the new major redesign of the RX8 is going to be released around 2009-2010. He also said they have no interest in force induction.

 

The R&T drawing is probably some Brenda Priddy BS anyways and not worth looking at.

 

saw that a while back...when the kabura was debuted, they did all they could NOT to mention RX-7...of course, dont u love the triangles in the head rests? like the RX-8 seats?

 

Yeah, I'm with Saten on this one. Not Satan, but Saten. The Kabura looks too much like the RX-8 to begin with, with the fender flares, 2+2 styling, and overall appearance. I'm willing to bet that the new design for the RX-8 will resemble the Kabura in terms of body design, but probably a bit less futuristic and more reserved. The reasoning behind this is that why would Mazda have an RX-7 and RX-8 both with a 2+2 fashion, one just with possible forced induction? Would the 7 be the "upgraded" 8? That would confuse the public, simply because of the reverse numerical order of advancement in their model names. Just doesn't sound feasible to me. Although I'd love to see a new RX-7, obviously, but it will probably not resemble the RX-8 so much.

 

Do people really care about the number? i am not gonna think mazda5 is better than mazda3. They are more representation of the "Size" of the car itself isn't it? CX-9 > CX-7, Mazda6>mazda3... but no one is gonna see a new RX-7 and say "I think i will buy a RX-8 instead because the number 8 is bigger than the number 7" are the general public really that ...dumb?

I say just refine the quality of the FD interior and material, and add updated technologies, Throw in a 3 rotor engine with simpler turbo system, and sell that as the next Gen RX-7

 

Although I agree with you on your wants and desires for the new RX-7, I believe that the general public would be confused simply due to the number, yes. Rotary fanatics will obiouvlsy know the difference, and never give it a second thought, however for marketing reasons, I believe this would be a basic mistake for Mazda if they were to actually carry out the forementioned situation.

 

My opinion, make the RX8 much faster with forced induction and add some cosmetic changes (ie, kabura) and make it a premium car, like the infinity G35. Thennnnnnnnn, add a smaller, lighter (say 2200 lb) 2 seater look-a-like with the present engine (or a 12a equivalent) , make it basic and affordable, badge it rx7 and have it represent the heart of the original rx7. The following year you could add the forced induction, rims, bodykits, etc as dealer options to the new Rx7 and take over a big piece of the tuner crowd since the first year buyers could return to the dealership and spend more money customizing their car.

 

If mazda goes with ordinary force induction with rotaries... They're going to be fucked.

 

Yeah... They'll probably sell a few thousand at most and lose all their money into that idea you came up with. It's not that simple.

 

I agree with you that it won't be a smart idea business wise,
hehe as long as i am one of the few thousands that has the new FD i am happy :P

 

edit.

 

Agreed, I say go twin charged like VW.

 

I'd like for it to look like that, but regardless, if it performs, I will be one of the first to own one.

 

i just read the article today and im getting all excited again about rotary. i've been out of the loop for some time now and its good to hear about new things happening with the rotary. i just hope they come out with one that actually looks and performs well.

 

I picked up a copy. Yeah that's it. The Kabura basically is the next RX-7. It is built on the MX-5, RX-8 platform only with modified 13B as the powerplant. Looks interesting but I like the old RX-7 FD design better. Call me old school. I'll scan a pic from the mag later and post it. I knew from reading pop sci mag that electric assisted turbo charging is the future of performance.