A proper two-door coupe replacement for the much-missed Mazda RX-7 could make its appearance as early as 2011 as a 2012 model, according to a report from Edmund's Inside Line. The news site says the introduction of the two-seat RX-7 will lead to the death of the four-seat RX-8 with its 'suicide-style' rear doors since it wouldn't make much sense for Mazda to have three different sports cars (including the MX-5 / Miata) in its lineup.
Officially, the only piece of information that Mazda has released about its next generation RX model is the development of a new 1.6-liter (800cc per rotor) rotary engine called the 16X Renesis. Rumor has it that the new engine can produce up to 350 ponies.
Inside Line says that while Mazda's initial plans were to offer the next RX-7 with a high-power version of the Wankel engine and a $35,000 price tag, the company is now considering to follow the example of the first generation model by developing a less powerful two-seater with not so many fancy features and a price of around $25,000.
In this case, the Wankel would deliver somewhere around 200 to 250HP, which shouldn't be a bad thing if Mazda manages to keep the rear-wheel drive coupe's weight down.
With the economy being what it is these days, and looking at the current and future (see Toyota FT-86) proposals in the segment, a less powerful but better priced RX-7 doesn't sound like a bad idea at all. Plus, there's always room for a more powerful version if the market's up to it.
Via: Inside Line - Opening Photo: Mazda Furai Concept
Mazda RX-7 Gallery
8 Comments:
Well I certainly hope they have the suicide doors as a optional body style or some sort,the RX-8 is quite successful if I say so myself...
you can bet your sweet bippy it wont look a thing like the concept above ..Hope they can receate this original version as opposed to the last versions of it before it died.. Fingers crossed
Looks Good, the last RX-7 is good any every way specially in drifting performance hope that Mazda Keeps it up with the new model
If i'm not mistaken, the concept above is the Furai. I somehow see Mazda's line of nagare concepts influencing the design of the new RX-7. I also want to know what kind of improvements Mazda has / will make with the 16X besides higher power, torque and displacement. Have they improved the apex seal design, raised fuel economy, reliability? I'm more interested in the engine than anything else right now.
Reg; "Have they improved the apex seal design, raised fuel economy, reliability?" ...In a nut shell(With the addition of Torque), these are the issues regarding the continued employment of the Rotary engine...
Personally, I would like to see a high performance Hybrid coupe(RWD) to bring Mazda fully into the 21st century of high performance, and by example, lead this segment.
3Deuce27
Wow that body style is great! But the only folk that could afford it would have trouble getting in and out,great for panchira spotters though!
wow cant wait to see this in the market!
Hey-hey!! This didn't happen.
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