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Mazda Design Chief Maeda Talks More RX-7 Revival Plans

 
5 2,375 views Mar 9, 2010
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FD Mazda RX-7

HI-RES GALLERY: FD Mazda RX-7

The storyline for the past year has been dire: the U.S. car market is in the gutter, China is on the rise, the days of great sports cars are behind us, doom and gloom ad nauseum. But all is not yet lost, and the chief designer and car nut at Mazda, Ikuo Maeda, has hope for the return of the RX-7--provided the U.S. economy makes a comeback, too.

We've heard Maeda talk about the revived RX-7 in the past, and there's not a lot new here, except for the contingency plan. But in that contingent statement--that he would like to bring one of Mazda's most legendary sports cars provided the U.S. economy turns things around--we have the seed of a time frame.

With the country still digging out of the dumps of the banking industry's banzai into bankruptcy that took the carmakers with it, we're still looking at several more years before many buyers will feel comfortable spending on a Sunday-only car. But those few years will provide the lead-time necessary to get the renascence of the rotary-powered RX-7 underway.

So what can we expect if Maeda's conditions are met? Likely a Nagare/Furai-inspired design sporting a two-seat layout, a new rotary engine--possibly based on the experimental 1.6-liter, 270-horsepower 16X Renesis--and a more focused, lightweight approach to sports car purity than the RX-8. Weight for the RX-7 revival has been speculated in the past to be targeted as low as 2,600 pounds, a positively featherweight figure by today's standards, and over 200 pounds lighter than the RX-8. A dual-clutch transmission may also be offered, though with a true enthusiast like Maeda at the helm of the project, purists can expect a six-speed manual to be the standard cog swapper.

But at this point, it's all speculation--right down to the production of the car itself. What would you like to see in the next RX-7? Do you want a techno-monster to battle the Nissan GT-R? Or a stripped-down, old-school, no-fuss sportscar to fill the gap left by the exeunt of the S2000 and truly revive the RX-7 name? Something in between perhaps? Let us know below.

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Comments (5)

  1. By david Posted: 3/10/2010 12:40pm PST

    Mazda should release a concept car of it, rx-7's have always been my dream car
     
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  2. By Franz Posted: 3/11/2010 12:38pm PST

    I would like to see a 3-rotor engine with real power in the new rx7, rx8 or rx9. At the moment I own a Rx8. It is a good car. But it should have a third rotor. I know this won't happen. But let me dream.
     
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  3. By Dan Posted: 3/13/2010 10:41pm PST

    I own and love the RX-8 as is with the exception of wanting more torque/power. I would be first in line to buy the next generation if it still was a 4 seater with more power and in the same price range.
     
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  4. fb_1015232196 avatar Eric Poh Posted: 5/19/2010 10:57am PDT

    answering the question above... yes pls i would like another techno monster that can rival the gtr35... no old skool pls... ideally the new rx7/rx9 would look alot like the furai and be turbocharged and something as great as the gtr35
     
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  5. By Paul Posted: 12/4/2010 6:13am PST

    I love my rx8. I'm OK with the engine performance because I care more about the elegance of the engine design. What about reducing the size of the rotor, adding more of them, and then adding the ability to cut fuel to some rotors to save fuel? It is about the engine. Design a modular rotary so enthusiasts can assemble a 12 rotor super car if they wanted.
     
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