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Motor Trend Talks Future, Flex-Fuel Mazda RX-7

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1,291 views Apr 20, 2010

2008 Mazda Furai Concept

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The RX-8 is a fun car to drive. It has the fabulous rotary engine that the driver can rev the snot out of, and the rear seats and extra doors give the car an everyday practicality not available in the Nissan 370Z. It’s getting long in the tooth, and most people feel that the rotary engine deserves to be put into a lighter, sportier two-seater.

Motor Trend is reporting that Mazda does have some RX-7 test mules running around, even piloted by professional race drivers. The car is apparently not production ready because the bean counters do not agree with the combination of performance, efficiency and emissions the current rotary is providing, not to mention the oil consumption notorious in all rotaries.

The current rotary engine in the mules, called the 16X, makes a peak horsepower of around 300hp, and is claimed to propel the RX-7 from 0-60 in around 5 seconds.

What makes the engine more interesting is that it should be able to not only run on gasoline, but apparently the engine could run on diesel as well. If producing the 16x is feasible, it could give Mazda’s rotary a huge advantage.

The article continues to claim that the engine, much like a gas turbine engine, that the car probably run on anything, pointing to castor oil.

Hopefully Mazda could bring it to the United States, where there is most demand for the RX-7, under the $30,000 dollar price point to compete with the upcoming Toyobaru. More than likely, the price will probably parallel the current RX-8’s.

For the full article and renderings, follow the link below.

[Source: Motor Trend]