📰 Auto News Mazda RX-8 to die as RX-7 resurfaces for 2012?

[Mook]

The rumormill just can't stop churning out stories of an impending Mazda RX-7 revival. We've been hearing that we should expect the rotary-powered sports car any day now... for the last few years. It's still yet to show its smiling face. Still, here we are with another report indicating that the next RX-7 is just around the corner, this time as a 2011 or 2012 model.

Inside Line reports that the birth of the two-seat Mazda RX-7 will mean the death of the current four-door, four-seat RX-8 that's been in circulation since 2004. Furthermore, the gang in Santa Monica says that next-gen rotary sportscar may not up the performance ante of either the last twin-turbo RX-7 or even the current RX-8's 1.3-liter 232-horsepower Renesis engine. This, despite earlier rumors that the latest 1.6-liter 16X powerplant was kicking out as much as 350 horses while still achieving superior fuel economy over its forebears.

Mazda could instead return to the ethos of the first RX-7 from 1979, fielding a lightweight two-seater powered by a new version of the Wankel producing somewhere between 200 and 250 horsepower. If true, we can expect the next RX-7 to cost somewhere around $25,000 and be positioned against cars like the Hyundai Genesis Coupe and the upcoming RWD Toyota/Subaru.

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[Yaj Yak]

good

 

[Jizzums]

if they make it look like any of the new mazdas, out.

 

[Turbocharged400sbc]

my first car was a 79 rx7 lol...the only year with the depression in the rear panel

i beat the piss outta that thing

 

[TransHed]

Gotta see pictures... or at least a sketch lol

 

[BillyBru]

Gotta see pictures... or at least a sketch lol

i never really liked the rx-8 and I'm kinda surprised it has lasted this long. I do like the rx-7's though...sexy.

 

[Bru]

I hate the RX-8's engine so much. Puny turd of a powerplant.

 

[Mook]

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Despite the tough economy, the Mazda RX-7 revival is still going to happen. Sources close to Mazda tell us that we could see a new RX-7 as early as 2011. However, the arrival of the 2012 Mazda RX-7 of the RX-7 will almost certainly signal the end for the expensive, slow-selling Mazda RX-8.

As we reported early this year, the next RX-7 will use Mazda's new-generation Renesis 16X rotary engine which debuted at the 2007 Tokyo Auto Show in the Taiki concept. This 1,600cc, two-rotor Wankel engine has a 800cc x 2 configuration versus the 654cc x 2 configuration in the current RX-8.

The upshot of the extra displacement should be better performance, as the 16X is said to be capable of up to 350 horsepower and 215 pound-feet of torque versus the RX8's paltry 232 hp and 159 lb-ft.

Early reports suggested that Mazda would take advantage of this power potential and build a 300-hp RX-8 with styling cues from the Furai concept (shown at the 2008 Detroit Auto Show)and a mid-$30Ks price tag.

However, sources close to Mazda now suggest that the company will take a simpler approach and create a car whose character evokes the original RX-7 (sold in the U.S. from 1979-1985). Horsepower is expected to be in the 200-250 range and the pricetag will be about $25,000.

A simpler, more efficient RX-7 would likely be a better fit with current economic and legislative realities, though we hear Mazda is still trying to reduce the weight of the 16X engine while lowering fuel consumption (the age-old problem with rotaries). If the company can sort it all out, the 2012 RX-7 should provide interesting competition for the Hyundai Genesis Coupe and the production version of the Toyota FT-86.

 

[Turk]

Didn't the rx7 from the 90s have 300hp?

 

[Mook]

started w/ 252 ended its run w/ 276

 

[Turk]

So the new ones are less powerful than the old ones. Makes sense.

 

[Jizzums]

started w/ 252 ended its run w/ 276

the twin turbo ones?

cause mine only had 160 haha

 

[YoushallgoFo]

So the new ones are less powerful than the old ones. Makes sense.

the 300zx had more power than the first 350z.

the Rx7 revival would be like the same thing. I'm sure if it ends up being popular it'll get a boost. or a mazdaspeed version.

 

[Bob Kazamakis]

why go backwards in a name? odd.....

also curious on this 1.6L twin rotary.

 

[Turbocharged400sbc]

the only way they can make this work is to go after the 79-85 setups, manual steering, manual acc, live axle/watts link, no ac, etc etc.

if they make it cheep, they'll have the same success as the early rx7's

 

[Bob Kazamakis]

So how are they getting more displacement? Wider housing/rotor?

 

[Turbocharged400sbc]

either wider or bigger.....i would think they would aim for wider as not to increase the surface speed of the apex seals and reducing moi

 

[Bob Kazamakis]

Plus I'd imagine tooling wise it would be more cost effective to make them thicker vs. Bigger.

 

[YoushallgoFo]

I think the logic with the Rx8 was that it wasn't supposed to be the "2nd gen" rx7 but a different model all together. so I think they can go back to rx7, idk Rx9 could work.

 

[Bob Kazamakis]

3rd gen rx7 you mean?

 

[YoushallgoFo]

3rd gen rx7 you mean?

now that I check I suppose it'd be the 4th gen actually