Mazda Plans New RX-9 Sports Car

[boomee]

Well looks like mazda has a 2 door coupe in the works that should be making around 300 hp check the linky out at edmunds for the scoop. I For one am happy that mazda has somehting on the table as someone who is an enthusiast of Subaru, Mazda, Ford, and sometimes nissan i think this is good news. I wil lhave to keep an eye on this one with this coming out and the Toyota FT86 as well as the current 370z, 2011 sti and yes the mustang looks like there are cars for everyone. I just hope the Mazda runs on gas and not hydorgen uggh

http://www.insideline.com/mazda/rx-9/ma ... s-car.html

[Sabre]

Mazda is "well advanced" in the development of a new sports car that is "likely to be called RX-9" and would be powered by a new-generation supercharged rotary engine.

According to Britain's Autocar, the so-called RX-9 is a two-door coupe, "built in the image of the most recent RX-7," unlike the current Mazda RX-8, which has a complicated four-door configuration.

The RX-9 is expected to share major chassis components with the next-generation MX-5 roadster, according to Autocar. Its new rotary engine, designated 16X, will be larger than the 2.6-liter twin-rotor unit in the RX-8, fitted with an electric supercharger and developing more than 300 horsepower.

Mazda still has not decided whether the new engine will run on gasoline or hydrogen.

Inside Line says: Look for a prototype some time next year, perhaps at the Tokyo show. — Paul Lienert, Correspondent

If they actually make this, I would definitely consider it.

[chicken n waffles]

will this new rotary have zero torque/drink oil like it's going out of style?

such a hot car. it'd be a shame.

[Sabre]

will this new rotary have zero torque/drink oil like it's going out of style?

Sadly, that is probably going to be true. Rotaries are great at making HP, but not so much in the TRQ department. They have improved the seals over time, but they still do drink oil. They also use ridiculous amounts of gas to make power (A guy here at work used 12x1600cc injectors on a RX-7 to make 1000+HP).

[snaab]

I'm both a little hot and bothered. I will wait with bated breath.

[Mr Kleen]

meh.

[complacent]

meh.

agreed.

[Sabre]

Really? I LOVED the old RX-7's... this is looking like a decent replacement.

[Mr Kleen]

Really? I LOVED the old RX-7's...

I'm sorry, I thought we were discussing the RX-9, which looks like a new Mazda 6.
not the RX-7, which looks like this:

Rx7.jpg

I LOVE the FD RX-7. this new design doesn't do anything for me.

[complacent]

I support Gabe 100% in this matter.

You shut your filthy little whore mouth if you dare put the new RX-9 in teh same vein as the FD RX-7.

[boomee]

thats what i think mazda is going for some sorta successor to the much loved ( but pain in the Ass to repair) Mazda RX-7

[chicken n waffles]

i love the rx7 as much as the next guy but it's time to turn the page.

[Mr Kleen]

i love the rx7 as much as the next guy but it's time to turn the page.

[GaToR]

Question is:

Will Mazda beat Subaru/Toyota and Honda at bringing a new sporty coupe to the market... i.e. in the next 100 or so years?


They've got the MX5, the MX5 has a bigger niche than any of the Wankels ever did. That'll probably do, in the eyes of the higher-ups. I envision their engineers continuing to over the idea, but their accountants to keep it.

i.e. I expect this to happen: not ever. But I'll be pleasantly surprized if I'm wrong.

[boomee]

I sorta agree but I believe that the miata has a slightly bigger niche because the car is easier to work on and more accessable but. There are still a lot of guys that love that rotoary engine I dont think they are on the east coast i think most of them are in the west or central states. I have a freind who goes to sevenstock every year even though his rx-7 is totaled. Do I want Mazda to copy exactly the old Rx7? Heck no but I think if they improve enough on the design and functionality of the rotory ( I E more reliable and more power) make it handle with that Mazda DNA (I love how RX8 Handle but arnt punishing)and make it look decent and price it decent they will have a hit. As much as I love AWD and will always probably have at least one Subie in the house( FXT FTW!!!!) I hope some japanese carmakers LIke toyota.honda and mazda do bring back some RWD goodness other than the 370Z and maybe the Genisis coupe ( yuck) there is nothing out there unless you go to the Dark side and get a ..... Mustang/Camaro.
Me likes the 2011 mustang. Oh well I am at work dreaming no car for me anytime soon I need to get another job better yet a better job back to my hunt.

[GaToR]

Don't disagree that lots of people love the various sports cars.

I only contend that nobody pulls out their wallet and buys them. They go for exactly what you alluded to... Mustang, Camaro, etc. Because lets face it, there's really nothing wrong with a V6 Mustang. Or a V8 Camaro. They are cheap, use common parts, and will likely run for 100K miles, few issues. They have big trunks... Really no argument not to get one if you're looking for a bargain performance coupe.

S2000 was arguably the better 'sports car' than the Z. Z outsold the S2000 10-to-1. Z is still going strong, S2000 is in the history books and used car pages. Z is heavier, but by my estimation, more GT-car-ish and comfortable. Just a car, that happens to have 2 seats. Genesis coupe steals a little from that market because it is even slightly more practical. That's what the people want with their wallets, which matters more than wanting via Facebook 'liking'.

I don't doubt that 5000 people will buy whatever new improved Wankel if they spend $Texas to design and build it... but then you're talking halo car, and it will never recoup the costs except for advertising the rest of the line.

Problem is, it still won't compete with its cylinder-powered competition on economy and reliability. I just don't see the Wankel matching or surpassing true cylinders in terms of reliability. It is either for the truly 'hard core' (rare) or those that can afford a 'toy' (even more rare).

The boring, sensible side prevails in most of us, most of the time. 5000 doesn't pay off development of a new car that doesn't even share an engine with any other car.


I just don't see the business case for it. And I'm using the death of the S2000 and really really really overdue birth of the Toyobaru as sort of evidence for that.
If Toyota/Subaru were really thinking their annual sales would double by bringing out the Toyobaru, they'd be ON it. But since they know it won't amount to much in terms of sales, they can take as long as they like. So I see the RX-X project going.

[Sabre]

I hope some japanese carmakers LIke toyota.honda and mazda do bring back some RWD goodness other than the 370Z and maybe the Genisis coupe ( yuck) there is nothing out there unless you go to the Dark side and get a ..... Mustang/Camaro.
Me likes the 2011 mustang. Oh well I am at work dreaming no car for me anytime soon I need to get another job better yet a better job back to my hunt.

Go drive a Genisis Coupe... I have to admit, it's a HELL of a car for the money. I'd easily put it on the same playing field as the Mustang/Camaro.

[scheherazade]

On a side note, the s2000 has really grown on me.
When it was available, I thought it was crappy.
Now, I see the sense in it.
Good fuel economy [for what it is, mid upper 20's].
Light, nimble, not too powerful. Easy to be hard on without immediately going illegal. All around good fun.
And it seats 1 more person than I need to seat 99% of the time.
When my old accord finally gives, I'll be replacing it with a used 2000 [/used ms ms5/used elise].

-scheherazade

[boomee]

I hope some japanese carmakers LIke toyota.honda and mazda do bring back some RWD goodness other than the 370Z and maybe the Genisis coupe ( yuck) there is nothing out there unless you go to the Dark side and get a ..... Mustang/Camaro.
Me likes the 2011 mustang. Oh well I am at work dreaming no car for me anytime soon I need to get another job better yet a better job back to my hunt.

Go drive a Genisis Coupe... I have to admit, it's a HELL of a car for the money. I'd easily put it on the same playing field as the Mustang/Camaro.

I put it on the sam level as the v6 versions of the mustang and Camaro, but not the V8 versions( especially the mustang GT) but that is my opinion