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I won't deny that we have tons of performance car options today, but thats different than a few decades ago. Most of the options are heavily based on boring econoboxes or sedans, because the automakers can't afford to give us the sexy dedicated platform coupes they used to (or at least that's what they tell us). The choices from the Germans, especially, are boggling Audi S & RS, BMW M, MB AMG...so much stuff. But oh, if you want something under 3500 lb with a manual transmission then you're SOL. In the end most of them are offering close to the exact same experience.

Mazda Spied Testing RX-8 Powertrain Mule For Possible RX-9

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Several radiators and scoops are necessary to keep this machine running cool.

Mazda maintains a small group of engineers specifically for rotary engine development. A new batch of spy photos reveal a hacked up RX-8 near the Nürburgring, and it's likely a test mule for this team's latest powertrain work. If the company can make a business case for the vehicle, this new Wankel might actually be available to the public in a few years.

This test mule reveals little about the powertrain, though. Cooling appears to be a major concern. Big radiators sit behind the intakes in the front fascia. Scoops in the center likely direct cool air to other parts of the engine bay, too. Whatever powers this RX-8 apparently runs quite hot.

Mazda's team have been working on a new rotary under the development name Skyactiv-R. A patent suggests that it might have a layout that flips the old Renesis engine by 180 degrees, which would move the exhaust ports to the top. This would allow shorter piping to a top-mount turbocharger, which should decrease lag. An electrically powered compressor is also a possibility. In total, the new Wankel could have an output around 400 horsepower (298 kilowatts).

Before getting to excited about an RX-9, understand that it wouldn't hit the road for several years – if at all. A recent report indicates that there's no room in Mazda's budget for a rotary-power sports coupe until 2020 at the soonest.

The Japanese automaker isn't ready to give up on the design yet. In 2016, the company excited enthusiasts by revealing the RX-Vision concept (above) that imagined a modern rotary-powered coupe that looked like a natural successor to the RX-7.

For its compact physical size, the Wankel engine makes fantastic power. Plus, they love to rev. These are great attributes for powering a lightweight sports car, but the layout comes with challenges, too. Mazda's engineers continue to struggle with how to make the rotary comply with modern fuel economy and emissions regulations, though.

If I owned a RX8 I would wrap the car in camo and put in some fake radiators just to mess with people.

I've never seen a test mule with those wheel hub thingies on before.

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Originally Posted by LancePower (Post 3014479)

I've never seen a test mule with those wheel hub thingies on before.

MB had something similar.

https://icdn-5.motor1.com/images/mgl...-spy-photo.jpg

I wonder if part of their "cooling" issues mazda is running into is because theyre using the RX8 body. One could design a passive airflow design that allows for heat vents and side vents and have the space for those extra cooling bits. Don't know. Not an engineer. :iono:

Alternate possibility - what if Mazda is actually planning is not a rotary but a new coupe based on their turbo 4?

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Originally Posted by cdrazic93 (Post 3015652)

Well, if this really is just a power train mule, it's likely they have extra cooling capacity to experiment with. It's cheaper to design a one-off cooling system with more capacity than you need and some active valves to control how much of that cooling capacity you actually use, than it is to design 10 one-off cooling systems and rotate through them.

They also probably have a million sensors and computers in the car that you can't see, which need ventilation as well.

You are also correct that the rx8 is likely not aerodynamically optimized for said cooling system.

Alternatively, Mazda could just be throwing something that looks cool out there to gauge interest or simply mess with people. I certainly would do something like that if I knew photographers were waiting to 'spy' something interesting.

The Mazda mule can be seen for a few seconds around the 10:50 mark.

[ame="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q-r82eJIkKM"]BEST-OF Industry Pool on the NÃ¼rburgring 2017! M3 CS, Corvette ZR1, M5 CS & MORE! - YouTube[/ame]

next gen gt86/rx9 confirmed, built in USA, likely a Corvette killer for $19k, mid-engined?
brz to go turbo diesel awd shooting brake
probably changing over in 2019 for the 2020 model year, if Fiat can do a 2 year car I have faith in Toyota

http://www.autonews.com/article/2018...autonews-blast

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Originally Posted by strat61caster (Post 3026337)

Are you trying to get a job with that highly reputable Australian automotive news site?

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Originally Posted by Rampage (Post 3026348)

Are you trying to get a job with that highly reputable Australian automotive news site?

I'm gunning for vh_supra's job, more potential to 'make the world a better place', they're not utilizing the full potential of synergetically copy-pasting articles into forum posts to 'disrupt the industry'

If I can steal viewership from motoring.au all the better, the true measure of 'changing the world' is how hard we millenials can tank 'old business'