I'm interested--but I think what will be really telling is how "production ready" this concept looks. The wilder the concept look, the further it is from being a reality.

That could be a possibility too. There's a couple ways they could go that'd make sense. They've usually had a higher performance RWD car along with the miata previously though. This could be a FWD or AWD speed 3 or something similar. That would also make sense.

well mazda concepts are usually pretty close to production. It should give a pretty good idea as to what it'd look like.

Actually, it supposedly can be done.

Freedom Motors (owned by Paul Moller the inventor of the Super Trapp muffler and the "genius" behind one of the longest running scams in Aviation vaporware, the SkyCar) has one they claim meets California's ULEV standards. Of course, in true Moller style they haven't produced the engine in any volume close to production but they will be "any day" now.

Oh yea, and it supposedly runs on any fuel you put it in it (gas, NG, Propane, diesel, kerosene, jet fuel...)

http://www.freedom-motors.com/index....d=77&Itemid=59


OK, never mind.....


In the end, I'd love to see the RX-7 come back! I like the silhouette.

Oh ya, nothing like an aircraft engine that you can pour whatever fuel you want into. That could be fun. I know exactly how reliable our "multifuel" army truck were and there is not a hope in hell I would want to be in the sky in one.

I'm forcibly suppressing my enthusiasm until the concept is shown they consider production of a new RX...

After Nissan axed the IDX, I'm not sure my heart can handle another letdown.

I really like the styling of the new Miata, if only if it was longer and had more power/lsd/lower/center of gravity/hardtop/speed version. Nobody would buy it but I would pick one up used in 2020

Excitement, building! I've been waiting for a new sports car from Mazda for a while now. The new Miata is probably the best looking one yet, for me anyways, but I'd still prefer it as a hardtop. I'm not a rotary hater but I've never liked what I hear about reliability from them. The FR-S has given me a taste of sports car and I never want to go back, but I also long for a new Mazda. I am a fanboi. I didn't know if they'd ever do it but I hoped.


If this is real and has the right engine, bye-bye FR-S.

--Super Speculation MODE ACTIVATED--

Just looking at that shape, it screams "FD3S RX-7" But Mazda has done these types of concepts before.

so Here's what I think.

3 possible Options

RX-7 Return, powered by the new 16x rotary that supposedly fixed the issues of past rotary engines. That will become Mazda's Halo car.

RX-9 Basically the RX-8 successor and made to directly compete with the 86/BRZ. Many of you will argue the the MX-5 is the competitor, but it really isn't (at least not directly). The MX-5 has no rear seats or hard top. This will often deter many potential buyers.

Cosmo Concept-Mazda just makes a retro concept to highlight the Cosmo's design and they have the potential to do but ultimately won't.

Nissan lost me when they canned the MID-4 back in the 80's. I'm still bitter....

Im just going to leave this here....(played with photoshop for a bit :thumbup:)

GET HYPE

Tons of hints in there to be construed as a new RX. In any case a coupe based on the ND chassis even as just a concept experiment is a good thing.

Given that they posted that silhouette I'd bet against FWD, it would be very unconventional in the current market to fight the Focus, Civic, GTI and other FWD 'sporty' cars without offering the same level of practicality. They can't fight FWD on speed alone as there is a perceived glass ceiling there and the alternative would be MPG for a CRZ fighter? AWD is a possibility although that's really only worked out for Nissan and Subaru in relatively small numbers.

My money is on either:
A. Super car concept in the vein of the new NSX and BMW-Hybrid-Supra and i8 as an eco-friendly sports coupe with a rotary generator and electric motors and batteries. (would match the Cosmo comparison as a top of the line contender)
B. Hardtop ND design experiment like the aforementioned IDX and Stinger poised as relatively affordable, awesome on paper, poor business decision in reality. Won't pretend to know what engine, could be anything from a V6 to 16X to 2.5L SkyActiv turbo.

Like I said could be RX-7 but knowing Mazda they might try to bit at Toyota and Subaru with an 86 fighter.

That's why I suggested "RX-9/RX-8 successor", looking at the profile the biggest clue is the window all RX-7s had one single window, basically mashing the B and C pillars into one, this has what appears to be separate B and C pillars

Do we really have to wait a month for more information?

Nah the click baits will have added all sorts of details and true facts any minute now.

I'm excited to see what this concept is... I miss my FC TurboII still. While I would love a rotary, I would still be excited to see a proper sports coupe with a hard top again from Mazda.

Normally I would agree that the window is a big design clue pointing against an RX-7. They all had single door windows with the rear glass wrapping around the body. However, the same window design was also on every gen corvette as well up until the new c7 came out. Keep hope alive!! (although I do love the old window style).

Curious to see if they will ever bring back FD-style door handles and brake ducts too.

Awesome news!!! Can't wait till the unveiling...hopefully its something awesome!!!

Looks almost Supra-ish.

The shape looks very obviously influenced by the 1st and 3rd gen RX-7s.

I hope the make both a rotary and piston versions.... imagine how great it would have been if they made a version of the RX-8 with the MS3 engine.

Agreed. After owning a MKII Celica-Supra, MKIII Supra, Z32, 3G Eclipse, and BRZ, the FC Turbo II is still the one I miss the most.


Buying the first year of a sportscar, with a brand new engine, that's also a ROTARY, has to be one of the dumbest automotive decisions anyone could ever make...


BUT, I'd be the first in line at my local Mazda dealership if they can make it the same size and weight as a BRZ with a NA 300hp+ 16x rotary.

For me if it had quality suspension, light weight, similar practicality to the 86 and a reasonable price point I'd be making all the excuses I could to get into one.

300+ horses, ~2,800 lbs, and Mazda double wishbones would probably put it out of my price range, you'd be into Alfa 4C and base Cayman territory swinging at the 'Vette.

Such a hopeful outlook haha.

Its either nsx/ft1 beater or 86 competitor. There's no way it'll be FWD not with those body lines and long hood base, plus they already have the mazda speed3.

I'm hoping its the latter as it'll be a car I can afford.

I'm sold at "NA 300hp+ 16x rotary" remark above. I will definitely be in line at my mazda dealership to book one of those if they really come out with that setup!!

But will it pass emissions lol.

Maybe then can learn from vw's mistakes and come up with a better and well hidden software...:D

That's a pretty big performance gap between an nsx-fighter and 86 competitor. i mean nsx is going to be supercar territory.
I'd love to see it slot in to compete with the m4 / cayman (without the luxury price) but I don't know how realistic that would be. The 300+ hp / 2700lbs figures people are hoping for might do the trick.
An 86 competitor would be nice for the price, but usually at that price point, there are always compromises. I wouldn't mind if it were a bit more expensive. Something a little less boy-racer/ barebones / cheap materials would be nice to see. Besides the Miata is right in the 86's price range anyway.

The other thing will be how well it responds to mods. If I recall, with the Renesis, bolt-ons made little-to-no power and it didn't take well to boost.
But I'm getting ahead of myself. We don't even know what kind of engine it will have.

Most of us are keen on engine possibilities, even if it's just an ND coupe with the same 2.0L it will likely get some interest. A potential speed3 engine or rotary would be worth getting excited over

Hah, maybe they're totally screwing with us and this is the power retracting hardtop ND or a hypothetical replacement. Outline is vaguely Z4 Coupe like...

I can see myself swapping a rotary engine in this new chasis if mazda did not decided to make it

Doesn't look like a ND derivative to me as it's missing the characteristic front fender bulge. I can be totally off the mark though.

Also, Mazda, please please please could you not make the front of the car look like a catfish.

Proportions look off for a 'new RX-7'...hood way too long - like it's trying to be a Cheetah or something...

https://s-media-cache-ak0.pinimg.com...4398b588ce.jpg

Oh Autoblog...
http://www.autoblog.com/2015/10/16/m...concept-tokyo/

Unless it has a rotary engine it won't be called RX-anything. RX is reserved for rotary powered vehicles only.

There's definitely a niche in the auto market for a 300 hp 2800 lb car for $30-35k. Esp if it's a 2+2. There's literally nothing else for sale that fits that description.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Hey. Maybe it will be a Corvette beater like the RX-7 FD was back in the day. :D

There's probably also a niche for a 600hp 2000lb car for $15k dollars....

I think the reason there's no cars that fit your description is that it is basically impossible to do and pass modern US crash standards, emissions, and reliability.

All the 250+ tq fr cars come in at 3200ish minimum regardless of price, even w one off chassis.

The only way to get close is Mr or rr, which have their own problems, and can't get close to $30k

Corvette beater for Corvette prices without Corvette reliability. Sounds like a winning formula, although the C7 Z06 does lower the bar on the last part...

While some are hoping for a new FD, many many more would actually buy a new FB/FC. All depends on what's actually viable in the market.

The FB/FC were Porsche 924/944 killers at half price, given Porsche's current entry level sports cars (Cayman/Boxster) are around $60k and can give the FD a run for it's money, a modern spiritual FB/FC would land around $30k (both in terms of the 1/2 Porsche and inflation adjusted) and very similar performance to the FD, maybe a little less power due to emissions. ~275 real crank hp, ~2,800 lbs, ~$30k, not quite as fast in a straight line as it's direct competition 370Z, STI, Mustang GT, Camaro SS but handling to rival the Cayman/Boxster and most of the power with a weight advantage. Actually fits quite nicely in the current landscape as you could always argue for a supercharged 86 against this hypothetical RX.

A hypothetical FD would be Corvette and 911 priced at $60k+ with the performance to boot, an awesome package but one I would have to wait a long time to own.

1979 Sports Car review:
http://www.caranddriver.com/comparis...omparison-test

http://media.caranddriver.com/files/...erformance.pdf

Top Gear 924/FC
[ame="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dCLL54aB74U"]Top Gear RX-7 vs 924 - YouTube[/ame]



Can't find the 944/FC comparison :(

I don't think it's an unreasonable request like a 600hp 2000lb car for $15k dollars is.

The 370Z is in the price range, but has a more powerful engine and is heavier. What he wanted is probably a weaker engine which is cheaper combined with a lighter body which is more expensive. I completely agree with him; if there was a car in the ~35k range with ~280hp and ~250tq and is still considered light, I would get that over the twins.

So would freaking everyone else in the world. Everyone wants a sub 3000lb 300hp $30k car. And you think manafacturers have their head up their ass and just refuse to make such a car?!?!?!?!

I'm saying I don't really think its possible. A 250tq engine means a big v6 or a turbo i4 that is about the same weight, and heavy driveline components. Do you think that it is coincidence that all the 250tq cars are 32-3400 lbs? There are reliability, emissions, and crash standard issues.

Like why doesn't Mazda just drop in the Mazdaspeed 3 turbo i4 into the miata???? Or why doesnt Subaru drop in the fa20dit in the twins?!?!?!?!

It's because they can't. Or it will be prohibitively expensive or heavy.

Then we can all complain about the lousy interior plastics and road noise.