Report: Mazda RX-7 Returns for 2017 with 450-hp Turbo Rotary

[Wingznut]

Rumors are ramping up regarding a new rotary-powered Mazda coming in 2017 to coincide with the 50-yr anniversary of the first Mazda rotary engine (the Mazda Cosmo in 1967.)

All the buzz around Mazda is currently centered on the upcoming 2016 MX-5 Miata, but there’s another rumored Mazda sports car project further down the pipeline that could mean the return of the rotary engine. Motoring is reporting that a new Mazda sports car will arrive in 2017 with a turbocharged rotary engine making around 450 hp.

Take my money now!

 

[Railgun]

Rumors have existed for years regarding a new rotary-powered Mazda [read: RX-7] coming every year since 2002

Fixed...

 

[Wingznut]

Fixed...

Heh, well played.

 

[Jimzz]

I never kept up with it but was their a reason the RX-8 never got a turbo? I remember the RX7's with a turbo seem to work so much better than without. Almost like a diesel with and without a turbo.

 

[exar333]

IF (and I won't hold my breath) this happens, I WILL be purchasing one. 450hp rotary power on a tweaked RX8 chassis? Count me in!

 

[cbrsurfr]

Just let the rotary die already.

 

[Zivic]

I never kept up with it but was their a reason the RX-8 never got a turbo? I remember the RX7's with a turbo seem to work so much better than without. Almost like a diesel with and without a turbo.

not sure I agree with the the diesel comparison. from my knowledge of how the motor works, the rotory has 3 compression zones per rotor, so the argument can be made that for a two rotor motor, it acts like a larger ... say v6 style piston engine despite its small displacement.


I would guess the 8 never got a turbo for a few reasons. emission, fuel consumption, cost, and in turn final pricing to customers. I have a local guy that works on them and he has commented the 8 really didn't look like it had boost in mind. something about the intake side being extremely small.

I'd love to see a new 7 come out. doubt I would ever have money to buy one until they were used for a decade or so

 

[Jimzz]

not sure I agree with the the diesel comparison. from my knowledge of how the motor works, the rotory has 3 compression zones per rotor, so the argument can be made that for a two rotor motor, it acts like a larger ... say v6 style piston engine despite its small displacement.


I would guess the 8 never got a turbo for a few reasons. emission, fuel consumption, cost, and in turn final pricing to customers. I have a local guy that works on them and he has commented the 8 really didn't look like it had boost in mind. something about the intake side being extremely small.

I'd love to see a new 7 come out. doubt I would ever have money to buy one until they were used for a decade or so

In 1990, one of the years there was a turbo and non-turbo motor, there was only a 1mpg difference for EPA standards in gas mileage. That and all 3rd Gen were turbo and got the same rating of gas mileage as the previous non-turbo. Esp after they got caught over rating the HP of the RX8.

After working on and driving both the difference between turbo and non was day and night for me. So that was why the RX8 being non-turbo was really surprising.

 

[Imported]

The FD RX7 is still one of the most gorgeous cars on the road. If they only updated that slightly to meet regulations and include that 450HP motor, I'd buy it in a heartbeat (pending price).

 

[senseamp]

Another Mazda car ruined by a dead end engine.

 

[Imported]

Another Mazda car ruined by a dead end engine.

Just drop an LS1 in it right?

 

[Wingznut]

Another Mazda car ruined by a dead end engine.

I'm going to guess that you've never driven a rotary.

 

[exar333]

I'm going to guess that you've never driven a rotary.

This.

The RX-8 rotary was a failure because it was (IMHO) under-powered somewhat, but more importantly was difficult to mod. The looks were a little in question, especially following such a beautiful FD RX7, but the moddability wasn't there.

Driving a rotary can be a blast. If this car comes with TT from the factory, it could be a BEAST for stock or modding driving. If they can tweak the chassis from the RX8, which handles marvelously, this would own pretty much any other car under 100k (and many above too...lol).

If the car is good enough, I would be just fine with doing some re-build work every 100k. As long as the MT is an option, and it is beefy, I WILL get this. This gets be excited with all the stupid hybrid/performance cars coming out now. This car would be small and light. It is what everyone has been waiting for since the RX7 went away.

 

[exar333]

As an aside, this is EXACTLY what the Japanese car companies need to do. They are way to conservative and need to put out some just ridiculous cars. Look at the press the 700hp Challenger Hellcat/Charger xxx are getting. They are crazy, and maybe even a little impractical, but somewhat affordable.

I know the 90s was the 'heyday' of JDM performance cars, but look at the risks they took:
3000GT
Supra
00ZX-TT
RX-7
GT-R(s)
NSX

These are just a few and really inspired a lot of other cars from the same company as some of the tech trickled down. Those Halo cars got people excited about Japanese car companies. They don't need to be big money-makers if they spurn other sales. If they are not careful, they will lose all their faithful audience to Korean/US/Euro makers as they run out of patience for a new 'exiting' vehicle.

 

[senseamp]

I'm going to guess that you've never driven a rotary.

I test drove the RX-8. It was a perfect sports car, ruined by the inefficient, gutless, oil burning engine. Mazda needs to stop ruining great cars with these technological dead end engines. They got a pass when gas was $1.50, but those days are long gone. Use the R&D money for something useful.

 

[monkeydelmagico]

A new RX# would be great but not with a rotary engine. What is wrong with advancing the development of Mazda's smaller turbo motor's? I can't understand why such a small company would waste money on an engine configuration that the public will automatically reject.

 

[Wingznut]

I

A new RX# would be great but not with a rotary engine. What is wrong with advancing the development of Mazda's smaller turbo motor's? I can't understand why such a small company would waste money on an engine configuration that the public will automatically reject.

Because rotary aficionados will not "automatically reject" it. This would not be a car designed for the masses.

The rotary engine is a beautiful thing. If you've never driven one, then you wouldn't understand.

Check out Top Gear's review of the RX-8 on YouTube.

Mazda RX8 car review - Top Gear - BBC autos: http://youtu.be/g5FNjyaLfC8

 

[Wingznut]

I test drove the RX-8. It was a perfect sports car, ruined by the inefficient, gutless, oil burning engine. Mazda needs to stop ruining great cars with these technological dead end engines. They got a pass when gas was $1.50, but those days are long gone. Use the R&D money for something useful.

Sorry, but a Renesis Rotary at 9000rpm is not gutless by any stretch.
And a big chunk of the reason you call it a "perfect sports car" is because the Rotary allows the car to have a near perfect 50/50 balance. Throw in a heavy reciprocating engine, and you lose that.

 

[smackababy]

I
Because rotary aficionados will not "automatically reject" it. This would not be a car designed for the masses.

The rotary engine is a beautiful thing. If you've never driven one, then you wouldn't understand.

Check out Top Gear's review of the RX-8 on YouTube.

Mazda RX8 car review - Top Gear - BBC autos: http://youtu.be/g5FNjyaLfC8

My roommate in the military had an RX-8. It was a fun car, but the rotary is far from the perfect engine. It does have a great power to weight ratio but it wouldn't survive mass production in today's car market. Terrible fuel economy, terrible emissions, and those cars crept far to high in price.

It is a shame though, because the 3rd Gen RX-7 was truly a beautiful car.

 

[senseamp]

And steam engine aficionados are going to reject a gasoline powered car. Who cares?
Mazda is a small company wasting its limited R&D budget on a technological dead end.
It's also ruining appeal of their otherwise great cars to the general public by putting engine that is underpowered for how much fuel it burns in them. That engine also happens to burn oil as part of normal operation, which to an average consumer is not normal at all. If someone offered a traditional 4 cylinder engine with same characteristics as the rotary engine, they would be ridiculed.

 

[LevelSea]

Sorry, but a Renesis Rotary at 9000rpm is not gutless by any stretch.
And a big chunk of the reason you call it a "perfect sports car" is because the Rotary allows the car to have a near perfect 50/50 balance. Throw in a heavy reciprocating engine, and you lose that.

Keep the perfect balance. I'd rather not have grandma in her V6 Camry smoke me from a stoplight.

 

[smackababy]

Keep the perfect balance. I'd rather not have grandma in her V6 Camry smoke me from a stoplight.

Hey! A grandma pulled up next to me at a stoplight and smoked me in her H-6... I am still baffled a 70+ year old lady was driving a 911 Turbo S. =(

 

[crashtech]

Mazda rotary is hands-down the smoothest, highest revving engine I've ever experienced. It really seemed like the tach had to be wrong, so effortless and drama-free were the RPMs. They will always have some fuel efficiency and high HC issues due to the large surface area of the combustion 'chamber,' but gutless they are not, once you figure out HP per liter, and more importantly for a sports car, HP per pound. It well could be that material science has helped mitigate some of the worst shortcomings of the rotary. If so, that would be sweet. I can't help but think the haters don't have extensive real-world experience with what really is a remarkable design.

 

[Ferzerp]

Sorry, but a Renesis Rotary at 9000rpm is not gutless by any stretch.
And a big chunk of the reason you call it a "perfect sports car" is because the Rotary allows the car to have a near perfect 50/50 balance. Throw in a heavy reciprocating engine, and you lose that.

My c7 begs to differ. You just mount the engine as far back as possible and move the transmission to the rear.

 

[SKORPI0]

OP forgot to put a link about this "rumor".

Zombie News: Next-Gen Mazda Rotary Engines Could Arrive in 2017 - August 2011 article.