Mazda has officially endorsed plans to build a rotary-powered RX-7 replacement. Boy racers and rotory fans will be able to snap one up by 2006.
It's nigh on a decade since the RX-7 last rolled down the production line in Hiroshima, but news is filtering through that will have rotorheads humming.
The new RX-7 concept... its a rotary too!
With RX-8 officially on sale in its major markets, Mazda is now turning to its next sports-car project. The company has officially endorsed plans to build a rotary-powered RX-7 replacement.
In the footsteps of the 1978 original, it will be a sleek, lightweight two-seater. Some platform, suspension and driveline elements will be borrowed from the RX-8 parts bin. Although expected to launch in 2006, a concept will probably be unveiled by Lewis Booth at the Tokyo Motor Show next month.
An amped version of the Renesis RX-8 engine is likely to power RX-7. With wider and stiffer rotor housings, a higher redline, and displacement out to about 1.6 litres, Mazda reckons on output of around 225 kW in normally aspirated form. It appears there will be no turbocharged version. Fear not, though, as for the first time ever, Mazda is working on a supercharged rotary option for RX-7.
The production car, code-named J77, is likely to be shorter and wider than the RX-8. There may even be a cabriolet variant with a fabric or folding hard-top hood.
Forthcoming Japanese performance cars entering the final stages of development include the Toyota Supra, Honda NSX, Nissan GT-R (twin-turbo 3.5 V6, 4wd) and, possibly, Subaru's 300 kW B11S.
New Zealand Autocar Magazine
Artist sketch of the new RX7 HIER!
It's nigh on a decade since the RX-7 last rolled down the production line in Hiroshima, but news is filtering through that will have rotorheads humming.
The new RX-7 concept... its a rotary too!
With RX-8 officially on sale in its major markets, Mazda is now turning to its next sports-car project. The company has officially endorsed plans to build a rotary-powered RX-7 replacement.
In the footsteps of the 1978 original, it will be a sleek, lightweight two-seater. Some platform, suspension and driveline elements will be borrowed from the RX-8 parts bin. Although expected to launch in 2006, a concept will probably be unveiled by Lewis Booth at the Tokyo Motor Show next month.
An amped version of the Renesis RX-8 engine is likely to power RX-7. With wider and stiffer rotor housings, a higher redline, and displacement out to about 1.6 litres, Mazda reckons on output of around 225 kW in normally aspirated form. It appears there will be no turbocharged version. Fear not, though, as for the first time ever, Mazda is working on a supercharged rotary option for RX-7.
The production car, code-named J77, is likely to be shorter and wider than the RX-8. There may even be a cabriolet variant with a fabric or folding hard-top hood.
Forthcoming Japanese performance cars entering the final stages of development include the Toyota Supra, Honda NSX, Nissan GT-R (twin-turbo 3.5 V6, 4wd) and, possibly, Subaru's 300 kW B11S.
New Zealand Autocar Magazine
Artist sketch of the new RX7 HIER!
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