Filed under: Concept Cars, Coupes, Tokyo Motor Show, Mazda
Tokyo Preview: Mazda's concept-inspired rotary coupe
by John Neff on Sep 18th 2007 at 4:56PM 
click above image for more pics
Word from inside the pages of an unnamed Japanese auto mag is that this car will debut on the Mazda stand at this year's Tokyo Motor Show next month. The coupe is obviously inspired by the trio of concepts that Mazda debuted on the auto show circuit last year: the Nagare, Ryuga and Kabura concepts. While we don't know if these pics are official from Mazda or merely renderings produced by the magazine, we can tell you that at least the head on shot is a touched up version of a Kabura sketch. In fact, the entire car looks mostly like a production version of the Kabura Concept, though it features cues from all three concepts.
Though it's not known whether it would be front- or rear-wheel drive, the article is reported to mention that it would be powered by the next generation of Mazda's rotary engine, the RENESIS(2), which itself will incorporate the first increase in displacement of a Mazda rotary engine from its famous 1.3 liters since 1974.
Regardless of whether or not these are official pics, one thing's for sure is that they show a car we'd want to buy. Ever since seeing the Nagare, Ryuga and Senku concepts, we've wondered how those radical concepts might translate into a production car, and we might have our answer in a few weeks.
Thanks for the tip, Michael!
[Source: Rotarynews.com]
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)
Ligor 5:11PM (9/18/2007)
not too bad
please be RWD and cost less than $30k base
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charlie 5:13PM (9/18/2007)
40th year Tokyo Motor Show
40th year of Mazda Rotary
10th year of 7stock this weekend. It would be nice to see at least the Facelift for the RX-8 if not the new Renesis2. Both would be fanatastic!!
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Tom F 5:21PM (9/18/2007)
Why the long hood? One of the great things about a rotary engine is that it is very short and compact. 3 rotors maybe?
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mk 5:30PM (9/18/2007)
mark me as salivating for hard info...
If they can make it sexier than the new 6, in a coupe, without going too insane (some of their concepts were a bit off the deep end) I will be quite interested.
I have been wanting the 3+1 Kabura concept for a while. This somewhere between that and an RX8 replacement with the 8's issues worked out will be very interesting.
Increased displacement is interesting, and I wonder how that will influence torque production, and whether it will be another rotor, or larger rotors...
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a_wolfn 5:30PM (9/18/2007)
Those are clearly renderings, possibly from Mazda itself. However, that car is stunning. I seriously hope that this is an actual car and not speculation. I seriously hope harder that this is a production car (RX-7?)
A few more weeks...
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Cameron 5:52PM (9/18/2007)
The best reason to buy an RX8 is to wait for the engine to die at 30,000 miles so you can put in an LS1/2.
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A.N.E. 6:47PM (9/18/2007)
And mess up the handling with the heavy motor?
787B 9:40AM (9/19/2007)
Go away, troll.
Cameron 1:32PM (9/19/2007)
Troll? I'm an avid import enthusiast, I own a mazda protege and a honda civic, was going to buy an RX8 until I browsed the owner forums and saw owner after owner after owner with engines dying between 30K and 45K miles. most of these owners were doing oil changes every 1500 miles as well, babying their cars.
it's a simple design flaw in the rotary engine. when you have to depend on tiny little apex seals that are BOUND to go out, it's only a matter of time before the engine needs a rebuild. sure, i will acknowledge that there are rotary owners out there that get a lot of trouble free mileage out of their car, but you are basically looking at a complete rebuild ever 100K, and constant topping off of oil, with oil changes every 1500 miles. if you're lucky.
the small engine size, slightly lower center of gravity and slightly reduced weight don't offset the picky maintenance and basic design flaw of having to rely on the apex seals. have you looked into trying to make power with a renesis? the aftermarket is virtually nonexistent.
and to stefan, try actually getting your hands on a skyline gtr motor or a supra TT motor. LS1/2s are WAY easier to come across, easier to maintain, easier to tune, and easier to extract power. this is coming from an import enthusiast. don't get me wrong, i can appreciate the technical achievements of the RB26DETT and the 2JZ-GTE, but as far as ease of engine swap, hands down it's the LS series small blocks. think of all of the extra plumbing and tuning and fabrication required to get both of those twin turbo motors to even fire up after a swap.
A.N.E. 3:40PM (9/20/2007)
@Cameron: That's a typical response from a person who never owned a rotary. Instead of becoming informed from forum members, you're passing judgment based on the complainers who toot the loudest horn. From my understanding the Wankel was banned since 1991 from 24 Heures du Mans because many of the pansy constructors complained of the unfair advantage. Very happy you're not a rotorhead.
stefan 6:07PM (9/18/2007)
@Cameron
Please don't talk about the stone age LS1/2, if any engine is wordt of replacing the 13B than its a 2JZ-GTE or RB26DETT and not LS1/2.
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Brian 8:33AM (9/19/2007)
Right, because any all-aluminum engine that makes more power than any engine even close to it in physical size and weight (let alone gas mileage) must surely be antiquated because of its valve-actuation design.
A.N.E. 4:29PM (9/20/2007)
People who don't fully understand engine technology dismiss pushrod designs. The GM small block is a versatile workhorse. Please don't be so narrow-minded.
Peter 6:26PM (9/18/2007)
If they build something like that, you can rest assured it will be rear drive.
The hood is long for styling.
While I love the theory of a Rotary, I don't know if I would want to live with one in practice. A light RWD coupe seems to be the place to put Mazdas 4Cyl Turbo. More power,torque,durability and better fuel econ. But hey, rotarys are cool. :-)
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787B 9:44AM (9/19/2007)
I live with rotaries every day. :-)
The NA rotaries are as- or more-durable than 4-bangers, and certainly more durable than a turbo-4. The Mazda turbo-4 is a very, very good engine and has it's place, but I'd like to see a lightweight true coupe with a Wankel. With more displacement, a "RENESIS2" will easily hit 300 HP and last 200,000 miles.
Economy will still suck, but I don't buy a sports car for economy. And it will still be better than my truck.
Peter 10:30AM (9/19/2007)
You are essentially just pulling numbers out of your rear. In theory cool. In practice, less torque, poor fuel economy, oil burning, higher emissions and questionable durability.
I don't see how you figure they are more durable than standard 4cyl from Mazda. A search on "RX8 Engine failure" would suggest otherwise.
I used to own a 91 SE Miata. You can have a small light sports car that gets great fuel economy. These days economy is important even to drivers who enjoy sports cars.
Pete 1:11PM (9/19/2007)
Agree totally, the turbocharged MZR 2.3 in the RWD 8 platform would rock.
phil 6:44PM (9/18/2007)
The hood doesn't even look that long, the canopy begins pretty far forward compared to say, a corvette, with its acres of hoodage.
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Sam 6:48PM (9/18/2007)
"will incorporate the first increase in displacement of a Mazda rotary engine from its famous 1.3 liters since 1974."
what about the 20B? or the 26B four rotor you can buy in new zealand..
"Please don't talk about the stone age LS1/2, if any engine is wordt of replacing the 13B than its a 2JZ-GTE or RB26DETT and not LS1/2."
uh no actually the LS1/2 is much better than those two heavy lumps for a mazda application, if you think about it
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Dan Mazzella 10:10PM (10/10/2007)
It is the first time a TWO rotor engine has changed displacement since the intro of the 13b. The entire eccentricity of the rotor chamber is changed, not just the width of the rotors (difference between the 12a and 13b) The only other Mazda car to have a different shape was the FWD Luce with the 13a.