Filed under: Spy Photos, Sports/GTs, Japan, Mazda
Rendered Speculation: Mazda's Taiki-inspired RX-7 revival
by Dan Roth on Dec 6th 2007 at 7:31PM 
"We've just introduced a special edition of the RX-8" was the response from a Mazda rep when asked when we might get a new RX-7. Not the answer to the question, but we understand that it's all hush-hush when it comes to whatever might be in store on the 2-door, rear wheel drive, not-an-MX-5 tip. A new RX-7 (FE?) will debut within the next three years according to Autocar, and it will be the first production car to carry the design themes presented in Mazda's latest series of concept cars (Nagare, Ryuga, Hakaze, Taiki). The RX-8 will be freed up to evolve into more of a GT if the 7 comes to be. Autocar has had its digital image wizards whip up what they think the car might look like. We hope not, as it looks like what might happen if a Corvette stopped short in front of a Testarossa. In other words, it looks like 1988.Joining the new "flow"-ing exterior lines will be a thoroughly revised rotary engine. Bumped out to 3.2 liters, the new Wankel will have direct fuel injection and sport forced induction via turbocharging. Reshaped combustion chambers are said to improve thermal efficiency, burn more completely, produce more low end torque, and return better fuel economy (woo-hoo!). We're surprised they didn't switch it's fuel to Unicorn sneezes, as the rest of the improvements seem like a fairy tale outcome for the wimpy, thirsty Wankel we know and love.
[Source: Autocar]
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)
seoultrain 7:45PM (12/06/2007)
The Taiki's side surfacing is way better than autocar's rendering. They straighten them all out and it looks horrible. Other than that, I think their rendering is pretty good, but I think Mazda will do better.
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Temple 7:56PM (12/06/2007)
>>Joining the new "flow"-ing exterior lines will be a thoroughly revised rotary engine. Bumped out to 3.2 liters, the new Wankel will have direct fuel injection and sport forced induction via turbocharging.
I have to question if it'll have a 3.2 liter rotary, the Taiki concept had a new rotary engine with 1.6 liters. The current RX-8 only has only 1.3liters.
Looking at the link it looks like "equivalent" to 3.2liters.
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mikeb 7:57PM (12/06/2007)
The only thing that'll put me in a Mazda dealership is a 4 rotor with a 10k redline and throttle response that of the 787-B
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Paul P. 8:20PM (12/06/2007)
A 3.2L turbo rotary RX-7? Sign me up! If the current Rotary makes 232 hp N/A from 1.3L, that thing must make 500+hp, while weighing under 3,300lbs. Would make for a mean track car, especially if they can keep the price down.
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Yar 8:23PM (12/06/2007)
I don't know what will take longer, Mazda bringing this to market, or the turbocharged rotary getting into its power band.
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Actaeon 8:26PM (12/06/2007)
Uh. 3.2L? The current RX8 is 1.3L, and the bump in the rotary displacement Mazda announced was a 1.6L in a two rotor design.
Unless they're throwing a 4 rotor in there (no chance), they must feel that a 1.6L Rotary is the equivalent of a 3.2L Piston (the 1.3L is often referred as a 2.6 equivalent). Not sure why they they didn't clarify on that.
Oh, and for the record, the new RX7 will not be an FE. That is the RX8's designation.
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seoultrain 9:34PM (12/06/2007)
what probably happened was someone took 1.6L in 2 rotors to mean 1.6L per rotor = 3.2 L total.
Temple 10:02PM (12/06/2007)
Original quote from Autocar (linked to site): Autoblog maybe rushed to post this story and misinterpreted it.
"Its twin chambers are of 800cc rather than the RX-8’s 654cc, producing an equivalent capacity of 3.2 litres."
The article also specifically mentions the new 1.6L Renesis 16X:
"Mazda’s next generation Renesis engine, codenamed 16X, was announced at the October Tokyo show and will go into the RX-8 next year and the new RX-7 after that."
LOs 8:37PM (12/06/2007)
3.2L? isn't the RX8 on 1.3....... wait, a half a dozen people said that before me already, maybe I should refrain, or read comments above mine before i post another.
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walt 8:39PM (12/06/2007)
I hope they do the Rx-7 name justice. ...most fun car i've ever had!
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Craig 9:10PM (12/06/2007)
"We're surprised they didn't switch it's fuel to Unicorn sneezes, as the rest of the improvements seem like a fairy tale outcome for the wimpy, thirsty Wankel we know and love."
Wimpy?
Thirsty, yes*. Wimpy, no.
Have you driven an RX-8? That thing isn't wimpy. Just because it isn't a huge piece of Detroit iron that throbs in time to your heartbeat, doesn't mean it is wimpy.
* Thirsty compared to a similar capacity piston engine. If you compare power outputs, they are pretty much line ball.
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Dan Roth 9:20PM (12/06/2007)
Horsepower's not bad, torque is pretty low. Don't get me wrong, I love rotaries.
It also looks like I made an error on the displacement - oops. A 3.2liter wankel would be HUGE, you guys are right on that one!
Craig 9:30PM (12/06/2007)
Torque is low but once you get it revving, it is just a great rush. So smooth and serious music to your ears.
tankd0g 11:53PM (12/06/2007)
Unless you care about torque.
Spirit R 9:45PM (12/06/2007)
The renesis is a 1.3 litre, two rotor. 650cc per rotor. The 20B was a 3 rotor at the same capacity, i.e. 2.0 litres.
From what i gathered, the 16X they had planned for the next rotary was still two rotor, but 1.6litre in total, i.e. 800cc per rotor!
Not 1.6 litre per rotor (where the 3.2 litre number might be coming from).
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Chris 11:05PM (12/06/2007)
I was going to cry when i heard 3.2L two-rotor. your posts have me breathing a sigh of relief, only to throw up a little in my mouth at the rendering.
the FD3 is still oft-considered the most beautiful car ever to come out of japan. if that original styling was widened slightly, as if the factory fitted a wide-body kit, and the Efini turbos off the 02 were worked onto a displacement-bumped Renesis, I'd be totally in for a buy. Just 3 caveats; don't let the door sound like im capping a tin can, replace the pop-ups with some trick-styled projector pods, and for the love of god keep the loaded MSRP under 40k.
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tankd0g 11:52PM (12/06/2007)
In light of new CAFE requirements are we really likely to see a rotory car in the USA that will probably get low teens for milage?
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phil 2:41AM (12/07/2007)
yes. it's all about selling enough mazda2s to get their cafe up.
jordan 12:49AM (12/07/2007)
A 4-rotor 3.2L RX-7 would be beyond any rototary-head's dream. :-)
Am I the only person expecting the 1.6L 16X Wankel to produce near 300HP N/A? Even if you increased only volume and didn't increase any other technologies to help HP/L, you'd have a 285HP motor (scaling from the 1.3L/232HP motor). Add a turbo and double the size of the motor? We would call that a supercar.
Honestly, I can't see them detracting from the new 16X. I could, however, see them adding a turbo, just to distinguish it from the RX-8, and bumping it to, what 350HP?
Keep it light, rotary-powered, and make it handle well, and I'll be pleased with the outcome. :-)
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Wompa164 4:45AM (12/07/2007)
It's possible. Unfortunately, side exhaust port rotary engines don't respond well to forced induction. That being said, the chances of Mazda moving back to a peripheral exhaust ported engine is pretty much zero. Emissions, smoothness and reliability are the big factors that will keep side-port rotary in their cars.