Filed under: Concept Cars, Coupes, Sports/GTs, Mazda
Rumormill: 2012 Mazda RX-9, real or fake?
click above for more images of this 2012 Mazda RX-9 concept
The only car brochure we ever held on to was for a 1993 Mazda RX-7. It was the baddest car of the time -- the 300Z was four years old, the 911 had gone soft, Ferrari had that hideous 348, the C4 Corvette never really did it for us, and the lunar lander Supra hadn't landed yet. The low, tiny twin-turbo monster was it as far as we were concerned.
Which is why we are always happy to read about the next coming of the RX-7. Just Put has renderings of an RX-9 concept that it says would have a Wankel powerplant of somewhere around 1.8 liters, and be more oil and fuel efficient than the current generation. Power would make it to an unidentified number of wheels via a dual-clutch 6-speed transmission and limited-slip diff.
We have no idea from where these two renderings have come. They could be official images that were leaked. Their slightly low resolution supports that theory, as often leaked images are small and enlarged beyond their resolution later. Or it could be a nicely done photochop by a fanboy. Either way, we think it lacks aggression and the rear looks highly derivative. The front end's nicely complex features doesn't seem to match the simple buttocks, another reason why it might not be the real deal. But hey, first let's get verification that an RX-something-fast really is on the way, and we can sort out the styling later.Thanks for the tip, Jon!
[Source: Just Put]
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 4)
SPF 8:02PM (12/28/2007)
I call it a fake. (Photochop)
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3seriesisking 11:30PM (12/28/2007)
I agree. You can definitely see some other car under there although I can't quite put my finger on it.
Tinu 11:46PM (12/28/2007)
Its an Infinity G37 modified in Photoshop. Haha!
Dolemite 11:57PM (12/28/2007)
G37? Looks like a fuglier Crossfire to me.
Temple 12:03AM (12/29/2007)
Also think its fake. Mazda has yet to put the direct-injected Renesis 16X into production. Its unlikely they are also working on a 1.8L "18X" (900cc per rotor).
A new RX-8 is very feasible and likely (considering the spy-photos), but a larger RX-9 is not. Best Car magazine is however reporting a new RX-7 using the 16X rotary and design cues from the "Nagare" concept.
jordan 10:43AM (12/29/2007)
@Temple
Agreed, they are just now increasing the displacement to 1.6L which hasn't been changed since the 13b came in the 2nd gen which came out in....85? 86? And that had only minor changes from the 12a which was what was used since rx's introduction? There's no way they're already ready to bump it up again.
Punkcrisis 10:11PM (1/02/2008)
I call it an Alfa Romeo I dare you to say am wrong lol, happy new years http://img406.imageshack.us/img406/5892/alfaromeo8ccompetizionemx9.jpg
bob 8:04PM (12/28/2007)
i am almost positive that that is a photochopped Aston Martin, look at the back and its pretty clear to see
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F-22 8:09PM (12/28/2007)
Fake....and from Winding Road...
C'mon...2012 and already real stuff?
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aman 8:14PM (12/28/2007)
im callin bs
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Taylor 8:16PM (12/28/2007)
You forgot to mention the 3000GT VR-4! In 1993 it was the baddest car out there! :)
-Taylor
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SPG 11:18PM (12/28/2007)
The 3000GT VR-4 was an awesome machine.
Looked awesome too.
But, the RX-7 was awesome and beautiful.
Well, I think so at least.
Tyo 7:42AM (12/29/2007)
Eagle Talon TSi AWD.
Moose 8:16PM (12/28/2007)
Easy way to spot a fake is to look for things that don't line up like they would in RL. In this case, its the license plate and surrounding area. While skillfully blended into the rest of the body, its still not on the same plane as the rest of the car.
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seoultrain 10:38PM (12/28/2007)
nice catch. can't believe someone would spend so much time on PS doing the car, and making such an obvious error on the license plate.
XYX 11:58PM (12/28/2007)
license plate ?! LOL LOOK AT THE REAR WINDOW OF THE CAR ITS COMPELETLY OFFF!!!! LOL LOL LMAO
Rick Lyon 8:17PM (12/28/2007)
Wow, that is so obviously fake. You can tell by looking at the edges. Some edges are clean, as they should be, and some are soft, blurry. That happens when you try to match up different layers and try to make them look as one. It also happens when those who aren't very critical cut or erase pixels and end up with a different edge to the object.
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Mike 8:20PM (12/28/2007)
I don't care where it came from, make it Mazda!
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DJ 8:23PM (12/28/2007)
Nice As-ton in the rear there fer sure......
If this isn't real, Ford/Mazda would IDIOTS not to make it real!
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DJ 8:29PM (12/28/2007)
Come to think of it, Lincoln could DESPERATELY use a halo car right now to knock Caddy off their perch. Something like this with a 400HP twin turbo V6 could do the trick. Wuth all of the platform sharing Ford has going right now, why not?
Oh, and make it hybrid while we're at it.
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