Autoblog

UPDATE: The renderings come from the latest issue of Winding Road, which contains a whole article on Mazda's plans for a new RX. Click here for more.

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]

"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]

Here's another example of liking the individual hardware pieces, but being repulsed by the idea of the ultimate combination. RX7s are cool. Grand Nationals are cool. But a vehicular mash-up of a 1993 RX-7 powered by a Buick GN's V6 seems a little weird. Weird to think that it even gets past regulatory agencies, as it's an older, totally alien engine in a newer car, which might make it interesting to register in a state with California emissions. The swap is well done, though, even if we'd question the handling a heavier and much more powerful engine in the snout brings with it. It's fast, but does it understeer like a pig and snap the tail out? The seller seems to have focused on posting low elapsed times in the quarter mile, so think about that when you conjure what the dynamics may be. Follow the jump for more.

[Source: eBay via Carscoop]

Hey, look at me, I'm a TuFF-GuY©! I know! Let's abuse our cars and call it a "sport!" So, drifting was kind of fun when we were 16 and called it "donuts," at least until we learned how much a set of tires cost (and universal joints shortly thereafter). The owner of this 3rd-generation RX-7 perpetrates a horror on one of our favorite cars by being in a big hurry to show off. Apparently, his mind was so addled by the opportunity to create acrid smoke that he forgot one little detail. Off he goes, ready to be impressive, and then the wheels come off his little dream cruise. Literally. All the lugnuts, sitting in the paddock. Whoops. Bet it was a quiet ride back home, perhaps with a few new squeaks and rattles from below.

Uh, yeah, so it was at an SCCA autocross event, not a drifting event, where all four wheels on this RX-7 fell off. Our blogger Dan, meanwhile, has been charged with a BWI – Blogging While Intoxicated. He gets belligerent towards examples of induced oversteer when he's on the sauce - Ed.

Thanks for the tip, Jaymez!

Video after the jump.

[Source: Break.com]

Click image for a gallery of the Mazda Cosmo Sport

The good old internal combustion engine has been in service since the 17th century when Sir Samuel Morland rather impractically used gunpowder to drive water pumps. It was not until 1876 when Nikolaus Otto invented the modern four stroke engine that the internal combustion engine became practical for automobiles, however. Those same four cycles, intake, compression, combustion and exhaust are used in the Wankel rotary engine, although instead of the strokes of a piston the rotary creates it's cycles as a roughly triangular shaped rotor spins inside its housing. Doesn't make sense? Click here.

2007 marks Mazda's 40th in using the rotary engine. Our favorite application of it would have to be the Cosmo Sport, of course. Many of you will choose the RX-7 as a personal favorite. It's also alive in the current RX-8, which even sports a hydrogen-powered version for the alternative fuel crowd. And we'd be remiss if we forgot to mention the jaw-dropping four-rotor 787B racer that won the 24 Hours of Le Mans. Those of us who own, or have owned, a rotary engined vehicle and loved it can take this moment to say "thanks" to Felix Wankel and to Mazda for its commitment to the rotary. Forty years and going strong!

We've assembled four galleries of famous Mazda rotaries, including the Cosmo Sport gallery below, as well as galleries of the RX-7, RX-8 and 787B Le Mans racer.

[Source: Mazda]

When the newest issue of Road & Track arrived in our mailbox, we were impressed that the 60th anniversary issue was sport compactalicious. The cover sports the new Mitsubishi EVO X alongside a photochopped '08 Impreza STI, and the inevitable shootout consists of the Civic Si, MazdaSpeed3, MINI Cooper S, Sentra SE-R Spec V and the VW GTI.

What was more interesting was one of the subtitles proclaiming that a new RX-7 is in the works by Mazda and that Toyota is (finally) beginning to develop an honest-to-God sports car based off the Lexus IS platform.

As for the RX-7, R&T's inside sources say that due to slowing sales of the RX-8, the engineers at Mazda are hard at work improving the 13B rotary's output. If (when?) the new RX-7 debuts, it will be powered by this new and improved Renesis, supposedly sporting an electrically assisted supercharger, much like the one found on the RX-8 Hybrid that debuted in Tokyo in 2003.

Additionally, the rumored RX-7 will grab styling cues from the Kabura concept (pictured) that was unveiled at Detroit in 2006 and will be built on the platform that underpins the MX-5/RX-8. Whether or not the next gen. 7 will come in a 2+2 configuration remains to be seen, but regardless, don't expect anything until the end of the decade.

[Source: Road & Track]

Here's a recipe for buyer's remorse: mix one red 3rd-generation RX7, a clear Sunday evening, a 2-lane rural road, and a curve. Then add the sudden application of 255 turbocharged horses, a berm, a tree, and a brand new owner.

There was no word on the driver, but the airbag went off (do they protect against trees?) -- and one assumes he made it out all right. In a bittersweet moment, the hitting the tree kept him from hitting the house just beyond the tree. The pictures tell the story.

Thanks for the tip, Evan!

[Source: Third Eye Concept]

We sure do love us some FDs. Yes, the turbo rotary is a ticking time bomb, just waiting for the slightest hint of ping to send shards of that wonderful Wankel through the hood, and yes, the engine has to be rebuilt every 40-60k miles, but if you had to pick a vehicle from the 90s (hell, even today) to attack a road course or autocross, the RX-7 is it.

Thankfully, there are a few intelligent individuals that understand the volatility of the turbo'd RX-7 and they tend to keep the modifications to a minimum. One of these smart chaps is ebaine1, the owner of this red 1993 example.

Make the jump for a few more details, pics and directions on how to submit your own ride to our Flickr pool.

A limousine is reserved for a special day, for when you want to arrive at the big event in style. If you're like the Autoblog gang and you want to stand out from the rest, then the Town Car or stretch HUMMER just isn't going to cut it. If your main goal in life is to combine a limo experience coupled with low coefficients of drag then this RX7 has it all. Twin-turbo rotary engine, aerospace composite materials, and a power side door all scream "I'm different and I'm proud!" So what if it doesn't have a bar, you can spend your time listening to that 1.3L rotary gem. OK, maybe the light weight racing suspension and roll bars is overdoing it, but if you want exclusive, you've got exclusive.

The vehicle has 60,000 miles on it, but the engine only has 12,000. It's nice to know too that someone was so passionate about this vehicle they felt the need to pour over $170,000 into it. Current bid price is $27,500. Happy bidding!

Thanks for the tip, Fashnootin!

[Source: eBay]

The FC chassis RX-7 has always been a vehicle on our automotive "want list" and although it was never as hardcore as the third gen. model that came afterwards, it's always been a competent performer.

This particular example is under the care of udubrx7, and is one of the 10th anniversary models produced in 1988. A full list of the modifications can be found after the jump, but a few highlights include a fully rebuilt and street-ported motor, complete with a BNR turbo setup, front-mount intercooler, a revised ECU tuned by Rtek, and a three-inch catback exhaust. The front bumper was replaced with a Series-5 unit from the '89-91 MY and although the stock rollers remain, they're wrapped in Kumho 712s.

It's a clean example of one of the more iconic rotary-powered machines from Mazda and udubrx7 is in good company, along with a handful of dedicated enthusiasts.

As a reminder, next week we'll be looking for the best quarter-mile performers to feature in our RR of the Day. If you've got a drag car, we want to see it, so follow the directions after the jump to learn how to submit your ride to our Flickr pool.