bwayout

... Although I love the idea of a seamless glass surface that extends from the front window to the roof's B-pillar (reminds me of those 1950's futurist show cars with the bubble canopies like on the Jetson's cartoons) ... with the overhead glass having adjustable tinting so that the driver can twist a **** on bright days to change the roof’s opacity, as desired, from clear to completely opaque, and the TV rear view monitor...

I miss the sun/moon roof option! I'd also would be concerned when you're driving and the sun get in your eyes (in that area where the rear view mirror would be to block it)

Anyway, I'm all for Mazda building some kind of sleek fastback/versatile hatchback that seats 2+2!

davefzr

How can they call it a RX7 replacement and put a piston engine in it? Isnt that sacrilegious? To me this is an extension of the Miata line if anything.
BIG

PhotoMunkey

A next-gen Miata coupe is what it looks like to me... nothing to do with the RX-7 line at all. Hence the "Kabura" nomenclature instead of an RX designation (RX-3, RX-7, RX-01, RX-Evolve, RX-8).

I find it a SHAME that Mazda could build a 2-seat, lightweight coupe which would outrun a Boxster S, and could price it for $25k plus options using the already stellar RX-8 drivetrain and suspension components, yet they WON'T! This won't prevent me from buying an RX-8 eventually, but it is still disappointing. There are FAR more people in the US who would buy such a car who have opted for a 350Z instead because it's basically the only 2-seat, high-HP car in its class at the moment. To theorize that such a car would steal sales from the RX-8 is to point out that the RX-8 MISSED a significant portion of its intended enthusiast market.

All of this reliance on "marketing research" makes me sick! Build a killer car first, knock off Porsche and Corvette icons from their pedestals, THEN worry about BUILDING enough to handle the demand. If you're planning to LOSE MONEY on your premiere product, shouldn't it be an eye-opening can of 100% whup-***?

Zokk's 8

There is another test drive of this car in Motor Trend. I have been reading all these car mags for over 20 years, and read both these articles. Mazda wouldn't give a near production prototype to two major car mags to test drive if they were not going to build it. MT said the suspension was sorted out but not the engine or interior. Look at the car, it looks expensive, I believe it will be the next RX-7 because it is too sporty looking, rwd, on a RX-8 platform that can easily handle 300+ hp, with a front end and fenders looking very RX-8 ish. I doubt that they want to sell a wimpy car, competing directly with the new Mazdaspeed 3 for 20K, when for another 10K they can take sales from 350z and V8 Mustangs, while enhancing their sports car image that they keep telling us they have. They have been "developing" an new RX-7 (according to R&T and Car & Driver) for two years, with no talk of another rwd sports car in those mags industry talk sections. If this isn't it, what is? 8)

tjbourgoyne

When Mazda is ready to talk for sure about an RX-7 i think it will be clear to the consumer what they'll be getting and what it will look like. It's the magaizine writers that are starting all the rumors. I really don't see a two seat/baby seater, glass roof, go-cart steering wheel car repacing the RX-7.

saturn

I can't stress how stupid this 3+1 seating configuration is. The fact that the passenger seat has the ability to move further forward than normal is just going to encourage people to sit with the passenger seat far forward and create a giant blindspot on the passenger side.

And then there's the stupid flap that you have to fold up to increase headroom in the back. Though, I'll reserve final judgment on the whole thing until it comes out in production.

I don't really see where this thing is going to fit into the lineup. I love the idea of a ~$20k roadster -- I just don't know what it'll do to MX-5, RX-8, and even 3 sales. Should be interesting.

longfury

If it weighs what they say it will weigh and has a MX on the badge my RX8 is gone.

I would gladly trade the RX8 for a car that light with about 170-200hp. When the supercharger kits came along it will be a little monster.

Slims8

All I want to say is if this comes out as a pistonized or slow RX-7 that can be beat by the Eclipse, I'm getting out of a Mazda. If this is going to be an RX anything, it needs to be able to hold it's name.

saturn

First off, if it comes out "pistonized" it's not going to be RX anything -- probably MX-3 as zoom44 predicts.

Second, the new Eclipse can already "beat" the RX-8. The Eclipse runs a 1/4 mile 14.5 sec @ 100 mph while the RX-8 pulls 14.6 sec @ 96 mph. The 0-60 times are comparable with the edge going to 8 (if you want to launch at 6k rpms). Also, the 5-60 time of the Eclipse is almost 1 second faster than the 8.

But I guess by "beat" you probably meant which one could pwn in the twisties...

longfury

A car weighing 2500 lbs does not need alot of power to be fast. The Lotus Elise has 190hp and weighs 2100lbs. It goes 0-60 in about 4.8secs. If the Kabura weighs 2500 and has just the same rotary as the RX8 it will go 0-60 in the low 5 second range and maybe the high 4's depending on gearing. Its really hard to make a car this light slow.

bulletproof21

They have been doing it for years with the miata.

rotary crazy

Lmao!!!!!!

Raptor2k

lol

longfury

The miata is a special case. It was never meant to be a really fast car. It was patterned after the British roadsters of the 50's and 60's. Those cars were never fast. But I do see your point. If anyone can make a light car slow it Mazda.

Of course knowing Mazda they will stick the MX-5 Miata motor in it call it the MX-3 and the reviews will say how great it drive but it needs more power(sound familiar folks).

bulletproof21

I understand the miata was never designed to be a fast car, lol but this kabura might not be being desinged as a fast car either. It IS supposed to be under $20K. People keep saying this is the new mx-3. Well the mx-3 of the early ninetees was by no means fast either. It was a sporty coupe aimed at you youth of that day. This appears to be the same type car.

Aipex8

iTrader: (1)

I think many of you are reading too much into the fact that the concept has a piston engine and the 3+1 layout and glass roof. The first running design concept for the FD RX-7 that was driven by an auto journalist had a lawn mower engine in it! Things like a one piece windshield/glass roof and a mini sliding rear door obviously aren't going to make it into production on anything less than an exotic, and the passenger seat being pushed forward will create a blind spot and probably be seen as a safety issue.

Judging by how the automotive press is going ga-ga for this concept, Mazda would have to be stupid to just leave it as a concept and move on. Looking past the gimmicky concept stuff, the design is promising: agressive, modern, and more cohesive than the RX-8. I'm really quite taken by it.

shaunv74

Bottom Line...the car would be better with a rotary. Faster, lighter, better handling. Cost would still be low because you get to build more engines in the same shop amortizing the cost over more units with two models running the same engine. Win, win, win.

Deslock

I like the seating layout as it seems like the only way to fit 3 adults in a RWD car with such a short wheelbase and 50:50 weight distribution.

Having a large blind spot from a passenger seating farther forward is a potential downside, but it might not be a big deal. When changing lanes, crossing an intersection, turning, etc... the driver can lean forward to look to the right. I already do that anyway to make sure I'm not missing anything behind the passenger-side pillars.

As far as the flap goes, I assumed that it's for ventilation or to act as a spoiler. But who cares? What really matters is that it's RWD, seats 3 adults, has a short wheelbase, is lightweight, is cheap, and has MX5 driving dynamics. If they can sell it for $18k-$20k, it'll be a huge hit.

Obviously, a MS version with a rotary would be cool too

rickeo

iTrader: (1)

bascho

^^ based on the pics I've seen, I seriously doubt that interior, lighting system, wheels, windshield are going to be offered on a $20K car. That means we would have to wait to see an actual production version before we can say how this car will fit in with the rest of the Mazda line-up. Most here are forgetting the most important factor to the birth of any car within a car company......and that is "how will it fit within our line-up?". Offering this car with a rotary will absolutely hurt sales for the RX8....which are already hurting. I definitely think there is a market for a car like this.....and a place in the Mazda line-up......but only with a piston engine. I don't think it would take sales away from the Mazda 3 because this is a much smaller car. It might take some sales away from the MX5......but at least those lost sales will stay within the company. If the RX7 is ever going to be reborn, I have a feeling it will be to replace the RX8. The rotary only belongs in the sportiest of Mazda's offerings and should be a performance leader and not a follower.

RENESIS_NEENJA

if there is one thing I do like about the Kabura.. it's those rims.. daddy like....

bascho

And that is the one thing that is guaranteed not to make it to production

RENESIS_NEENJA

I know.... I know...

Hellbreed

I like the exhaust coming out the centre of the rear end, the RX-8 should have this as they are too far out to the sides. You'll notice many high performance cars have the exhaust centralized, my understanding is that push out the way the 8 has it is suseptible to back pressure as the air wraps around the rear end.

iSP33D-for-J3SUS

What? Don't even mention the best generation of all?!?!?





Mmmmm, now THAT says RX-7.

I will be quite mad at Mazda if they drop a piston engine into anything and then proceed to call it a 7.

I do like the way the car looks though.

iSP33D-for-J3SUS