looks promising who knows

http://www.autoexpress.co.uk/news/au...rx7_spied.html

 

That thing is hideous

 

Dunno... that looks more like a mazda 6 chassis, not just a body shell. B pillars? This chassis is not very fit to test a RWD layout.
Maybe they're just testing the new sky engine range in a chassis that will probably accomodate it?

 

Mazda's hiding something beneath there but I doubt it's an RX#. I would quicker guess Speed 6 if there was any chance of such a thing. I would love to see a rear view to help figure the mystery of this mule.

Paul.

 

i'm serious doubting that%

 

there's NO WAY that's the new rx7/9 to come. All the articles I've read out of Mazda Japan have talked about coming back to a true sports car, probably 2 door 2 seater car.

 

hmmm would have loved to get a sound clip to see what it sounded like, although my speaker are to crappy to really tell anything.

 

My bet is that this a Mazda 6 MPS Test-Mule using an RX-8 nosecone as a disguise - its quite clearly a largish 4 door sedan - not a sports coupe. The article has the point all back the front as such.

 

+1

or refresh for EU 6 + SKY engines...the A4 rear is for benchmarking IMHO (often japanese firm do that thing in prototype testing)

 

Try again....

Thats a Mazda 6 chassis , it may have the 16X as a powerplant with a RWD config on it, but that is not the next RX-9. Car companies do this all the time, Honda is using a modified S2000 with a extended body as the next NSX test bed as we speak , Nissan used a hopped up G35 for the current GT-R when they were finalizing performance and handiling spec.

All this tells us is that Mazda is very close now to releasing an actual product. when it goes from paper to actually bench testing in other vehicles, the real deal is right around the corner.

 

Exactly, its just a mule. Could just be testing the 16x.

 

It has VTEC in there.

Cant u see the guy's face? he has that "omg vtec just kicked in y0" written all over his face!

...

No seriously, its not Rotary, at least not gonna test it in a Mazda6 shell.

 

lol @ that article.

 

....

doubtful

 

It's EXTREMELY unlikely that that they would use a Mazda6 to test the 16x, or new RX-7 chassis/suspension, given that the 8 or NC are so much more suitable for the task. Until I hear a sound clip of the exhaust, I'm gonna have to call BS on this one.

 

Why would they think of a rotary sports car when they see the Mazda 6. My first guess would be a Mazdaspeed 6.
________
_CandyGirl_ live

 

i've watched carefullythe low part of both front fenders of the two version of EU/JDM mazda6/atenza.

both are different from that one spied in those photos.

restyling of 6 in EU is coming.....first photos of 6 leak out at end of summer of 2007...make sense.

normally (rotaries excluded) 3+3 yrs. formula for change/restyle models in Mazda

 

didnt they test the 13bmsp in a mx3 when it was a prototype?

 

No, they tested it in an FD. I actually saw one of them running around a few times and wrote up a report on the 7 forum back in the day. Why would they go through the extra work to put it in an FWD when they already have a car it will pretty much bolt directly into?

Edit: also the test mule for the RX-8 chassis/suspension was a stretched butchered Miata, and the test mule for the NC was basically an NB with an RX-8 front. Which is why the idea of Mazda using FWD cars as a test mule for their RWD cars is pretty much bullshit.

 

I dont know, those headlights look pretty damn sporty to me,,,

I wouldnt dismiss it so quickly, it is a chassis mule, dont expect it to actaully look anything like a sports car.

When I park my 8 next to my friends 6 I could easily see the shell of the 6 being large enough to fit over an unskinned 8...

 

Hey guys I got a sneak peak at the new rx...

 

lol flubber

 

How the hell does that look promising?!?!?! Quite the opposite. If that looks anything like the new RX they may just as well..........I don't know what. I don't care how much HP it has, that is just awful!

 

It is promising because they are talking about it. And I am sure the redesign will be a great looking, desirable, track worthy, road car.

 

Agreed. The correction would be, it SOUNDS promising. It looks like ****, but so does every test mule. Mazda has released 5 RX related concept design studies, which is unprecedented. I wouldn't worry about the styling, because we know its gonna be sexy, unique, and timeless based on the FD and RX-8. This article is about whats under the armor.