Christopher

Something I just thought about. If the next RX-7 gets priced between the MX-5 and RX-8 then it could end up being a rival for the Tiburon, Celica, and Integra.

wakeech

as a die-hard 7 fan, i hope you were kiddin'

no, the 7 would still be the top of the Mazda heap, even with the 8 having a higher number... the 7 would look to wipe the floor with the Z car, and dice it with the NSX for half the price... well, hopefully, that's what the FD did... and in capitalist market societies, the only way to survive is to improve heh heh heh...

cueball

Since there seems to be a large dicrepency between the pics, I doubt if any of them are actually going to be what the rx7 looks like. It would be great if it turned out looking like that teal one above the supra though.

Christopher

I've always assumed that the RX-7 would be the top model but it's a little strange to have the 7 higher than the 8.

Puppy1

The 7 will always be the pure high performance car, while the 9 will be the luxury car. The 8 will be inbetween.

Even though the 8 will open up a whole new segment of sporty cars, it still relies on the halo effect of the 7 to keep it's image.

The 7 must always be faster. This doesn't mean it will be the most expensive. It sets up a natural progression for the owner. He gets a 7 when he is young and single and wild. He gets and 8 when he starts to settle down with a family, but is not ready to give up his youth.

As he ages further and his income increases, his priorities (most likley his wife's priorities) change to want more luxury. Because of his emotional ties to the 7 and 8 he will be more likely to buy a 9. Look at how many people that are previouse 7 owners own Millenias out there. (We all know that the Millenia is just a rebadged 929.)

Mazda struck gold with the first 7, and again when it made the 5 (Miata in the U.S.). It looks like the 6 is going to be a hit also. Mazda's simple model numbering here in the U.S. (3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8...) is setting up a great way to ensure lifelong customer loyalty.

As long as they don't try to be all things to all people, keeping handling their #1 priority, Mazda will be a healthy company.

DrKillJoY

929 is RWD.
Millenia is FWD.

Differnt chassis setup completely, the only thing they share is a view from afar.

Puppy1

I must have been talking out of my a$$.

**GOES OFF WITH TAIL BETWEEN HIS LEGS**

DrKillJoY

nah... don't sweat it.. actuall I found a really good aritcle talking about the differences between the two.. and before I knew the difference .. I thought the same thing...

http://www.nctd.com/review-intro.cfm?ReviewID=164

here is some highlights form the text :
>>snip
Question: When is a Mazda 929 not a Mazda 929?

Answer: When it's a Mazda Millenia.

Teasing aside, Mazda's introduction of the '95 Millenia luxury sedan may spark a question or two when car buyers start comparing it to Mazda's 929 luxury sedan. With an MSRP of $31,995, the smartly appointed Millenia S is in the same ballpark as its older, similarly upscale 929 cousin, which starts at $35,795.

The Millenia is available in three models: a base model with cloth interior ($25,995), a Millenia with leather interior ($28,895) and the aforementioned top-of-the-line Millenia S. The plush S model surely will butt heads in the showroom with its more established 929 stablemate.

That's why Mazda is taking great pains to position the Millenia S as a sportier, more muscular alternative to the stately 929, while targeting buyers who are younger and more freewheeling than the comparatively genteel Mazda 929 owners.

Actually, the Millenia S was conceived as the flagship model for Mazda's Amati luxury-car division. But when Mazda sat down and took a hard look at the bloodletting going on in the high-end market segment - where the Acura Legend, Lexus and Infiniti were slugging it out for an ever-skinnier slice of the pie - it wisely put its Amati Division plans on the back burner.
>>snip
Also to its credit, Mazda has equipped the Millenia S with a powerplant that not only distinguishes it from the 929, but also from every other entry in the luxury-sedan class.

It's the Miller-cycle engine, which employs an air-compression technology that has never been used in a production auto before now, and which beefs up performance without hogging fuel.

All Millenia models come equipped with quite an impressive list of standard equipment: dual airbags, automatic climate control, 4-wheel disc brakes with anti-lock (ABS), automatic transmission, alloy wheels, AM/FM/cassette sound system, anti-theft alarm, power driver's seat, and power windows and door locks.
>>snip
Consistent with Mazda's desire to target a younger crowd, the Millenia body has been sculpted in a sleeker, more aerodynamic fashion than the 929. And in this case, form definitely follows function: The wind-penetrating design reduces drag to make this car one of the sleekest in its class.
>>snip
We're still a bit puzzled why it's positioned, price-wise, so close to the 929. Hopefully, that kind of coziness won't lead to its virtues being obscured by the 929's long shadow, because this car deserves some accolades of its own.

2L8RX8

I sure hope that the 7 would take a Z, since the Z was built to compete against the RX8,TT,Boxter S, etc.... That was the Zs target -- not other companies flagship sportscars. A word to the wise -- beware, lest you incur the wrath of the Zs big brother, whos specs are more comparable to the 911turbo, Z06, Viper, Modena, etc. It's on it's way... (some of you know what I'm talking about).

I like the RX8 though, and I'll be interested to follow the aftermarket scene to see what potential it has. Suicide doors =

xmatt

All hail the GT-R ...

j-apex rx

Mazda has too come out with a very unique look with the rx7 because gm is copying everything they do look at a rx7 then look at a corvette they look like twins . I got a 93 rx7 my friend has a 99 corvette he park next to my car it looked the same but you know the vette is big but same design . Know look at the ss conpect and the rx8 they also look like twins.If you don't think it does look at picture on the autoshow.

state island

stupid gm, yeah i saw the ss it had a better response from the poeple in the auto show.

j-apex rx

Don't forget if is mazda or rotary they always have something bad to say if is german or american car they are great but mazda if **** . Ilike some german and americans too but give credit to mazda for been different and better.

2L8RX8

Some of you may have already seen this, but in a review of the RX8 Motortrend said: "How much quicker, faster, and more exciting would a two-seat version be? If Mazda brass decides that the RX-8 is a success, it could approve a new RX-7 two-seater for '06. The car on the drawing boards will have a wheelbase 11.8 inches shorter, weigh 330 pounds less than the RX-8, and get a significant bump to 280 or 300 horsepower. Styled with a low hoodline, it'll be either a conventional coupe or a retractable hardtop."

I'm not a big fan of the RX8 yet, but I like the car generally speaking. Go and make it over 300 pounds lighter and increase the HP to 300 and THEN you have an interesting automobile. I'd still go GTR though, but than thats just my personal preference :D

2L8RX8

Recognize those taillights???

2L8RX8

Alright --- last one, I promise. I feel like a missionary sent out to a heathen nation.

Puppy1

Looks like a 1966 Chevy Corvair.

said7

Try a skyline...

zoom44

those are corvette tailights slapped on the fat rearend of a 350z body. in fact the whole thing is a 350z body with the nose squished flat and weight added to it with the big fenders and quater panels. as if the z wasn't heavy in the first place.

don't get me wrong i am a fan of the gt-r just not of this concept. between the z, g35c and this it looks as if the nissan styling department is a one trick pony

Neddie Seagoon

Now something with the looks of a TVR Tuscan (Inside & Out) mated with a rotary.... mmmmm, salivation time!

danger

maybe...

http://www.goauto.com.au/mellor/mell...256CB6007C3918


they say its not being given to go... yet... but there is still a concept being made.

Cihuuy

tanx danger... i read that one a couple of days ago... :D we all dreaming and drooling in the Rx7 Forum of how the new FE will looked like... and of course on which engine Mazda will choose!!! Save up u'alllllllll....

Cihuuy

Question guys:
Do you all think that the Rx-01 will be the base for the new 7?? Or some other model wiv a rotary engine??

DrKillJoY

The RX-8 has already earned the VIN designation of FE, if your talking about the next RX-7 you better consider FF or something else..

DrKillJoY

IF there is a new RX-7, it will NOT spawn from a nearly 10 year old chassis design, it would invariably have to come from the RX-8 chassis (possibly heavily modified) or a new yet to be named chassis setup.