boowana

Headline" Mazda mulls RX-7 Rebirth, Miata makeover:
2005 Mazda RX-7:
"The future 2-seater which may go by anew name, will be built on the RX-8's platform and make 280 bhp from the Renesis engine without the help of forced induction..."
"But the fate of this 2-seater rests lergely on the sucess of the RX-8..." :D
mIATA:
"But ht enext generation Miata due in 2004 or 2005 , will have a rotary option." "Look for power to be about 200 to 250 bhp, giving the roadster 0 to 60 mph times in the 5.0 sec. range. The car will be built on a shortened version of the RX-8's platform and may come in both coupe and convertible forms." :D

block911

0 to 60 mph times in the 5.0 sec. range



hrm that's like major toyota "vin diesel" supra speed

Pork Chop

A 200-250hp Miata sounds nice, but do you really think they'd bring over a coupe version, which would undoubtedly steal away sales of the RX-7? I don't really see a high-hp Miata and RX-7 co-exisiting. Unless, they move the RX-7 further up and give it a lot more power.:D

block911

Depends on how they price them all

Diver

From a marketing point of view sharing platforms is cost effective. If the Renesis engine is reliable (looks like it is) it will make a lot of sense for the new miata to get the engine as well as the platform. No reason to develop a new engine for a platform already tested for the Renesis. That way they can keep the miata affordable. To avoid inside competition it would be wise to under tune the renesis for the miata to no more than 170-180hp (probably a lot lower than that). If the competition stiffens, Mazda will easily offer faster miatas in newer models.
Still in order to keep the miata’s fun roadster character they need to keep the weight down (thus no need for a high power engine), and if possible retain the all around double-wishbone suspension. I think it suites the miata better than the multi link suspension of the rx8 (which offers the advantage of larger trunk space).
This is all hypothetical of course with the assumption-condition that the future miata will be built on the rx8 paltform.

applejax

First off, I would love to see another RX7, but am skeptical about messing with the Miata too much...have you seen the Miata forums? Miatas have a following like no other.

Please explain.

--the davester

Diver

Most sports and racing cars use double wishbones. Ferraris and Lotus’ have all around double wishbones and they are the best road handling cars in the world. The biggest exception to the rule is Porsche who has chosen multi-link instead.
Multi-link is a general independent suspension setup that can have many variations.
It is usually preferred than double wishbone because it can offer a better compromise between handling and space efficiency.
The miata like the RX8 could have a bigger trunk with the use of multi-link rear suspension. But this little roadster is all about fun and handling and not space. That is why I believe an all around double wishbone setup is preferred for the miata. (I hope marketing will not prevail and change the current rear suspension to multi-link for the next model).

If you are interested there has been a long discussion about the new miata on miataforum (mostly about the possible move to the rx8 platform)
New Gen Miata: Engine Specs
I am a miataforum member (and a 02 miata owner as well!) and posted on that thread (as Diver).
For me (and many other miata followers) the best thing for the new miata is to loose weight. The renesis helps in that direction.

nk_Rx8

I just read that yesterday also. And it's looking like the chance of me getting the car I've been waiting years for, a rotary Miata, are getting better! I would expect the Miata to get a tuned down version of the Renesis, probably ~200hp. Since if it was closer to 250hp, it would probably be faster (and much cheaper) than the future RX7 (assuming 280hp, >$30k, and ~2800-2900lbs) and canabalize its sales.

Pork Chop

BTW, here's a scan of the article (linked from my350z.com)

Diver

thanks for the article.

wakeech

sorry, but i just HAVE to flame this... doesn't anyone find that R35 pukealicious?? jeez... i don't know what happened there... especially with the new Z getting it right...

oh, and whoever drew that picture wasn't even trying!! i don't think Mazda would want to associate their long running high performer with the new-kid sports sedan... at least not THAT much...
but hey, thanks for the post!! great info to have!! mmm... rotarific!!

KayakDaddy

I have to agree with wakeech on this one, that artist rendition of the new Nissan is waaaaaaaay ugly. It actually looks pretty good from the A-pillar back, put that front end is just awful. It looks like the bastard child of a Ford F-250 and a Nissan 350Z.

Thanks for posting the article, I was going to go buy the mag just to read what you guys had been talking about. You just saved me $4.

R.Cade

Is the license plate on the 7 supposed to be a joke?

wakeech

hey ya!! good one, i didn't see that...
i guess it's a crack at the general smallness of japanese cars... when compared with the overwhelming hugeness of popular American cars (i've never had a problem with the room... and i'm 6'2''!!!)

shoulda been "2 fast 4 u" or something... that'd be tasteful (and more accurate)

rototlewski

What happened to the pop-headlights? The 7 has had them through all 3 generations why not the 4th? I know they are a little dated but come on keep something that you can easly differenciate the 8 and the 7. That pic looks like a 8 coupe not a 7 at all the happy face has got to go! Thats is a bass-*** machine and it smiles like its a childs plaything. I don't want a happy car! I want a mean bad-*** mother' that would wipe the space shuttle off the planet!!

Don't get me wrong I want the 7 back as much as anybody but it needs to have different styling altogether. The headlights that pop up are the car's heritige it would be going against that tradtion of almost 25 years! that is not right. And the hood needs to be lower have a meaner stance not looking like a suped-up Rx-8 I want a 7. 2 rotors, 2 seats, pop-up headlights, all aditude!!

applejax

I agree, and I like pop-ups. But we won't see them because:

1. pop-ups increase wind resistance
2. pop-ups are easily damaged and are expensive to fix or replace

And I definitely say that the RX7 would have to be more agressive looking. Overall, I like the RX8, but someone has to slap that silly smile off the front fascia.

ZoomZoom

Man, what a tough crowd in here.

wakeech

alright!! i've been saying the same thing from teh beginning!! WHOO HOO for the flipup camp!! (... not like it really matters what we think, just mazda...)

but totally... remember though that the artist who rendered this thing is a total weiner (2 SMAL 4 U), so he's not going to actually put some EFFORT into making it look like a 7....

so you know what?? i think i'm gonna make one...
ya, just you wait, you stupid artist from whatever magazine...:p i'll show you!!

okay ZoomZoom, i know you like the 8's styling, and you're a cool guy, so just for that, i'll try and keep it looking similar to the 8...
(no offence, but not really, i just suck at Photoshop )
hmmm... yes. i'm gonna do it.
by the end of this coming week.
oops!! sorry, thinking "outloud"...

zoom44

i thought it was more of a s*@t eatin' grin myself. sort of like " your about to be passed by a rotary and there ain't nothing you can do about it!"

applejax

Two points.

But I'd still like to see a sleeker front, aka early 90's such as the MR2, the RX7, etc. IMVHO

rototlewski

Teah it needs to be sleek, and not just shark sleek, I am talking X-15 sleek (first plane to go mach 6) so sleek that it looks like your hand would slide of of it like ice if you put it on it. ( no I don't really mean that but you know what I am getting at) Yeah Zoom44 Now that I think of it it does sorta look like a S!@T grin but it doesn't pull it off. Not as good as the late model eclipse. But since when has a true sports car smiled? Although it might attract some preppy rich girls to the car. :evil: