Hyoriu

Sooo. happened to stumble onto this. Fact or Fiction do ya'll think!?

New Mazda RX-7 Scheduled for 2016 Launch » AutoGuide.com News

RIWWP

iTrader: (2)

From this:

It's clearly just repeating rumors.


...but they are supposed to release it within the next 2 years with the chassis designed, production lines set up, parts supply set up, emissions and safety tested by every 1st world government, long term QA testing, and marketing?

I'm not a believer that the "2016" is accurate.

Xeridae

Agreed. It took 5 years (2007-2012) for the BRZ/FR-S to go from show floor concept to production. I am using this car as a benchmark since it was designed from scratch and took longer than just your standard reiteration of an existing sports car.

All we really know is that Mazda is working on the 16X engine. We haven't even seen a legitimate concept car yet... Honestly I prefer they take their time with this engine because the 13B-MSP seemed a little rushed in its design. This is evident by a lot of the changes in the series II 8s. Here's hoping the 16X is as good or better than the 13B-REW. I still wish they would ditch the side ports and go back to peripheral but emissions are tougher now.

RIWWP

iTrader: (2)

The "16X" name was shelved a few years ago. I don't believe that this means that the engine won't be a 1.6L, as I think it still will be. I'm open to being wrong about that though. Mazda has referenced the "Sky-R" a few times, which would fit with their name information of their current SkyActive engines, "Sky-D" and "Sky-G".

"16X" was a project name more than an actual engine designation in the first place though, and I think that it refers to an obsolete design that won't ever see production. I think that what they learned from the Sky-G and Sky-D meant that what they had developed for the 16X just wasn't ideal any more. Design moved faster than production possibility. "Sky-R" doesn't give us a size, however the improvements in the 1.6L design are substantial enough that I expect the same dimension ratios for the Sky-R, whether 1.6L, bigger than that, or smaller.

Xeridae

That's interesting. I didn't realize that. I guess they gave up on updating this site.

MAZDA:16X | The Rotary Engine


I'll have to do some research on the Sky-D/G/R. Sounds like a good read.

RIWWP

iTrader: (2)

Well, that information is all still relevant to the 16X

They are probably intentionally not releasing any Sky-R information yet.

In fact, do a google search for "Mazda Sky-R", and look at what the first result is

Xeridae

That was a pretty amusing google search.

I wonder if it will actually look similar to this.



That top cover would be a little odd since it wouldn't be oriented correctly. Not a big deal I guess. It's definitely more compact.

RIWWP

iTrader: (2)

This is one of the latest articles that has actual information about Mazda's work with the Sky-R: Mazda Design Breakthrough May Give Rotary New Life | Vehicles & Technology content from WardsAuto

...although it's still 2 years old.

It's one of the few news reports in the past few years that doesn't just have wild speculation about the car itself, with the engine information as an afterthought, and the quotes from Mazda are something that most articles lack.

tza0001

iTrader: (2)

RIWWP thanks for posting the article. To me the best news are that according to Hitomi Mazda is focusing on the positives of the rotary engine and not the negatives. This indicates that they still believe in this engine design. I hope we hear some good news soon.

OtherSyde

If it's true they make the new car a 2-door, I think that would alienate a lot of people; 2-door cars are just so impractical, and tend to exist strictly as "toys" and secondary fun cars for people who can afford them in addition to their 4- or 5-door cars, SUV's, or trucks that they use for "real life."

Still, like everyone, I hope for some good news about a new rotary engine that would vindicate the grievances held against the current rotaries (low torque, bad gas mileage, reliability, etc.).

RIWWP

iTrader: (2)

Having 4 doors alienates plenty of people too, due to the number of people that only want a toy. Those people are also less likely to be put off by reliability problems. 4-doors will also increase weight vs a 2-door, and light weight will be critical.

Razz1

Rumors Rumors Rumors............

Dustintomi

iTrader: (1)

"We Hear" is never very reassuring but this shows there is still hope.

We Hear: Rotary-Powered Mazda Sports Car Due in 2017 - Motor Trend WOT

Sorry if this was already posted I looked quickly but don't have much time.

RIWWP

iTrader: (2)

The article was created yesterday, so not reposted. Just regurgitated.

Here is the article that this one is based on:
Mazda RX-8 set to return in 2017 | Auto Express

...which has zero actual information or foundation for it's story. 90%+ of these articles from other magazines continue to be sourced from AutoExpress, which has a very long history of talking out of it's ***.

No one is bothering to do their own digging.

loidokaar

If the story is correct about using extended mx5 platform, then this suggests the new car to be rx8, not rx7. Or?

Kaido

RIWWP

iTrader: (2)

Yes, it should use the same chassis, however, the amount of stretch could be very very low, or it could be very big. Even a stretch of 1 inch would qualify that statement, but not be sufficient for a larger size category.

And no one has anything but guesses about what name would be used.

"RX-9" theories are all based around iterations of the engine, and could be of any size, although it would go contrary to Mazda's current naming convention of the size corresponding to the number. Even then though, the number isn't actually a strict interpretation of the size, as the MX-5 is clearly a different size than the CX-5 or Mazda5, and the Mazda6 is close to the same size as the CX-9.

"RX-7" theories are all based on a restoration of what some people perceive as the "roots" of the rotary sports car, ignoring both iteration and size.

Then again, "RX-3, -4, -5, or -6" could easily be used if the size is used as the base, ignoring iteration convention and previous usage of each number.

I think everyone agrees that the "RX-8" won't be reused. A future car will be too much different and there is too much negative public opinion of the model, plus the iteration and size problem. Not much reason has ever been put forth for why they might re-use it.

I personally hope it is anything except 7 or 8. I frankly don't want a future RX model to automatically be associated with either RX7Club.com or RX8Club.com. Too much confusion trying to introduce a completely different car into either community.

2 through 6 would all be appealing, as would 9.

OtherSyde

...Or they could go the Microsoft way and reboot the numbering scheme, making it the RX-1. I doubt it though. Personally I don't care what it's called TBH. I love the RX-8's curves and especially the suicide doors, but I doubt they will re-use those aspects either, unfortunately.

They should make a 2-door and a 4-door version though, for sure.

hemmingway_bg

Autoweek reporting 449 HP twin turbo 7/10/14. Mazda has patent on RX 7,8, and 9. This has my attention. I love my trouble free RX-8 GT still after 10 years.

Chibana

If they do release a new rotary-powered sports car, and I can fit in it (not the case with the Miata), will I be able to resist the temptation to sell my RX-8 and buy the new one? I hope so, or my wife would probably kill me.

Gerald Nunn

Article references a "source close to Mazda" so not even first hand reporting in terms of being someone within Mazda. With the turbos and the reference to competing with the 911 I really can't see this happening, it has all the hallmarks of the mistakes they made on the 3rd gen RX-7 in terms of being too complex and too expensive. Maybe as a halo car but I can't see too many takers shelling out big bucks on a Mazda versus the alternatives.

Scottobot

My thoughts as well.

Scalpa

I found this:

New RX-7 to get 335kW turbo rotary - motoring.com.au

More and more rumors may mean something.

RIWWP

iTrader: (2)

It only means that one magazine posted a rumor that doesn't have a single bit of supporting evidence, and every other magazine has decided to hop on the rumor-monger train and regurgitate the same information as if it was fact.

If I called up one of these magazines with the "insider information" that the next rotary was going to be a diesel hybrid with 3 pistons making 1,300hp, all the magazines would be reporting it as fact within a few days.

Mazda still has not actually said anything, and this latest story has even less proof to back up the story than normal.

infiltr_eight

WORD!


There is still Rotary Development going on @ Mazda Japan but the actual Projects are single rotor engines working as range extenders for use with the new Mazda 2.

I have a Company around which is developing Rotary Diesel Engines with Injection and Turbocharging... they have Impressive engines but they use them in Trucks and for Powering Generators (Range Extender)

Greetings
Thomas

Dustintomi

iTrader: (1)

So... in the article is says that the car would have a twin-scroll turbo then at the end it says that they are putting in two turbos. I could be wrong but I never considered a twin-scroll a "type of twin turbo". Kind of makes me question their credibility.

Unless they're saying it will have a twin twin-scroll turbo set-up. That would be pretty cool.