X3

 

It would appear there is a lot of rumor that both Toyota and Nissan are bringing light weight cheap RWD sport coupes to market in 2010 (see autoblog).

One would think that Mazda would also follow suite given that they have a concept in the portfolio based on a current working platform. Mazda did it with the Z, no reason to think they wouldn't do it for the silvia and the new AE86

 

I concur, my only addition would be that I heard the number as 4 vehicles off the current platform that underpins the RX-8 and MX-5.

 

We'll keep seeing stupid SUV's as long as stupid people keep buying them and the world has no shortage of them.

 

It would be nice for Mazda to lead instead of following all the time.

Paul.

 

That's what I meant with the Miata comment. They took a very bold chance then and left their counterparts scratching their heads as to why they hadn't thought of it. Even the BMW Z3 was designed because of the MX5 and used an MX5 for that purpose.

 

One thing I learn about mazda a long time ago its that they almost never do what people expect them to do or think is logical, but a cheap RWD coupe based on the miata its the most logical new program right now for mazda

 

It always surprised me how secretive Mazda is about new Rotary cars. I have bought seven rotary cars and five piston Mazda's and it would not surprise me either way on the Kabura. I'm leaning towards Rotary!

 

I hope you are right, it would be a blast to drive a renesis power Kabura

 

1. $20,000 base price
2. 2500 lbs. curb weight
3. MX-5 platform (2+2 coupe FR layout)
4. 232 hp Renesis

Woohoo!

* It could potentially cannibalize the RX-8.

 

It shouldn't. I didn't buy my RX8 as that type of car anyhow.

Could you just imagine those specs though?

 

I am sure Mazda will follow suit 2-3 years later like always. Better yet, announce the new model and not release it on time. Hmmm or maybe learn from prior mistakes?

 

Well said Sensei! Learn from mistakes, what a novel concept.

I hope we don't get any inflated power figures this time round.

Paul.

 

If that was directed at my speculation, the Hakaze is as much a "successor" to the RX-8 as a Pontiac Aztec is for a Corvette. It's also going to be a bit ridiculous to have the Mazda 5, (just freshened up for next year) CX7, CX9, the new Tribute AND the Hakaze on the same showroom floor. How many utility vehicles for a low level manufacturer can there be? Secondly, the Hakaze is just too "out there" for a production design. The Kabura, by comparison, looks OEM finished and ready to go.

Lastly, having read way too many car magazines in my misspent life, I would not take these "reports" too seriously. I have seen "reports" on every possible dream car making it into production, only to never have been heard from again.

 

Mazda would have to be on crack to do the Hakaze and not the Kabura concept. It would have to be crazy Ford people pushing the Hakaze.

Kabura, with a new turbo 4, would still put out more HP than mazda's raping of its own rotary. You can see it doing 275HP to 285HP with no problems (hell maybe even getting around 300HP). I can see somebody at Mazda/Ford trying to gamble...

To me somebody or some group at Mazda hates its own rotary engine. Its not that a rotary can not put out 300HP, but Mazda seems to keep losing its focus or mind. Your flagship sports car should have the most HP. You don't buy a sports car for fuel efficiency. When faced between the 2, you go with HP for a sports car, especially with 300HP, 400HP, and even 500HP monsters coming out from other companies. Aim for a HP target with the rotary that makes it competitive. That target has moved to at least 300HP and is going up.

Its like somebody or some group at Mazda is stuck in yester-year. Arguing about the FI on the RX-7... But its 2007 and moving on. Brand new day, put somebody has not noticed. Instead of doing the right thing with the rotary, they keep henpecking it from becoming the car we all know it can be. More HP, should be a no brainer... It's got to be close to the number 1 complaint about the RX-8. Yet there are so many ways to get the HP numbers up, yet none of them get done by Mazda...

I say, somebody or some group is going to gamble with an alternative sporty car out of Mazda. That Kabura looks perfect to gamble doing a piston turbo engine and compete with its own RX line. Think about it. A lightweight sporty Kabura at 23K @ 285HP w/ some type of back seat... Hmmmmmmm.... Then just see where the chips fall and **** on all the rotary fans... Where does that leave the RX line???

End Rant..

 

No, your flagship sports car should have the best handling and balance. It should have the best "feel". And guess what… it does. Even though there's no number that measures that.

 

Kabura:
As much as I love this concept and hope it makes it to market sub $20K, it also has to have a business model that will make succeed. I know being the "first" RWD affordable car to market makes a lot of noise in the car mags and for enthusiasts, but there's not guarantee that it will sell like hot cakes.

The reason I say this is because of the $20K FWD sports coupes of today aren't the greatest selling vehicles now. The Celica and the RSX have come and gone. The Scion TC has a unique limited audience. The Tiburon and the Eclipse are decent to small sellers.

I think Mazda is aware of the above, and to the mass market, having the Kabura in the same market (or even first RWD) won't mean it will sell like crazy, just like upcoming toyota's, nissan's, and the next Tib. There's a good chance that many people won't even know that the Kabura is a RWD car, just like we figure a good percentage of buyers of the RX-8 don't fully understand a rotary engine. A majority of people simply buy cars for the looks and price.

My guess is that if it comes to market (and I hope it does), they need to find clear pricing distinctions between the Kabura, MX-5 and RX-8. But odds are it will sell like every sports car/coupe in America- great sales in the first and second year, while tapering off in the years after that.

I'm not trying to be negative, just realistic. Do take note though, I agree with many of the statements already made: less CUV's more sporty cars, please! But the CUVS are selling. I too wish Mazda would be a more successful car manufacturer, but they build cars for a small audience of people that like sporty cars. Not volume selling cars known for reliability, safety, and common-denominator design.

[Edit, 3 hours later]
Whoa... do I have good timing or what? Volume is the key to the Kabura's business model:
https://www.rx8club.com/general-automotive-49/kabura-other-news-inside-124972/
[/edit]

michael

 

Business models are no guarantee for success either. ON paper the RX8 could have been a complete failure, it's a weird car and peope don't like weird.

If the Kabura does hit the market it better have what people like about the 8 and take into account what people dislike about it. I don't care for the price range because they will scamp on good material and cut corners with that kind of price tag.