Top Gear murders Mazda Furai

[ZesPak]

Well, this prototype has had an interesting life, but apparently it burned out when top gear were doing their thing:

http://oppositelock.jalopnik.com/the-mazda-furai-c...
http://www.topgear.com/uk/photos/TopGear-magazine-...


Pretty sad as I thought it was an amazing vehicle in both looks and sound.

Small tribute to the Furai, imho truly an icon amongst modern prototypes:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C4Xl0i4uNGU


Edit: changed the pic as it wasn't allowed for hotlinking. Sorry if this is a duplicate thread, couldn't find anything related under Mazda/Furai/Top Gear.

Edited by ZesPak on Wednesday 11th September 08:57

[Lee_sec]

I'd just started the same topic...

Such a shame, saw the car at the London Motor Show a few years ago and it looked incredible, and the videos show just how great it sounded...

Would love to see Mazda rebuild it, it is so iconic!

[Krikkit]

Wait, it died in 2008? That's quite a while ago! How have we not heard until now?

[Blib]

Yes, it was probably an unfortunate accident while the car was in Top Gear's hands. However, they were economical with the truth when they tested a Hawk Stratos replica a few years back. They told the owner that they would only be trundling around the track for a few shots. Instead, they stuck The Stig in it and thrashed it around for thirty laps.

Personally, I would be wary of giving that mob the time of day, let alone a car.

[ZesPak]

Krikkit said:

Wait, it died in 2008? That's quite a while ago! How have we not heard until now?

? The jalopnik article is from yesterday.

[Buzz word]

"Top Gear was present for the untimely demise in 2008 of the quite remarkable Mazda Furai Concept. Find out how (if that picture hasn't clued you in...) in our bumper anniversary issue."

The TG article suggests it happened a while ago. Surprising it has only just become news.

[SturdyHSV]

Remember the blue VXR8 Ute they filled with hay bails and drifted off the side of the track etc?

Broke the left rear suspension. Left to the owner to sort out naturally.

[storminnorman]

Perhaps delayed news due to legal issues over it?

In any case, what a shame. Rare that manufacturers make a fully functional concept, let alone one as beautiful as the Furai was.

[ZesPak]

Buzz word said:

"Top Gear was present for the untimely demise in 2008 of the quite remarkable Mazda Furai Concept. Find out how (if that picture hasn't clued you in...) in our bumper anniversary issue."

The TG article suggests it happened a while ago. Surprising it has only just become news.

Hmm idd very odd! Thanks for pointing that out. I was wondering why I didn't find any recent material about the Furai.
Maybe they just had the NDA with Mazda, so that they could make it into an exclusive article for a special edition (like this one). 5 years does seem a long time to keep quiet about something like this, especially since this was basically the pinnacle of the iconic and troubled Mazda rotary engine.

Can't believe this vid would be older than 5 years though:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Rd1w6cDPKnU

[HorneyMX5]

I was pondering a while ago where this had gone and assumed it had been tucked up in museum somewhere.

[ZesPak]

Apparently they've put in the wrong type of fuel . No reliable source so far though.

[WTFWT]

SturdyHSV said:

Remember the blue VXR8 Ute they filled with hay bails and drifted off the side of the track etc?

Broke the left rear suspension. Left to the owner to sort out naturally.

And the Le Mans winning C Type Jaguar that they donutted until the driveshafts gave up... Donuts in a multi million pound historic race car??!!

They have form for this sort of thing...

[Big Fat Fatty]

SturdyHSV said:

Remember the blue VXR8 Ute they filled with hay bails and drifted off the side of the track etc?

Broke the left rear suspension. Left to the owner to sort out naturally.

This one?


I can't believe they'd do that and leave it to the owner to sort out, it kind of reminds me of the story going around here for a while of the Porsche 917 track test gone wrong.

[ZesPak]

Big Fat Fatty said:

I can't believe they'd do that and leave it to the owner to sort out, it kind of reminds me of the story going around here for a while of the Porsche 917 track test gone wrong.

Hmm "leaving the owner to sort it out" could mean a lot of things, maybe it was more like: have it fixed and send the bill to us, rather than: sorry, it's kaput, have fun.

Neither are perfect solutions, but if the first one is agreed upon beforehand it seems reasonable. Especially with this type of car, as the owners would often like to have a say in who/how/when repairs are done.

[The Moose]

Big Fat Fatty said:

SturdyHSV said:

Remember the blue VXR8 Ute they filled with hay bails and drifted off the side of the track etc?

Broke the left rear suspension. Left to the owner to sort out naturally.

This one?


I can't believe they'd do that and leave it to the owner to sort out, it kind of reminds me of the story going around here for a while of the Porsche 917 track test gone wrong.

What about when they filled the car with water etc.

That's why when they approached me with a view to borrowing a car I have a connection with, I didn't even pass it on - they have no interest in anything the owner has to say on the matter

[Krikkit]

ZesPak said:

Big Fat Fatty said:

I can't believe they'd do that and leave it to the owner to sort out, it kind of reminds me of the story going around here for a while of the Porsche 917 track test gone wrong.

Hmm "leaving the owner to sort it out" could mean a lot of things, maybe it was more like: have it fixed and send the bill to us, rather than: sorry, it's kaput, have fun.

Neither are perfect solutions, but if the first one is agreed upon beforehand it seems reasonable. Especially with this type of car, as the owners would often like to have a say in who/how/when repairs are done.

Quite - I'd be very surprised if they left the end costs up to the owner to sort out, especially as there will be contracts and agreements signed before anyone gets the keys to a car.

[HannsG]

SturdyHSV said:

Remember the blue VXR8 Ute they filled with hay bails and drifted off the side of the track etc?

Broke the left rear suspension. Left to the owner to sort out naturally.

Hmmm. Any evidence of them just leaving the owner to deal with it?

They ragged the F out of the ute.

[Sixpackpert]

Krikkit said:

especially as there will be contracts and agreements signed before anyone gets the keys to a car.

Yes, the Top Gear contract that says that they will not be responsible for damage etc.

They will do anything to get out of paying for anything, fuel, expenses, repairs etc.

Trust me, done it twice, got stung twice. Never helping them again.

[TIGA84]

Sixpackpert said:

Yes, the Top Gear contract that says that they will not be responsible for damage etc.

They will do anything to get out of paying for anything, fuel, expenses, repairs etc.

Trust me, done it twice, got stung twice. Never helping them again.

What did you lend them?

[Sixpackpert]

Hovercraft, twice.