Mazda RX-8 set to return in 2017

[Clivey]

Has anyone else noticed this?

Auto Express said:

Mazda confirms wankel-powered flagship coupe for 2017

Mazda is developing a new rotary-engined sports car to succeed the RX-7 and RX-8, Auto Express has learned. Bigger and more powerful than the Mazda MX-5, the car is aimed at a 2017 launch, to coincide with the 50th anniversary of the launch of the Cosmo Sport, the first Mazda powered by a wankel rotary engine.

300+BHP & RWD...apparently they're working on dealing with the wankel engine's fuel & oil consuption "without resorting to turbocharging". Hopefully this will actually culminate in a production car...

[SpeckledJim]

Is that engine ever going to work properly?

Surely in the days of 20,000 mile service intervals and 40mpg AND 300bhp from the same engine, it is now finally actually completely irrelevant?

[Qwert1e]

You'd think they'd have learnt by now.

[slipstream 1985]

why not turbo charge. only way to make it work is to aim the car at the higher performance market

[Welshbeef]

Its all about weight and low centre of gravity for a better handling car - heck the RX-8 was /is a very good handling car.

[anonymous-user]

slipstream 1985 said:

why not turbo charge. only way to make it work is to aim the car at the higher performance market

Exactly.

It would make the car much more appealing to those who want to tweak and tune, and given the money that is spent on modifying new/nearly knew cars it is something that Japanese manufactures should start catering for more again. Its a bit sad when you think that many modern cars that response best to modification are German.

[Welshbeef]

JoshyS said:

Exactly.

It would make the car much more appealing to those who want to tweak and tune, and given the money that is spent on modifying new/nearly knew cars it is something that Japanese manufactures should start catering for more again. Its a bit sad when you think that many modern cars that response best to modification are German.

So all those who love the M3 I6 and V8 being N/A high reving units S2000 458 specialie etc.

[Fastdruid]

Hurrah. Can't wait.

[Clivey]

I was under the impression that in the 2 or 3 years after launch, the RX-8 did quite well sales-wise. - I certainly remember seeing loads around (far more than 350Zs etc.).

[Fastdruid]

They sold a *lot* more RX-8's than 350Z's.

Looking at howmanyleft there are just still short of 7k 350Z's, but there are still just short of 17k RX-8's (and that's taxed so presumably on the road). Even if you include the 370Z as well there are only ~8.5k between the 350Z and 370Z.

[Qwert1e]

A brief glance at used values highlights the problem,

http://www.autotrader.co.uk/search/used/cars/mazda...

[Fastdruid]

Qwert1e said:

A brief glance at used values highlights the problem,

http://www.autotrader.co.uk/search/used/cars/mazda...

Yep. Too high VED. Too low mpg. Too many sold.

[Mave]

SpeckledJim said:

Is that engine ever going to work properly?

Considering the total amount of R&D spent on piston engines versus rotaries over the last century, rotaries work bloody fantastically!

[Mastodon2]

Fastdruid said:

Yep. Too high VED. Too low mpg. Too many sold.

Not to mention the inherently shorter lifespan of a rotary engine. Despite all the dos and don'ts, the workarounds and safeguards, a rebuild never seems far away for a rotary. They're engineering marvels, and they can sound pretty tasty, but I'd never own one.

[Driver101]

SpeckledJim said:

Is that engine ever going to work properly?

Surely in the days of 20,000 mile service intervals and 40mpg AND 300bhp from the same engine, it is now finally actually completely irrelevant?

What 300bhp cars genuinely return 40mpg?

The internet standard Golf R claims 40mpg and returns mid 20s in the real world. Nobody seems confused about the RX8 only managing a pathetic 22mpg.

One car is revered for its qualities and the other is heavily criticised for the same thing.

[otolith]

If you'd rather have that much power and better economy from a turbocharged four pot, knock yourself out, there's plenty of choice. The wankel has some well known advantages - small, light, smooth - and some well known disadvantages, primarily fuel consumption. You pays yer money and takes yer choice. Me, I'm glad that the choice exists, though I'm not entirely convinced Mazda will bother bringing it to Europe.

[cib24]

According to this article, the next rotary from Mazda will be turbocharged and deliver approximately 450bhp. Whether it does or not, I don't care. I am very excited about a new rotary sports car. If you service the cars properly and treat them with care like any sports car, the engines last a long time.

http://m.motoring.com.au/news/mazda/rx-7/new-rx-7-...

[Captain Muppet]

I love RX7s and I love the engines (although one of mine had a V8), but the RX8 is hideous, so could Mazda make it pretty this time please?

[forzaminardi]

Qwert1e said:

You'd think they'd have learnt by now.

Learnt what? That they can make money making an interesting, well-performing car?

[BritishRacinGrin]

With the concepts Mazda has come up with lately, and even judging by the production cars Mazda are selling these days, I suspect it'll look awesome.

However, with the Rotary they really are flogging a dead horse- and competition is growing from other Japanese manufacturers in the form of the GT86/BRZ etc.