An artist rendering of what the new RX-7 might look like.
The Mazda Cosmo Sport first appeared in 1967, and it was the first volume production car to feature a Wankel rotary engine. According to Australia’s Motoring magazine, sources within the company suggest that a reborn RX-7 sports coupe could be in the offing for 2017 to commemorate the 50th anniversary of that milestone. Then in 2020, Mazda will celebrate the company’s 100th anniversary, which will coincide with the Olympic Games in Tokyo, and those same sources say Mazda will introduce an all new, range topping sports car in honor of both occasions.
We do know that Mazda has registered the names RX-7 and RX-9 with the Japanese trademark office, adding credibility to the rumors. Mazda reported record profits of nearly $2 billion dollars for the last fiscal year, so there is money available for creating new models.
The new RX-7 is rumored to use the 300 hp 16X rotary engine Mazda has under development. Add an electric turbocharger to the 16X, and you have a potent new motor for an RX-9 “halo car”. The RX-9 may also come with a hybrid powertrain to stay competitive with offerings from other manufacturers. Asked about all these rumors recently, Mazda global sales and marketing chief Yasuhiro Aoyama was enigmatic, saying only that a new rotary powered RX-7 for 2017 would be a “fantastic idea”.
Mazda has devoted more than five decades to perfecting the Wankel rotary engine, primarily because it produces good power from a unit that is smaller and lighter than any other internal combustion engine. Because there are no pistons going up and down thousands of times a minute, the rotary is also very smooth compared to its rivals. Unfortunately, it tends to be fairly thirsty, and has been bedeviled by longevity issues with the apex seals that are critical to making the engine work. Mazda’s latest rotary engine car, the RX-8, suffered from poor fuel economy and disappointing reliability, which led to it being withdrawn from the marketplace after a relatively short production run and low sales.
If Mazda can duplicate the reputation for bullet proof reliability enjoyed by the Miata (itself debuting a new model next month) and wrap the new cars in styling that excites the eye, these two new models should be enthusiastically received by potential buyers. But the folks at Jalopnik say the new RX-7 is a recurring internet myth that gets folks riled up every few years. We should know the truth in about two years time, so buckle up Mazda fans.
It could be a bumpy ride.
Source: Mazda
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