New Mazda RX-7 is a must!

By Anthony Crawford | September 02nd, 2010

At least that’s what Mazda’s Head of Design, Ikuo “Speedy” Maeda believes, when he recently spoke with Motor Trend and more or less, pleaded for a crack at a new generation RX-7 when he said, “Please ask Mazda to do a new sports car, please.”

If “Speedy” can’t pull this off, then the odds are, no one can. His father designed the first generation RX-7, so he has a lifelong association with this model, which should be enough to get the ball rolling on this project.

The only possible hold up could be the fact that Mazda is said to be developing brand new “Sky” technology, which will see the common rotary problem of heavy fuel and oil consumption essentially eliminated.

If Mazda is able to mate this technology to the Rotary engine, then hybrid-like fuel consumption is said to be entirely possible.

FTSII

Please happen!!!
myf20c

they better not put a smiley face on it!!!!

smokin’R32

I think mazda’s finally killed the smiley face with the announcement of their new ‘KODO’ design language taking over the old Nagare theme

Charles

The last pic & the “Sky” technology is enough to makes me start saving up already.
http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=1435885244 Yani Hendriawan

if mazda do bring this out it’s going to be great. we’re gonna have a few new cheap rwd sports cars to buy in the next few years
JML

Another RX-7, bring it on!

For those who have fallen for the Mazda marketing, “Sky” is not osme magic voodoo technology from the stars, it is simply direct injection.

“If Mazda is able to mate this technology to the Rotary engine, then hybrid-like fuel consumption is said to be entirely possible.”
Who exactly has said this? Why would direct injection when added to an inherently inefficient engine allow it be more efficient than regular engines with direct injection? -2 + 1 does not equal 3.

ZoomZoom

Sky technology refers to a lot more than just direct injection…Mazda has already released details of the upcoming engines and reviews have found them to be impressive. Any chance of car advice putting up an article so people like the one above stop commenting crap?

JML

Gee, the fans get upset when the marketing spin is deconstructed. Please, Miss Zoom, if you can take the time to regurgitate your rude opinion onto the table, then why not also spew up some facts about what wondrous technology, other than direct injection, the magical “Sky” label refers to in Mazda engines? The only mention of anything else I can find is technologies they “plan to add” at maybe some time in the future, such as stop-start and hybrid.

Devil’s Advocate

JML, extra technology on the engines also include lower friction materials for the engine block and a different kind of multi-holed injector to their other DI engine currently in service. This is combined with things like forged cranks, roller finger valvetrain followers etc to reduce weight/friction and hence improve economy. The Sky-G engine will also have a very high for a petrol car engine 13-14:1 compression ratio depending on market.

I do agree with you that the comment about the rotary is a little far fetched, however just to clarify what do you mean by inherently inefficient? Do you mean inefficient WRT fuel economy for power produced (thermal efficiency) or things like volumetric efficiency etc?

roflcopter

hey wait I know the top picture is a concept of the new rx-7

but the two photo at the bottom the old Mazda Furai which was made i think in 2007.

Either the rx-7 is a design copy or this website fails.

Roflcopter

Hung Low

I think you have failed. There is no picture of the Furai, which by the way looks and sounds awesome on youtube!

red

for attention seekers!
Car Fanatic

Actually JML, sky will be coupled with idle stop start technology, hence why the expected 30% improvement in fuel efficiency

Hung Low

The fuel efficiency will work on the piston engines, but the propsed D.I 16X Wankel, while more efficient than the current Renesis will never be made as fuel efficient as a regular piston engine or “hybrid like”. Simply because of its design characteristics..3 power strokes per rotor per eccentric shaft revolution!
But what a small price to pay for a high revving, creamy smooth, and unique engine.

Falcodore

Apparently theyve tested the 16x on hydrogen and its more efficient than a conventional piston engine.

Devil’s Advocate

That is primarily because the rotary engine is better suited to hydrogen as a fuel than a conventional piston engine. It doesn’t have the pre-ignition issues of a conventional engine because intake, ignition and exhaust happen in completely different parts of the engine.