2012 Mazda RX-9 preview?
30 Dec, 2007
44 Comments 
The trickle of supposedly leaked images from Mazda continue as renderings purportedly that of the 2012 Mazda RX-9 make their way onto the internet.
They reveal a far less attractive incarnation of the current RX-8, with familiar dramatically flared wheel arches, open-mouthed grill and near identical bonnet bulge treatment.
According to the source, most of the obvious can be confirmed including a rear-wheel drive layout, Wankel powerplant and a limited slip differential.
The rumours surrounding the RX-9 include the engine displacement rising from 1.3 to 1.8-litres, supposedly to alleviate issues such oil consumption and poor fuel efficiency whilst the transmission is said to be a dual-clutch six speed sequential setup, similar to the Mitsubishi Evo X.
Source: JustPut
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December 30th, 2007 at 3:16 pm
Interesting concept… but wouldn’t a 1.8L Rotary Engine consume more oil/fuel than the current 1.3L one?
Vote:December 30th, 2007 at 4:08 pm
I think its a fake, it looks like a photoshop, but we wont know for a few more years!
Vote:December 30th, 2007 at 4:23 pm
Having a larger rotary allows you to use larger apex seals, giving you a lot more scope for materials that can be used. The apex seals can be thicker allowing more ceramics (which don’t like being thin), lower friction and thus less oil consumption.
Vote:December 30th, 2007 at 4:24 pm
Even though it is a photochop, the current theme at Mazda has been faithfully reproduced here.
Although looking at the Furai concept machine, it looks like the design language at Mazda is changing a bit.
Vote:December 30th, 2007 at 4:36 pm
They have to be a fake considering pictures are out five years before the car is released.
Vote:December 30th, 2007 at 5:06 pm
This won’t be 2012, it will be late 2009 as a 2010 model year car, by which time the current RX8 will be 6 years old.
Vote:I don’t agree that it’s far less attractive than the RX8 – it’s a stunner, makes the RX8 look like a fairground dodgem car. Sad that the clever back doors didn’t make the cut though, but it will be a better sports car for that.
December 30th, 2007 at 5:36 pm
This isn’t replacing the RX-8 though, it is?
Vote:I assumed they’d sell both alongside one another.
December 30th, 2007 at 5:53 pm
If it is to be a 2 door rotary powered coupe, why can’t they just call it the FE series RX-7?
Vote:December 30th, 2007 at 6:24 pm
I want one!!!!!!!
Lets hope they do make it,the BMW CS was just a concept but will be produced now ……wont it???
Vote:December 30th, 2007 at 6:40 pm
I think it looks better than the RX-8.
Vote:December 30th, 2007 at 6:54 pm
Yes Myke, this is the RX8 replacement. They’ve already hinted that the four-door four-seat thing didn’t really work. Not a big enough market segment to have a bet each way.
Vote:December 30th, 2007 at 8:13 pm
Did I mention in the RX8 forum a few days ago that the RX8 replacement would not have the rear suicide doors. I think its a good representation of what it will look like.
Vote:December 30th, 2007 at 9:29 pm
Full Blown Hot and Nice. Iam a Ford supporter openly like most hot cars and not just one brand like some other weasels on here.
Vote:December 30th, 2007 at 10:04 pm
I like it but it would look a bit better if the roof line was droppeda bit or if it was slughtly longer. It looks squished to me, the hight is too much compaerd to the length
Vote:December 30th, 2007 at 10:48 pm
This is true image of RX-9 Concept which was announced sometime in 2006….
The link is here
http://www.autovia.com/extras/......sized.jpg
CarAdvice, I like this website, but sometimes you guys are very slow….
Vote:December 31st, 2007 at 9:36 am
I doubt that these images are fake or photoshopped.
Because on average; most car companies start the Design Research and Development process of a new car at least 5 years before it hits the showroom.
For example the TT-36 Concept car unveiled at the Sydney Motor Show 2 Years ago and is expected to be released in another couple of years = 5 years..
Therefore I’d say the images of the car you see here is a pretty good indication that its what the car will most likely look like.
Vote:December 31st, 2007 at 9:41 am
Looks more like a sophisticated european sports car [the grille looks similar to that of the new Audis]
Vote:Whereas the RX-8 which looks like a boy racer [inspired by Fast N The Furious]
December 31st, 2007 at 12:22 pm
This new design very much appeals to me. IT WOULD have been nice if Mazda had continued with the four seats and the small suicide doors. BUT this is okay. It’s a real sports car. The RX-8 is rather effeminate in styling… this is far from that. AND if Mazda can squeeze some reasonable gas mileage out of the thing… along with providing a 0-60 time between 4 and 6 seconds…while retaining the rotary… it will sell real well… I do think. BUT… if they can’t squeeze any good gas mileage somehow out of the rotary… Mazda needs to dump it…. and let it be History
Vote:December 31st, 2007 at 5:37 pm
looks good, hopefully has more power/performance than rx8 which is way to slow for price/market/looks..
Vote:December 31st, 2007 at 6:07 pm
What’s needed is simply an evolutionary take on the RX-7 series 8, and you have a customer right here.
Vote:January 1st, 2008 at 8:11 pm
This looks hot…another great design from Mazda.
Vote:January 2nd, 2008 at 1:15 pm
Looks hot, I see hints of Audi in it. Far better than the current RX-8
Vote:January 2nd, 2008 at 8:34 pm
Love the rear!……………………the front not as much but its alright!
Vote:January 5th, 2008 at 10:38 am
This design is way better than the current rx-8.
Vote:January 7th, 2008 at 12:11 am
i saw a 4rotor 2,6l turbo with 1660 hp; and somethin´ like that will be good in such body…….
Vote:January 7th, 2008 at 9:07 am
I like. Personally, I think the current-gen RX looks butt-ugly from the butt backwards. This here captures the basic styling elements of the current car, which looks nice in forward perspective, then fixes what’s wrong with the rear end. Albeit there is just a little too much Aston DB9 in that rear window.
Vote:January 7th, 2008 at 9:41 am
It’s definitely better-looking than the RX-8, with luck it’s also been shortened a bit and it looks like the third door is mercifully gone. Those front-fender exhaust vents (real or otherwise) are becoming one of those herd-mentality Japanese fads.
Vote:January 7th, 2008 at 12:48 pm
It appears to be a development of Kabura prototype. Strange that they show it in black color.
Vote:January 8th, 2008 at 12:38 am
I like it. Always liked Mazda’s sportscars (though not as nice as British ones!) despite hating the styling on most Japanese cars. This is even better than most.
Vote:January 8th, 2008 at 1:09 am
I like it better than the current RX-8 which had too many lines, swells and bumps. This is cleaner, sexier…
Vote:February 5th, 2008 at 1:44 pm
Fake or not, it’s a bit ugly.
Could one imagine such an aggressive design coming out of Japan? Mazda are traditionally conservative and minimalist in their aesthetics.
Still, it will be interesting to see what the final design looks like, the mazda3 and CX-9 originally had some rather wild looking concept designs as well.
Vote:February 20th, 2008 at 6:23 am
i must admit, i likey! being a current rx8 owner, this rendition seems to take what i don’t like about the current rx styling and cleans it up. i.e. rear looks more sophistacated and not toy like. loosing the clear rear lenses was a plus. also, seems to have smoother lines. don’t get me wrong… i love my rx8 and will be keeping it until this makes it to the showroom floor.
Vote:February 20th, 2008 at 6:49 am
I will be trading in my 2006 Shinka for this! Very Beautiful Car!
Vote:February 20th, 2008 at 12:59 pm
MatthewM Says:
Vote:December 30th, 2007 at 5:53 pm
If it is to be a 2 door rotary powered coupe, why can’t they just call it the FE series RX-7?
This model will not be FE series, because the Mazda RX-8 is the FE series, if this RX-9 came out hard FF series.
And the new president of Mazda of Puerto Rico has just given us an exclusive, as I speak to the press in Puerto Rico and said this: “The new president of Mazda of Puerto Rico, Noriaki Yashiro, remains positive at the scene of the 2008″ .
Yashiro confident about this performance in sales of the RX-8, which is celebrating its 40 anniversary this year and which has produced a commemorative model is already available on the market. Moreover, the new model RX-9 will be available in July this year and will be the TOP OF THE LINE our line of sports cars.
February 25th, 2008 at 5:31 am
It is a mix of BMW 3, Honda Civic, Aston Vantage and rx-8. Mazda took the best and left the rest. What a design! It looks like a 100 000$ car. I hope the interior is as nice…
Vote:May 21st, 2008 at 8:24 pm
it looks more like a mazda 3. i prefer rx-8 compared to this. but still it looks nice :)
Vote:May 28th, 2008 at 2:45 pm
they should make this one twin turbo like the rx-7
Vote:July 15th, 2008 at 10:34 am
i heard it will push 450 HP and will be around 60,000 as an owner of a 8 i think this is a beautiful car…this is what im getting in 4 years :-)
Vote:July 15th, 2008 at 11:55 am
Nice!…… but…. 2012 – I wonder how much petrol will cost then.
IMO These cars, lets say RX8-9, 350z, Evos, Wrx’s etc is a lower band sports car, huge Fuel prices will really hurt people in this market segment and presumably already are, unlike people who own ferraris etc $1, $2, $4, $5 a ltr is still poo change for them.
Vote:August 14th, 2008 at 3:55 am
personally I think that this new design takes away from the history of the RX family. The car simply sits to high in the rear as well as the body resembeling a 350 Z with the exeption of the headlights and front bumper. I own an RX8 and would never trade it for a car that looks like that. Have they came out with any engine specs yet?
Vote:August 14th, 2008 at 7:50 am
C/A cannot even get a [PROMISED] CX7 review/test done, and you are already talking about the new RX-9?
Cheers
F-0
Vote:October 8th, 2008 at 12:10 pm
Ehhh i have an Rx8 right now and i’m lovin it.
this rx9 looks pretty sick too..but i think the back could be better….should have kept the rx8 lights or a newer style keep it mazda unique..no it just looks like another sports car with those regular lights…but its still pretty nice
Vote:January 14th, 2009 at 1:07 am
Hmm… I don’t want to be mistaken by everybody here because I am a Mazda fan. I got both the Mazda3 2006 & the Mazda6 2008. My next target is the next generation for RX8, which is this… the RX9. Unexpectedly, i felt disappointed with the new look.
Vote:April 30th, 2009 at 3:04 pm
as with all rx generations, they all were weird looking when they first came out, in my opinion anyways, but the rx gen’s are all almost 50/50 weight, all have the rotary motors weighing less than any other motor on the market… these are driver cars, made for racing!!! these doors on this rx-9 are supposed to move like van doors, not up, not out… backwards!!!!!!!!! push button door opening, on the key fab, and inside, i love this car, i’ll be first in line!
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