Is this the Mazda RX-9 or the upcoming 19k base price poor man's Aston?

Other sites are reporting that this is the RX-9 but we have a sneaking suspicion that this is the 19k base price Aston clone Mazda (a derivative of the Ford Reflex concept car) was showing focus group attendees in late 2005 when we first broke this story.

Let us refresh your memory below…

From 2005:

AUTO SPIES WORLD EXCLUSIVE- $19,000 Aston Martin clone in development from Mazda?


Dear 001,

I think I may have uncovered the hottest scoop of the year.

Last week at a super-secret focus group location in Hollywood, I got a glimpse of one of the hottest little sport coupes I’ve seen in a long time.

It was only shown in concept form but boy was this thing hot!

Imagine a cross between the RX-8 and the Aston Martin DB9 but in a much smaller package.

From the side and rear view it is pure Aston and from the front it’s a more radical RX-8.

It has big bulging front wheel surrounds.

Even more pronounced than the RX-8.

In the same room with the new little coupe, were the potential competitors surrounding it.

The Acura TSX, Scion TC, Honda Civic, Mazda RX-8, Mazda Miata, Mitsubishi Eclipse and the G35 coupe rounded out the list.

They were looking for customer feedback about the pros and cons of each cars interiors and exteriors.

Needless to say, the new Coupe made EVERY car look obsolete except the G35 coupe.

The G is not as cool looking but it is more refined, elegant and looks more expensive.

But this new coupe, which we will coin the code name of DB1 from this point forward, really made the biggest statement.

Even though it is still in concept form (not even a working mockup) I was able to get the exact specs:

4 cyl. 2.0 liter engine
161 HP
129 Torque
2436 lbs.
18” tires

Aside from the radically cool design a few totally new features were being tested to see if there was interest from consumers.

One was the fact that it is the first car I know of where the front and rear passenger seats were WIDER than the driver and rear drivers side passenger seat.

The reason for this was two-fold.

The front seat back folded forward turning the front seat into a mini table or foot ottoman for the rear seat passenger.

Plus the rear passenger seat reclined.

Finally, the front windshield went back halfway across the whole roof (like a combo pano windshield roof) and there was a pop up spoiler above the rear window.

But the best part was the base price they were projecting of between $18-$20K!

Any negatives?

The only one I could see is that anyone over 6’2” won’t find much room in this compact coupe.

It was WAY smaller inside than the Civic’s, Scion, TSX, etc.

But it was one GORGEOUS design!!!!

I’ll pass along more details as I get them from my mole within Mazda.

Gary D.

brmq - 12/29/2007 12:44:17 PM

+10 Boost

Mazda has really setted up their game. I went to a focus group for the new Mazda 6 and it was amazing inside and out. On level with the G35 and the Acura TL.

pacotacolol - 12/29/2007 7:48:06 PM

+5 Boost

The Aston-Clone is very... um... voluputious. It probably has the driving pleasure of a aston- as luxury goes-... paired with the driving experience of mazda. Good job

pacotacolol - 12/29/2007 7:49:36 PM

+4 Boost

about the Mazda 6: could it compare with the 328i?

XYZZ - 12/30/2007 12:41:19 AM

0 Boost

^^ with looks like this, WHO CARES?

brmq - 12/30/2007 2:19:48 AM

+1 Boost

I would say the New mazda 6 is closer to the TL more refined luxury with sporty undertones then just sporty. I has a presence to it and looks like it should cost more. IMHO I don't find BMW 3s a luxury car. It's more of a sporty drivers car that's refined.

pacotacolol - 12/30/2007 8:37:38 AM

+3 Boost

me. i care becuase i like mazda. and wiish to hear news about them.

ThierryHenry14 - 12/29/2007 12:48:50 PM

-12 Boost

Its funny looking... looks like ford did not want to let Aston go, so they kept the design, just put it on another car...

But if it works for them, thats good for them.

c36amg - 12/29/2007 12:57:16 PM

+6 Boost

when will it be launched?

Agent001 - 12/29/2007 1:26:29 PM

+6 Boost

Rumor is Detroit in a couple weeks...

001

pacotacolol - 12/30/2007 8:42:03 AM

0 Boost

lemme guess, are you going to the show?


thats a stupid question

Nakamichi - 12/29/2007 12:58:07 PM

-2 Boost

"4 cyl. 2.0 liter engine"

A non-rotary engine in w/ an RX badge... I thinks not.

DaHarder - 12/29/2007 1:19:39 PM

+5 Boost

This design looks very similar to the Mazda concept we were show earlier this year (2007), remember the one I mentioned previously with the central driver's seat arrangement?

Only this one has far fewer 'influences' from Mazda's recent (and rather bizarre) concept offerings... And looks all the better for it.

Personally, I'm pretty convinced that this is the 'spiritual successor' to the Mazda RX-7 and will (eventually) be revealed in Rotary form.

Either Way, It Looks Fantastic!

Bill - 12/29/2007 1:21:16 PM

+6 Boost

Beautiful. I'm especially digging the rear.

mini22 - 12/29/2007 1:34:17 PM

+4 Boost

I think it's a study replacement for the RX8. Mazda is very cautious regarding putting out coupes recently. It took quite a bit of finagelling to get Ford to agree to the RX8. It could either be a coupe based on the MX5 or an RX8/RX7 replacement. It's certainly more attractive then the current RX8.

stash84 - 12/29/2007 1:37:27 PM

+2 Boost

My first 3 cars were rx7s and now that im old enough to actually afford a new one, i dont like the design. i really like the turboII and the 3rd gen TT..i spoke to someone at the miami auto show and he told me that there was a rotary "in the works" for mazda. i hope its TT and looks better than the rx8

2ndbimmer - 12/29/2007 1:54:56 PM

-6 Boost

The engine is a little low on power. That may be the buzzkill on this car, looks fast, but goes like a turd. Put in a 6 cylinder!

JUGNU - 12/29/2007 2:14:19 PM

+3 Boost

I don't see Aston design in it (Except for the taillights which looks like Vanquish's) but it looks like a watered down version of one of the concept Mazda showed recentley (Kubura.... something)

anyway that looks very good.

JUGNU

DaHarder - 12/29/2007 2:41:41 PM

+2 Boost

Really?

The rear 3/4 view looks for all the world like a 3/4 scale Aston - Especially the 'graceful upturn' of the rear side windows and the 'fastback' roof line, even the tail lights have a visual similarity.

To Each Their Own...

enthusiastx11 - 12/29/2007 2:17:58 PM

+2 Boost

crazy good looking for a $20K+ car!

front fender flares look a little much...but still an impressive overall design for an economical car.

botsapper - 12/29/2007 3:29:28 PM

+4 Boost

Back in 1992 I bought a great little econocoupe that had the smallest V6 at the time. It had a great body design dispelling its econo-commuter purpose. Honda was about to discontinue the fun CRX and the Del Sol was not a good replacement. I choose was what I thought would be a good successor, the Mazda MX3 V6 was impressive compared to the Nissan NX & Toyota Paseo. The then new design from Mazda drew compliments and guys always wanted the hood open to see its tiny V6.
MX3 enthusiasts could hope that this new concept is probably its successor. A great looking and driving, today's relevant model.

Audiphile - 12/29/2007 3:29:35 PM

+1 Boost

Very cool from this angle, I wonder what the front looks like. Alas, I'm too tall for this one too!

botsapper - 12/29/2007 4:35:49 PM

+1 Boost

kaiser...
My quick reaction deluded my eyes...
Should have seen the MX Crossport wheels shopped onto the Kabura concept... PS modified rear lamps... Structurally impractical C pillar... Mismatched rocker panels front view vis a vis rear view... Mazda logo in wrong perspective... etc
Thanx for the reminder.

EL34 - 12/29/2007 4:06:09 PM

-1 Boost

RX-Nine!!!

hmmmm.

I want to know what happened to the 1980 RX-7 with 40 inches of legroom for the driver?

stash84 - 12/29/2007 9:50:14 PM

+1 Boost

rotary tt plz..no cylinders

investor27 - 12/29/2007 5:18:33 PM

+1 Boost

That hood looks too aggressive for a 4-badger or a rotary engine. Something else may be afoot.

Htay7500 - 12/29/2007 5:37:37 PM

+2 Boost

what about the RX7?

pchera01 - 12/29/2007 7:01:29 PM

+2 Boost

wow that is simly great car

IhavearedS2000 - 12/29/2007 7:20:34 PM

+2 Boost

This is a good answer to Honda's CRZ concept - if they build it, things are going to get interesting again for inexpensive Japanese sporty cars...

bmwfan1513 - 12/29/2007 11:38:11 PM

+1 Boost

Looks like a nice car. Although, a bigger engine would be nice.

Hyundai - 12/30/2007 3:02:50 AM

+3 Boost

Wow!

I love it!

Gorgeous!

Jag_xfr - 12/30/2007 9:55:12 AM

-5 Boost

Why is it ok for Mazda to copy Aston's, Aston Martin should take them to court!

DaHarder - 12/30/2007 10:27:37 AM

+2 Boost

Please... Just Stop It!

This Vehicle Is Hardly a Threat To Any Aston Martin, And No Person In Their Right Mind Is Going To Mistake One For The Other.

Note: And Who Cares Anyway If There Is Passing Resemblance As They're Both Partly Owned By FoMoCo...

atomicbri - 1/2/2008 11:38:28 AM

+1 Boost

Folks let's remember.... FORD OWNED ASTON, STILL OWNS JAG and PARTIALLY OWNS MAZDA!!! No wonder some of the designs and ideas have crossed between the brands... all of these cars were in the pipe already before Ford broke up and sold off its PAG cars! An I thought you people on here were car fans.... if you are, you would know about car design to production!

pacotacolol - 1/1/2008 10:15:24 AM

+2 Boost

Happy New Year!

FerrarisR4me - 1/3/2008 12:21:33 AM

+1 Boost

This does not look like an Aston... it looks good though. Hope they drop a powerful engine in it to make good on it.

vdiv - 1/7/2008 7:59:26 PM

+1 Boost

maybe it's not the RX then, it's the Pee-X ;)