If Mazda Created A Mid-Engine Rotary Powered RX9, Would You Be On The Short List?

There’s been no shortage of rumors about a successor to the Mazda RX-8. The last we heard, Mazda engineers are keen to do it but executives have yet to make a compelling business case. Still, a 2017 launch is being targeted in order to properly celebrate the Mazda rotary’s 50th anniversary. Will it be called the RX-7? RX-8? Or perhaps the RX-9? No one knows just yet, but in the meantime speculation continues. And now New Zealand-based designer Alex Hodge has created his vision of an RX-9.
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MDarringer - 9/29/2014 5:28:07 PM

0 Boost

Nope. Like the Miata, the RX8, and the RX7 before it, the RX9 would have "adequate" power so that it would be "balanced".

Mazda needs sales volume and an NSX wannabe is NOT how to do that.

I'd do:

MX5 (with 2.5 16V 4 cyl) and an RX5 (rotary version)

MX7 (turbo 2.5 2+2) and an RX7 (turbo rotary) This would be built on a lengthened MX5 chassis

MX9 (V6 turbo "MX7") and an RX9 (turbo rotary hybrid)

The MX versions would be "value conscious" and the RX versions would have the premium touches.

Mazda could span a wide range in the affordable to near-premium sports car market for very little outlay and almost instant amortization of development cost.

Terry989 - 9/29/2014 5:53:27 PM

+2 Boost

Yes - - - if it looked like that, was priced under $50K, and had better reliability than the RX-8 had.

MorePower - 9/30/2014 3:10:20 AM

+2 Boost

Hell Yeah! I could not have said it better myself.

I would add/hope that it also didn't go through a quart of oil a month, made over 350hp and gets better gas mileage than the RX-8.

freeagent - 9/29/2014 6:35:34 PM

+1 Boost

Mazda needs a coupe of the Miata; just make one with a rotary, modify the styling a bit to suit the RX heritage, call it the RX-7 and extend sales for minimal investment.

kysrsoze1 - 9/30/2014 12:45:52 AM

+1 Boost

No. The Wankel is a crappy, inefficient engine. It's low on torque and gets terrible mileage, and it isn't particularly reliable either. I agree with Skytop. It looks like the front-empnd is melting.

skytop - 9/29/2014 8:46:52 PM

+2 Boost

It the car melt from photo lamps?

40flash - 9/30/2014 1:26:48 AM

+1 Boost

Clean up the design a little and offer a piston engine option and I would be very interested. I'll Never ever buy anything with a rotary piece of junk in it. Kysrsozel said it well. No HP. No torque. No MPG. No reliability. With the generally round shape of the engine it would bounce along the bottom and therefore wouldn't even make a decent boat anchor.

40flash - 9/30/2014 8:26:28 AM

+1 Boost

Put the Speed 3 engine in it and I'll buy one.

dumpsty - 9/30/2014 10:52:43 AM

+1 Boost

Mazda execs ain't got the balls....

They won't make a Mazdaspeed6 (AWD, AT, V6 or turbo4)....why would they feel "safe enough" to build a slick RX-9 redux?

chewy - 9/30/2014 12:30:00 PM

+2 Boost

Don't think Mazda sold very many speed6 models. The current model does look good enough to get the speed treatment unlike the last one.