Not exactly new... Renaissance for RX-7

[The General]

"Mazda is developing a new version of its RX-7 two-seater sports car.

Product development boss Joe Bakaj told What Car? that the lightweight performer will sit above the RX-8, so expect to pay at least £22,000 to £24,000.

The two-door coupe will use the RX-8’s rotary engine. This already develops between 189bhp and 228bhp, but Mazda is hoping to get more power from it in the future. The company has given no timescale on this project, but has said it is looking at the possibility of turbocharging or supercharging the engine to get more from it.

Although the previous RX-7 has only recently finished production, the car has not been sold in the UK since 1995 when it was offered with 237bhp.

Other sporty models in the pipeline for Mazda include a string of MPS (Mazda Performance Series) cars. The first is the 257bhp 6 MPS, which sprints to 60mph in 6.5sec. It should cost from around £25,000 when it goes on sale towards the end of next year.

Bakaj said the high-performance 6’s 2.3-litre turbocharged engine fits into the 3 hatchback, which suggests this may be the next model in the new MPS line-up. The MX-5 roadster, which arrives towards the end of next year, is another prime candidate for an MPS derivative."

I say bring it on!! This is easily in my top 5 sports cars of all time. Beautiful to look at too... :shock:

http://www.whatcar.com/News_Article.asp?NA_ID=212232

[snoproblem]

It still seems like an odd choice to make. Wasn't the RX-8 supposed to succeed the RX-7?

[The General]

Succeed, yes maybe, but never replace. The RX-8 has fantastically neutral balance but the RX-7 is more powerful has a little more potential.