The End of the Mazda Rotary RX

R.I.P Mazda RX Rotary

We received some sad news a few days ago about the much loved Rotary RX-7, RX-8 and other RX series. The official word according to the Mazda CEO Masamichi Kogai is that “we don’t have that kind of vehicle in our future product plan.” when asked about a future RX.

Honestly I’d love to pontificate about this more, but there isn’t much to say. It sounds like the final word from the current CEO. When pushed further he gave some reasoning that honestly makes perfect sense, “If you increase the number of segments, then the resources we can allocate to each will decline and that will prevent us from developing truly good products.” Also stated was the fact that “It’s difficult for us at present to further expand our lineup. The company is still in the process of improving its financial structure. We want to focus our limited resources on the Skyactiv products that we have today”

Though this probably makes the most sense from a stability standpoint, it certainly doesn’t make us excited or want to say “Zoom-Zoom”. What happened to the Mazda passion? All that racing knowledge and development? Did they just give up on pushing the bar? Honestly, I don’t think so, I just think they are changing focus. The Rotary is off the board in the foreseeable future, but that doesn’t mean their current lineup won’t see some improvements…. after all, what about that Mazdaspeed 3 and MX-5?

Nonetheless, let us all take a moment of silence and mourn the passing of the RX series, for now.

Cheers

Spencer@CorkSport

Written by Spencer Carson. Spencer is a car enthusiast and Mazda fan at heart. Whether enjoying the power of a modified Mazdaspeed 3, or driving top down in his 1992 MX5, he always enjoys getting behind the wheel. As much as Spencer loves driving, he loves helping out other Mazda owners even more. Whether helping at a local install day or heading to a car meet across the country, he loves chatting about Mazda and giving advice on how to get more Zoom-Zoom out of any car.

August 27, 2014February 21, 2018

Mazdaspeed 3 Coming in 2017 with AWD!

UPDATE: Masahiro Moro, president of Mazda USA, called the Mazdaspeed 3 “childish” in execution. What does that mean for the future of the Mazdaspeed model? Find out.

According to Ryan Beene at Autonews.com the next Mazdaspeed is planned for 2017. At first glance we might assume that this is purely more rumors, but upon further inspection we see that there might be cause to believe him.

Why?

First of all, Ryan Beene has been vouched for by several other automotive sites and journalists. Over at thetruthaboutcars.com they state “Having known Beene for a number of years, I can say that his information is to be trusted more than the typical buff book “anonymous sources” accompanied by some fanciful colored pencil sketch or computer rendering.” Jalopnik.com also states: “Automotive News’ Ryan Beene, who has covered Mazda in depth, is rather reliable. This is a good thing.”

Shop Mazdaspeed 3 Performance Parts Now

So apparently we should listen. We also see some of the first reasonable explanations for AWD and a Turbo. As we have discussed previously, the new Mazdaspeed will most likely share the AWD from the CX5 platform. See the article here: //corksport.com/blog/will-there-be-a-new-mazdaspeed-3-with-all-wheel-drive/ where we also happen to quote Takeo Mariuchi, the program deputy manager as saying “from a technical point of view it’s not difficult to install a four wheel drive system”. We also showed some interesting photos showing the rear of the CX5 and 2014 Mazda 3 that appeared as though it would be rather simple to add the AWD.

Nonetheless we put our stamp of approval on this statement.

The second thing that he brings up, that we can stand behind, is the fact that he believes the engine will be the same as the one used in the CX-9 launching that year. This would not surprise us at all since it would help shave cost, and engineering work on Mazda’s behalf.

There is a lot more info in the article, so feel free to read the full article here: https://www.autonews.com/article/20140825/OEM04/308259975/mazda-making-big-changes-fast

I’ll summarize the rest of his interesting points here otherwise:

Mazda 2: Redesigned Mazda 2 production starts in November and he expects a sportier Mazda2 with a modified intake and exhaust as an option.

Mazda 5: This will get killed off by 2015 due to lack of interest.

Mazda 6: An interior redesign for 2016, new center console, smaller dash that sits lower. Similar to the Mazda3.

Mx-5 Miata: Debuts in one week. Will have a SkyActiv 2.0L liter engine (no word of a turbo). More exciting though is the news that Mazda is planning a fastback-style hardtop version.

Rotary RX-7 or Rx-9: They are still working on it, should be 2 seats, not 4. No word on when.

CX-3: This should go on sale next June. Built on the same platform as the Mazda2.

CX-5: Fresh interior for 2016 and new front and headlights.

CX-9: Redesign for 2017 with new KODO language. Turbo Engine 2.5L that will be the same as the Mazdaspeed 3.

Of course, Ryan still doesn’t quote any sources or give any proof, but we definitely are willing to believe all that he says!

-Spencer@CorkSport

Check out the latest Mazdaspeed 3 performance parts

August 22, 2014December 18, 2017

What Mazda said that Will Have you Saying “Take my Money”

Real Quotes from Mazda’s Global Sales and Marketing General Manager

Once again Motoring.com.au has brought some rotary rumors to surface thanks to an interview with Yasuhiro Aoyama, the General manager of Global Sales and Marketing. So what did Yasuhiro say that is so revealing?

“this is a very fantastic idea, 2017, [for] a new rotary.”

followed by

“We celebrate the anniversary of rotary in 2017; 50 years. Then 2020 is the Olympics in Tokyo and the 100th anniversary of Mazda,”

When prodded for more info and whether we would see a halo car in 2020 he was quoted as saying: “We will defy convention”.

In order to prevent us from expanding on his words without the proper quotes let us list them all here:

“We have our own definition of sports and our own definition of how to get Jinba Ittai, the oneness between car and driver – and we do not have to necessarily compete with segments or competitors,” he said.

“We won’t follow them just for the sake of it.” [in reference to other car companies]

“We are indifferent to the successes that our rivals are making; we need to make our own success and forge our own way forward.”

And one of the quotes that I find most exciting was this:

“Lightweight is one of the core elements for our sports cars to have high performance, so all of the vehicles for the next generation will be like this,” he stated.

What could this all mean? Well that Mazda again has neither confirmed nor denied the idea of an RX-7 in 2017, and that it “is a very fantastic idea”, and that it it will definitely be a lightweight vehicle. We also know that he is hinting at something in 2020? Possibly a halo car? Possibly the RX-9 that they trademarked awhile back. (source)

Nonetheless, we are already stashing our pennies so that once we have official word, we can start yelling “Take my MONEY!”

-Spencer

August 21, 2014September 13, 2018

Mazda, Motorcycles and Dorito Chip Goodness

How Mazda, a Strange Recycling Symbol and Dorito Chips all Connect

What is this symbol? And how is it connected to Mazda? On first look it appears to be somehow symbolizing recycling, or Rotary Engines, and if that was your guess, you aren’t really wrong. But, there is certainly more.

This is the logo for a Motorcyle Company known as Van Veen that produced cycles from around 1972 until 1981. Van Veen was run by Henk Van Veen a dutch importer of motorcycles who had a crazy idea to cram a rotary engine into a motorcycle. So, he chose a bike, a Moto Guzzi V7 as the frame, and then an engine.

Now, contrary to much of what you see on the internet (such as wikipedia) stating that his first prototype used a Comoto Rotary, Van Veen actually chose another engine. A Mazda rotary.

The first engine this slightly crazy man decided to cram into those bikes was none other than the same engine that Mazda used in their RX2, the 10a.

Though the initial prototype used this engine, Van Veen sadly began instead using the Comoto rotary instead.

Alas though, after just a few years of selling his OCR 1000 wankel rotary bike, the company stopped producing them in 1981. As much as we wished he continued to use the Mazda engine, he did not, but that original prototype still exists. If you happen to read Dutch, check out more here: https://cybermotorcycle.com/docs/downloads/vanVeenMotorRijwiel.pdf

Though we never got to see them use the Mazda engines for production, or later start using the RX7 engines (boy that would have been awesome!), there have been others that have followed in Van Veen’s path and built Mazda rotary cycles.

Here is a custom built 13b powered rotary bike by Rodney Aguiar.

Who knows, maybe one of these days Mazda will even start making rotary motorcycles! After all, they did start by making 3 wheeled cars!

P.S. Don’t forget your love of Dorito engines.

-Spencer

July 11, 2014December 18, 2017

4 Must Know Facts About the Next Mazda RX-7, RX-8, RX-9 Turbo Rotary

According to Motoring.com.au and an “insider” they have some new information on the next RX-7.

So what are the interesting facts they supposedly have heard?

1. Mazda is going to use a twin-scroll turbo setup with power near 450 hp.

2. Mazda will no longer use the MX-5 platform as a base.

3. Mazda has registered both RX-7 and RX-9 as names with Japan’s trademark office.

4. Mazda plans to celebrate their first Rotary powered cars 50th birthday in May of 2017 with the release of their new RX-7 or RX-9.

So what do you think? Does Motoring.com.au really have an insider in Mazda realizing this information? Or is it all just more speculation and made up rumors?

Let us know on Facebook.com/corksport