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Mazda Rumored to Introduce New RX-7 and RX-9 by 2020

The rumor mill has already overfed us with stories about a future Mazda performance cars using rotary power, but now a new reports seems to bring stronger clues on this.
Mazda RX-9 rendering 1 photo
Photo: BramDC on devianart
Mazda may launch not one, but two Wankel-powered go-fast models by 2020, as Motoring writes. While the automaker has already registered both the RX-7 and the RX-9 designations with the Japanese trademark office, the story goes deeper than that.

The Mazda Consmo rotary-engined sportscar is set to celebrate its 50th anniversary in 2017 and this is when the first of Mazda’s Wankel goodies, a spiritual successor for the RX-7, is expected to show up.

Moreover, Mazda may be working on something special, namely the RX-9, for the Tokyo Olympics in 2020.

"This is a very fantastic idea, 2017, [for] a new rotary," Mazda global sales and marketing chief Yasuhiro Aoyama replied to the aforementioned source’s inquiry on the matter "We celebrate the anniversary of rotary in 2017—then 2020 is the Olympics in Tokyo and the 100th anniversary of Mazda." Nonetheless, the official refused to make any precise comments.

From the technical point of view, Mazda engineers have been reportedly working on improving their implementation of the Wankel design for a few years now. The engine was retired with the RX-8 back in 2012, due to emission regulations. The associated efficiency issues, as well as the limited reliability must also be taken care of.

The latest rumor points out Mazda’s 16X in-development rotary engine would deliver about 300 hp for the RX-7. On the RX-9, the unit could be aided by electric turbocharging power.

When it comes to the platform, the upcoming Miata / MX-5 chassis, an all-new development, could be modified to underpin at least one, if not both the future RX-7 and RX-9.

As far as the financial side goes, the news appears to be positive - Mazda posted record profit, $1.88 billion or EUR at the current exchange rates, for the 2013 fiscal year, which ended in March 2014. Among others, this means Mazda has the funds required by such halo car projects.
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About the author: Andrei Tutu
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In his quest to bring you the most impressive automotive creations, Andrei relies on learning as a superpower. There's quite a bit of room in the garage that is this aficionado's heart, so factory-condition classics and widebody contraptions with turbos poking through the hood can peacefully coexist.
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