This looks like a debadged Mazda RX-8, but of course the four-door coupé has been around for more than a decade and ceased production since 2012. So surely something is up when a tatty example appears to be making the rounds at the Nürburgring Nordschleife.
This, therefore, is quite likely the test mule for the powertrain propelling Mazda’s upcoming rotary-engined sports car replacement, possibly called the RX-9. As you can see, the front end is fitted with an aftermarket bumper with larger air intakes and some additional piping, which should feed more air to what is likely to be a significantly more powerful engine.
What’s more, the car is wearing number plates from the district of Hochtaunuskreis (denoted by the ‘HG’ prefix), something that has been seen on a number of Mazda development mules. That’s not surprising, given that it’s where the town of Oberursel, in which sits Mazda’s European R&D centre, is located.
Contrary to earlier reports of the rotary engine consigned to range-extender duties in a hybrid powertrain, the upcoming sports car is said to put the novel-but-problematic mill in a rather more centrestage role in its propulsion. Rumour has it that a 1.6 litre twin-rotor turbo unit will be utilised, developing in the region of 400 hp, and there are also reports of electrification that is set to bring total system output up to 450 hp.
Despite it being early days with technical details consequently scarce at this stage, lightweight construction can be expected to be part of the RX-9’s development programme. The car will likely also feature styling inspired by the RX-Vision Concept shown at the 2015 Tokyo Motor Show, meant to presage such a model.
The sighting of this mule should bring enthusiasts relief, as the likelihood of a next-generation rotary sports car has been rather suspect in recent times. This time last year, Mazda president and CEO Masamichi Kogai said that there were no plans for a sports car larger than the MX-5 as yet, something that was repeated by the company’s North American engineers Jay Chen and Yoshiaki Yamane just recently.
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toyota Supra, honda NSX, mazda RX-9, nissan GTR…. Glory glory nipppon Banzai!!
If only Mitsu would revive the 3000GT…
Mitsubishi FTO.
Mitsu now under Nissan
Revert back to purely 2 doors & rotary with twin tebos pls.
In the 80s and even in the 90s, Malaysian streets had many RX8, Nissan 300 ZX Turbo, Honda Prelude and Toyota Supreme.
Why? Well these cars were all priced below RM100k.
But if today, they come in, it becomes RM300k or more
Strangely, these cars in Japan, have only gone up 40% in price from 1985 to 2017.
Ringgit even lower than Thai baht. go figure.
Indeed, it is quite strange that rx 8 can be seen on the street in the 90s
Hehehe. Basher got his “history” mixed up. Perhaps he using Eye of Agamotto to bend his “history” to his own reality.
Eh mister don’t forget in the 80s, 100k for a car was like buying a BMW 3-5 series today
Mazda will skip number 8 therefore it will be RX X instead.
Call it Mazda ReX as homage to 13B-RE Wankel engine
twin radiators
yes…i want a new rotary car to wake up my neighbour at night which i dont like