Mazda RX-7 planned for 2013; electric turbocharger being considered

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By Zack Newmark
July 22, 2010 9:00 am
Filed Under: Japanese, Mazda, Rumours

Mazda is in development of a new RX-7 that could be released on the market in 2013. The car, tentatively called the RX-9, could get a boost in power to its Renesis rotary engine to make up for the sluggish engine used in the RX-8.

The increase in power could come from a variety of technologies being explored by the automaker. "We're testing the rotary in conjunction with technologies including an electric turbocharger," an unnamed source told Autocar.

Extra performance capabilities will be necessary if the RX-9 will be able to compete with the BMW 1-Series, Volkswagen Scirocco and Volvo C30. As for the design of the car, it could use the Nagare design language seen on Mazda concepts from 2006 and 2007. However, it is also possible that it will be one of the first new models to feature Mazda's next brand design, set for introduction later this year.

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Comments (page 1 of 2)

markloki

July 22, 2010 9:16 am

I thought Ford owned,or at least shared tech with Mazda.. Ford`s new 2.0T Ecoboost engine would make most sense.. If mazda had dropped that engine in the RX8 R3 in the UK it would be out selling every 20 - 30 grand coupe in the market..good power,good economy & I imagine easily tuned...Whats going on mazda?

holmstar

July 26, 2010 1:31 pm

If they use a 4 banger, then it wouldn't be an RX8. The 'R' in RX8 stands for rotary.

Hero Sina

July 22, 2010 9:35 am

Electric turbocharger??so it's not turbocharger anymore , it's supercharger.

Arto-7

July 22, 2010 12:10 pm

A whole new breed of a charger, actually. Superchargers are propelled by the crankshaft, mechanically

HussainAnmar

July 23, 2010 8:03 am

That's what I was wondering aswell this morning.. Don't know how they should call it but turbo is not fine by my side.

holmstar

July 26, 2010 1:40 pm

See Kepex's link. (farther down) It really is a turbo, but instead of having a physical shaft connecting the turbine and compressor, there is a generator and a motor, respectively, that are connected by wires, and to the battery. This allows the ECU to pre-spool the compressor, almost completely eliminating turbo lag.

rnsaza

July 22, 2010 9:53 am

I think it's great that Mazda is keeping the Wankel motor alive! It may not be the most efficient of IC motors but hell it sounds great at 9000+rpm!

Mikeado

July 22, 2010 9:55 am

What is an electric turbocharger? Is the turbine spun by an electric motor? That would eliminate lag, I'd have thought. Interesting idea however it works.

They definitely need to do something - after reaching 280PS with the RX-7, dropping back to about 240 in a bigger, heavier car was a bit disappointing.

Edited by user on July 22, 2010 at 9:57 am

July 22, 2010 8:24 pm

ARRrr, What do you expect, the 8 is Half the price of the FC7 and with MORE in it and far better to live with...If ANY of you think the "Low" look RX-7's will Ever be back...Forget it, you should know that low sleek cars can NO LONGER be Built as they don't comply with ANY US Passenger Regulations.

Mikeado

July 23, 2010 1:10 am

There are plenty of low-slung sports cars out there. Z4, Cayman, 370Z are the sort of rivals I envisage for this car. Besides, Mazda are Japanese, not American.

July 23, 2010 4:08 pm

You call those..LOW SLUNG...Yeah Right..Well derr Mazda is Japanese, and to SELL CARS in the all mighty USA, ALL Brand of CARS have to conform to US Passenger Design and Size regualtions...

Kepex

July 22, 2010 10:24 am

Hmm, could it be this? The tech sounds quite promising.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hybrid_turbocharger

Douglas6250

July 22, 2010 5:30 pm

Thx for that Kepex !!

holmstar

July 26, 2010 1:35 pm

+1 Insightful.

...oh wait ...this isn't slashdot.

Kepex

July 22, 2010 10:26 am

BTW, what happened to the Nagare design language? The current range doesn't even remotely resemble the cool concept models shown a few years back. And now they already have a new design language coming up?

Edited by user on July 22, 2010 at 10:26 am

Mikeado

July 23, 2010 1:06 am

They do use it, although so far they've mostly just incorporated it into facelifts like the 2, 3 and 5. The new/current 6 uses the Nagare theme. They aren't as radical as the concepts - an unfortunate inevitability - but the whispy lines and leaf-like shapes are there. It's most apparent in the lights and grilles.

mazdaguy42

July 22, 2010 11:22 am

Although it's nice to think the RX-7 will come back (especially as the icon we remember) it is less and less likely with each passing minute. The bean counters will surely kill it given the world economy, green conciousness and depleting resources....shame really, as the development has not been given 1/1,000,000th the investment of the reciprocating engine which has 10 times the moving parts. I am a huge rotary fan, but unfortunately the RX-8 appears to be the unprofitable final nail in the coffin for the future of Mazda's attempt to open peoples mind to the potential of that sweet and simple little engine that could.

July 22, 2010 8:28 pm

What are you talking about, the RX-8 has sold more than ANY of the last Two RX-7 Generations???...If you ARE a HUGE Rotary Fan...Don't give up..just yet..

Mikeado

July 23, 2010 1:17 am

@mazdaguy42: Considering the 'New RX-7' is "in development" with more research "such as electric turbochargers" - which will be more efficient as well as doing its usual turbo job - I think this is far from a time to be pessimistic. They know people want it, they need to replace the aging RX-8, I think it's perfectly possible.