Mazda RX-9 Reportedly Greenlit but Won't Arrive Until 2020
The Mazda RX-Vision Concept will reportedly spawn a production RX-9 sports car.
Citing Japan’s Holiday Auto magazine, Australia’s Motoring reports that Mazda’s board of directors has formally approved the design, engineering and production for a successor to the Mazda RX-8. Likely to be called the Mazda RX-9, it will go on sale worldwide in 2020 and will help celebrate Mazda’s 100th birthday.
Expect a new concept in the form of a prototype to bow at the 2017 Tokyo Motor Show, just in time to mark the 50th anniversary of the first rotary model. The production model will likely debut at the 2019 Tokyo Motor Show.
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According to Holiday Auto, the Japanese automaker’s next-generation rotary engine will use a pair of 800cc rotors, displacing 1.6 liters. Turbocharging is almost a guarantee, and the rotary engine might even use diesel-style, HCCI compression ignition. Power output is expected to be around 400 horsepower, but like the MX-5 Miata, Mazda will focus on keeping it lightweight for an impressive power-to-weight ratio. It is believed the company is targeting 2,866 pounds or less.
[Source: Motoring]
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Jason Siu began his career in automotive journalism in 2003 with Modified Magazine, a property previously held by VerticalScope. As the West Coast Editor, he played a pivotal role while also extending his expertise to Modified Luxury & Exotics and Modified Mustangs. Beyond his editorial work, Jason authored two notable Cartech books. His tenure at AutoGuide.com saw him immersed in the daily news cycle, yet his passion for hands-on evaluation led him to focus on testing and product reviews, offering well-rounded recommendations to AutoGuide readers. Currently, as the Content Director for VerticalScope, Jason spearheads the content strategy for an array of online publications, a role that has him at the helm of ensuring quality and consistency across the board.
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2020? Hell, sports cars will probably be illegal by then ...
This car will take impractical sports cars to a whole new level! Don't get me wrong though, I'm glad they're building it because it's fun and interesting and you can never have too much fun or interesting in the auto industry. Especially if it inspires, and the products reach us humble consumers.