Vom Traum zum Stillstand: Wie die Finanzkrise 2008 Mazdas Pläne für einen neuen RX-7 zunichtemachte

The economic downturn in 2008 halted progress on a fresh Mazda RX-7 model

For a period, Mazda had planned for the MX-5 and a revitalized RX-7 to share the same platform

Ever since its discontinuation in 2002, there has been a strong desire for a new Mazda RX-7. Mazda was keen on developing one alongside the fourth-generation MX-5 Miata (ND), but the financial crisis of 2008 put a stop to those ambitions.

Motor1 had a conversation with Nobuhiro Yamamoto, the recently retired former project leader for the ND generation MX-5, about a significant future project. However, this juicy detail is captivating enough to be spun into its own tale. Although the ND was launched in 2015 on a unique platform that it didn't share with any other Mazda model, the initial plan was supposed to be quite different.

Speaking through an interpreter, Yamamoto recounts, "After the NC [Miata] hit the market in 2005, I was tasked in 2007 with creating a new [front-engine, rear-wheel drive] platform. At that time, the focus wasn't on developing a single vehicle, but rather two – the MX-5 and the RX-7."

The 2008 collapse of Lehman Brothers and the global recession that ensued prompted Mazda, a comparatively modest-sized car manufacturer, to reassess its strategy, much like its industry peers. The fourth generation of the MX-5 was initially planned for a 2012 release. However, due to the financial crisis, Mazda made the decision to postpone the launch until 2015 and to completely cancel the development of the fourth generation RX-7. This clarifies why the MX-5 NC model remained on the market for an unusually extended period of time.

The 2015 Concept of the Mazda RX-Vision

Considering the timetable, it's likely that Mazda hasn't made significant progress with the new RX-7 model. It's noteworthy that the company opted to revive this particular model instead of continuing with the RX-8. While the RX-8 served as a sort of successor to the RX-7, it was a less powerful sports car and didn't deliver the uncompromising performance of the third-generation RX-7 that was in production from 1991 to 2002.

It's likely that the lingering effects of the financial crisis were a contributing factor to the discontinuation of the RX-8 in 2012 without a replacement. Two years on, we were informed that the rotary engine had been temporarily shelved.

Mr. Yamamoto once told the Australian outlet Carsguide, "We dream of an RX-7, not an RX-8. That's what the customers desire." Incidentally, Mr. Yamamoto was also the lead engineer on the FD RX-7 project, which he joined soon after contributing to Mazda's iconic four-rotor racing Wankel engine that powered the 787B to a Le Mans victory in 1991.

As many eagerly anticipate the comeback of the RX-7, a legendary sports car, Mazda's decision to cancel the fourth generation has had a silver lining: it has allowed for a greater focus and investment in the MX-5 ND. With no need to share components across different sizes and performance levels of vehicles, Mr. Yamamoto's team was able to hone in on creating the quintessential Miata, culminating in a vehicle that encapsulates the essence of Mazda's roadster legacy.

Lightweight and crisp. On the other hand, the NC Miata is a solid vehicle but shares numerous components with the bulkier RX-8. As a result, the NC was the largest and heaviest MX-5.

Over recent years, Mazda has been hinting at the possibility of a new RX-7, fueling speculation with the unveiling of the RX-Vision Concept in 2015 and the Iconic SP concept last year. The company has also been committed to the rotary engine, bringing it back for the MX-30 EV as a range extender. However, Mazda has never officially confirmed the development of a new RX-7. It remains a persistent dream that seemed closer to reality than many believed.

Engineers' Unfulfilled Aspirations:

The once-fanciful dream appears to be becoming a reality in a form more familiar than one might expect. Mazda has unveiled a fresh two-rotor Wankel engine that conceptually resembles the MX-30 R-EV in that it supplies electricity to an electric motor. Its application? It could possibly be used in the upcoming MX-5 or in the production model of the Iconic SP.

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