Mazda to Reveal Furai Concept, 2009 Mazda RX-8 at Detroit Auto Show - Jalopnik Comments

Mazda to Reveal Furai Concept, 2009 Mazda RX-8 at Detroit Auto Show

787b — Thu, 13 Dec 2007 10:07:00 EST

@RocketSled: Find any results from any SCCA or NASA race weekend from anywhere in the country and count the cars. There will be more Mazdas than any other make, and than most other makes combined. Mazda utterly dominates grassroots motorsports.

787b

Mazda to Reveal Furai Concept, 2009 Mazda RX-8 at Detroit Auto Show

787b — Thu, 13 Dec 2007 10:05:02 EST

@oneswellfoop: You do know it uses oil by-design, right? Or did you not get so far as to actually read the Owner's Manual?

787b

Mazda to Reveal Furai Concept, 2009 Mazda RX-8 at Detroit Auto Show

787b — Thu, 13 Dec 2007 10:03:29 EST

@Rust-MyEnemy: You may get a Wankel rotary in your laptop before you know it:
[www.me.berkeley.edu]

787b

Mazda to Reveal Furai Concept, 2009 Mazda RX-8 at Detroit Auto Show

787b — Thu, 13 Dec 2007 10:01:35 EST

@GreenVanMan: Two-stroke? What two-stroke? The Wankel rotary engine is a four-cycle.

787b

Mazda to Reveal Furai Concept, 2009 Mazda RX-8 at Detroit Auto Show

Shapeshifter — Wed, 12 Dec 2007 17:03:58 EST

@brandegee:

It would make more sense to make a Mazdaspeed MX-5 with the engine out of the Mazdaspeed 3/6/CX-7/whatever that is. The DISI 2.3l 280 bhp/313 lb-ft engine. It's basically just an updated version of the MZR that's already in the MX-5, so the engineering wouldn't be too extreme. It would slot into all models in approximately the same way. And it would have a better power-to-weight ratio than a Lotus Exige S (the US spec one with 220 bhp, at least). It also relies on an engine that is much more solid than twitchy rotary lunacy, as much as i love rotaries.

The only problem with that plan (well, the big problem at least) is that the guy in charge of the Miata program--as i understand it--values balance above all other things and that much power would severely unbalance the car. Even if you fixed up the suspension, LSD, etc, it would still be a very different (and very much more hardcore) car than what--i suspect--the Miata is "supposed" to be.

Which is kind of a shame, because it would be one of the most awesome things ever.

On the plus side: i'm not sure there's anything (beyond working the glitches out) stopping us from doing this to the Miata ourselves...

Shapeshifter

Mazda to Reveal Furai Concept, 2009 Mazda RX-8 at Detroit Auto Show

Shapeshifter — Wed, 12 Dec 2007 15:12:38 EST

The car utilizes the Courage C65 chassis the company campaigned in the ALMS series only two seasons ago, and the 450-hp three-rotor rotary engine that distinguishes it from anything else on the track."

SOLD!

Put it into production, Mazda.

I need it.

I don't care what it costs. I have a good liver i can sell.

Normally the reworked RX-8 would be cause for celebration--best news of the day! But this! This is something else completely!

Come on, Mazda! This is your Cadillac Sixteen moment!

Now i have to go to class. Then i will return and leer at this.

Shapeshifter

Mazda to Reveal Furai Concept, 2009 Mazda RX-8 at Detroit Auto Show

FЯeeMan is slowly cЯawling out of the new commenting system — Wed, 12 Dec 2007 13:27:42 EST

You mean this isn't a road car al la Capari T1?

Dang!

FЯeeMan is slowly cЯawling out of the new commenting system

Mazda to Reveal Furai Concept, 2009 Mazda RX-8 at Detroit Auto Show

Tanshanomi — Wed, 12 Dec 2007 13:11:42 EST

You mean, "concept" and "irrelevant contraption we built because it looks cool" aren't synonymous?

Tanshanomi

Mazda to Reveal Furai Concept, 2009 Mazda RX-8 at Detroit Auto Show

mcguirev10 — Wed, 12 Dec 2007 12:34:54 EST

Where is the line between "concept" and "irrelevant contraption we built because it looks cool"? (I'm open to ideas for shorter names on that last one.) It reminds me of Stewart from that god-awful show my old roommate used to watch, MAD-TV. "Look what I can do! Look what I can do!" Why care? It's impossible to even pretend that there is anything relevant about this.

mcguirev10

Mazda to Reveal Furai Concept, 2009 Mazda RX-8 at Detroit Auto Show

evoCS is possibly NSFW — Wed, 12 Dec 2007 12:34:34 EST

Damn. It sure must be awesome to build a showcar on a fucking race car chassis. I. am. jealous.

evoCS is possibly NSFW

Mazda to Reveal Furai Concept, 2009 Mazda RX-8 at Detroit Auto Show

Greg A. — Wed, 12 Dec 2007 10:51:48 EST

I've pored over that picture all night and I still can't determine where the R2 unit drops in.

Greg A.

Mazda to Reveal Furai Concept, 2009 Mazda RX-8 at Detroit Auto Show

MagicalTrevor — Wed, 12 Dec 2007 10:03:39 EST

I hope Mazda come out with a new engine/prototype for next year's ALMS championship-a coupe would be perfect!
Althgouh, basing it on an eight-year-old Courage chassis would be pointless.

MagicalTrevor

Mazda to Reveal Furai Concept, 2009 Mazda RX-8 at Detroit Auto Show

MarionCobretti — Wed, 12 Dec 2007 09:35:23 EST

@Rishi:

That's sort of true. The Mazda design won't work with diesel, but rotaries can run diesel--Rolls Royce made one that did. It requires two extra rotors acting as a sort of supercharger to pump air in (in effect boosting compression), but it works.

MarionCobretti

Mazda to Reveal Furai Concept, 2009 Mazda RX-8 at Detroit Auto Show

brandegee — Wed, 12 Dec 2007 09:29:12 EST

@1300ccsoffury: Because Mazda might be worried it would be like the time MG released a twin-cam version of its MGA. The new motor chewed its cam chains off (or something similar) and flopped immensely. Plus it would cost a bit of money to redevelop the perfectly balanced MX-5 to adopt a new motor... the Brits usually never bothered to do that sort of thing. And Mazda already spent that money on a folding hardtop (which makes sense given the target market).

I'd like to see an RX-5 with the Renesis motor (fuel thirst and all), but nothing turbocharged please. Leave that to the kludges at Pontiac.

This Kurai thing? Looks awesome and we haven't even seen the whole thing yet!

brandegee

Mazda to Reveal Furai Concept, 2009 Mazda RX-8 at Detroit Auto Show

danms6 — Wed, 12 Dec 2007 09:07:58 EST

If that 3-rotor can somehow fix a few issues the 13B had and get similar mileage, it could be batshit crazy.

danms6

Mazda to Reveal Furai Concept, 2009 Mazda RX-8 at Detroit Auto Show

POLAЯMISSESEVEЯYBODY — Wed, 12 Dec 2007 08:14:06 EST

Does anyone else care that we're still commenting on topics from YESTERDAY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

POLAЯMISSESEVEЯYBODY

Mazda to Reveal Furai Concept, 2009 Mazda RX-8 at Detroit Auto Show

1300ccsoffury — Wed, 12 Dec 2007 07:57:04 EST

@RocketSled: The Spec Miata series has a lot to do with that.

1300ccsoffury

Mazda to Reveal Furai Concept, 2009 Mazda RX-8 at Detroit Auto Show

1300ccsoffury — Wed, 12 Dec 2007 07:56:35 EST

@MrWizard45: I've often wondered why Mazda's never done a full-scale release of a rotary-powered MX-5. Seems to me that the lightweight, compact nature of both should be a marriage made in heaven...Hoon Heaven.

1300ccsoffury

Mazda to Reveal Furai Concept, 2009 Mazda RX-8 at Detroit Auto Show

RocketSled — Wed, 12 Dec 2007 07:29:12 EST

"Inspired by the fact that, on any given weekend, there are more Mazdas and Mazda-powered cars road-raced in the United States than any other brand,"

Wonder how they arrived at THAT observation?

RocketSled

Mazda to Reveal Furai Concept, 2009 Mazda RX-8 at Detroit Auto Show

FLB — Wed, 12 Dec 2007 06:49:17 EST

Mmmmmmmmmm... Rotary... Grgrlgrlgrlggrlgrlgrgrllllll...

FLB

Mazda to Reveal Furai Concept, 2009 Mazda RX-8 at Detroit Auto Show

MrWizard45 — Wed, 12 Dec 2007 05:46:50 EST

I've often considered what a 3-rotor turbocharged Mazda Miata could do if it were ever unleashed on the unsuspecting universe. "When this baby hits 88 miles per hour, you're going to see some serious sh*t!"

MrWizard45

Mazda to Reveal Furai Concept, 2009 Mazda RX-8 at Detroit Auto Show

jeffjungblut — Wed, 12 Dec 2007 05:16:35 EST

I used to love my '04 RX8 until premium went from $2.20 per gallon when I bought the car to over $3 and beyond (I paid $3.59 today). It got 15.8 mpg and I commute 35-40 miles a day.

Last year I replaced it with an '07 VW GTI. 24-26 mpg per tank, way more torque, and I don't have to always keep extra quart of oil in the trunk. I learned my lesson, I'll never buy a rotary again.

jeffjungblut

Mazda to Reveal Furai Concept, 2009 Mazda RX-8 at Detroit Auto Show

oneswellfoop — Wed, 12 Dec 2007 04:09:43 EST

So I wonder if they tweaked the engine in the revised RX8 so that it doesn't get abysmal gas mileage and burn oil now?

oneswellfoop

Mazda to Reveal Furai Concept, 2009 Mazda RX-8 at Detroit Auto Show

Rust-MyEnemy is stll out there! — Wed, 12 Dec 2007 03:43:58 EST

I want a rotary in everything. In fact I'm a little disappointed that this here laptop doesn't have one.

Rust-MyEnemy is stll out there!

Mazda to Reveal Furai Concept, 2009 Mazda RX-8 at Detroit Auto Show

Solo_Racer — Wed, 12 Dec 2007 00:36:56 EST

@Mark Miller: You'll see more them at Le Mans, either 2008 or 2009 the rules change and open prototypes will be banned. Kinda sucks though, because the P2 cars seemed like the evolution of the CanAm cars I grew up with.

Solo_Racer

Mazda to Reveal Furai Concept, 2009 Mazda RX-8 at Detroit Auto Show

Deezee — Tue, 11 Dec 2007 23:45:10 EST

I cannot WAIT to see the new RX8!

Deezee

Mazda to Reveal Furai Concept, 2009 Mazda RX-8 at Detroit Auto Show

Triborough — Tue, 11 Dec 2007 23:38:20 EST

I have a feeling that it is going to be more like, "Hi I'm Dave's Japanese cousin Furai!"

Triborough

Mazda to Reveal Furai Concept, 2009 Mazda RX-8 at Detroit Auto Show

Rishi — Tue, 11 Dec 2007 23:09:37 EST

@TomAnderson: Not enough compression to run diesel. In fact, compression is part of why rotaries are so fuel inefficient, or so I'm told.

Rishi

Mazda to Reveal Furai Concept, 2009 Mazda RX-8 at Detroit Auto Show

MarionCobretti — Tue, 11 Dec 2007 22:51:54 EST

@Mark Miller:
The "e" graphic is the Ethanol brand logo.

As for the car, I'm excited. Although we aren't likely to get a Courage-monocoque-based exotic, I really hope that the 3-rotor engine at least foreshadows a future 3-rotor car for us (be it an RX-8 successor in the future, or an new RX-7 aimed at GT-R/911 performance levels). There's nothing quite like the sound of a 3-rotor Wankel, and one based on the new 16X Renesis would be the bee's knees.

/Wankel fanboy

That said, I'm not sure I'm yet sold on Mazda's new "design language." We've yet to see it applied to a production car, though, so hopefully it will be less...different in production applications.

MarionCobretti

Mazda to Reveal Furai Concept, 2009 Mazda RX-8 at Detroit Auto Show

Tomsk the red-nosed reindeer — Tue, 11 Dec 2007 22:49:06 EST

@Mark Miller: Actually, the "e" is the official trade logo for ethanol.

That reminds me: A diesel/biodiesel wankel would probably be the awesomest thing ever.

Tomsk the red-nosed reindeer

Mazda to Reveal Furai Concept, 2009 Mazda RX-8 at Detroit Auto Show

Mark Miller — Tue, 11 Dec 2007 22:42:45 EST

(apparently shot at pit-row Laguna Seca, oh sorry; "Mazda Raceway".)

The advanced design studios in Irvine HAVE been busy.
Looks cool, must say.
Nice concept, and a closed-cab sports racer is sadly a rare sight these days.
(I like the watery-erosion-like perfed' metal engine cover.)

And is the "e" graphic meant to suggest some sort of "ecological" 450-hp rotary? "Sustainable Zoom-Zoom"? hmmmm...

Mark Miller

Mazda to Reveal Furai Concept, 2009 Mazda RX-8 at Detroit Auto Show

Tomsk the red-nosed reindeer — Tue, 11 Dec 2007 22:41:58 EST

Glad to see they're able to get some use out of their old P2 entry, considering it was such a slug compared to the other entries. (Did IMSA refuse to let them t'charge it or something?)

Tomsk the red-nosed reindeer

Mazda to Reveal Furai Concept, 2009 Mazda RX-8 at Detroit Auto Show

POLAЯMISSESEVEЯYBODY — Tue, 11 Dec 2007 22:27:54 EST

Some of the Mazda concepts of late have a certain Meth-Lab-derived quality about them. Not necessarily a bad thing though to bring out some trippy design creativity.

POLAЯMISSESEVEЯYBODY

Mazda to Reveal Furai Concept, 2009 Mazda RX-8 at Detroit Auto Show

GreenVanMan — Tue, 11 Dec 2007 22:23:57 EST

a two stroke lemans chassis-d concept car?
SOLD

GreenVanMan