Mazda RX-7 1978 - 2002 - Model history

Mazda RX-7

Mazda RX-7

The forward-engined sports coupe has been produced in three generations in which the Mazda RX-7 has become a cult model, thanks primarily to Wankel engine.

The first generation was introduced in March 1978 as a replacement for the RX4, which was sold in some markets under the name Savanna RX-3, and therefore the Mazda RX-7 in native Japan was touted as the new Savanna.

A very sporty and wedge-shaped design, which was very popular at the time, was signed by Matasaburo Maeda. Although a legend in Japan, the rest of the world is better known for his son, Ikuo Maeda, who is credited with the Mazda 2 and RX-8. With a length of 428,5, a width of 167,5 and a height of 126 centimeters, and a wheelbase of 242 cm, the Mazda RX-7 was compact enough, but at the same time large enough for two passengers.

It is not clear to many why the Mazda RX-7 came exclusively with Wankel engines, when at the time it was more than clear that problems with high oil and fuel consumption, and above all poor reliability and durability and relatively high maintenance costs, were not resolved. The same engine concept that NSU buried came under the hood of a new trump card from a Japanese manufacturer. But such a decision to the Mazda administration at the time seemed logical because of the high levies on all cars with engines larger than 1,5 liters in force in Japan at the time. By installing the Wankel engine, the Mazda RX-7 remained financially viable to most Japanese while offering more power and better performance compared to competitors using conventional engines.

Agility was greatly contributed by the low mass. Depending on the engine and equipment level, it ranged from 1000 to 1100 pounds. The base engine was 1146 cc atmospheric, the middle of the range was a 1308 cc atmospheric engine, and the turbocharged version of the 1146 cc engine was charged at a whopping 165 bhp. The gearboxes, depending on the version, were 4 and 5-speed manual and 3 and 4-speed automatic. Already the base model had 105 bhp and accelerated up to 100 km / h by 9,2 and raced 190 km / h. Considering the Wankel engine concept, the top speed was as high as 7000 rpm, so the owners were very proud of the penetrating sound of the exhaust system. GSL's richest package of equipment brought everything they had in the much more powerful cars of the era, such as the front self-ventilating front and full rear and rear differential locks.

The second-generation Mazda RX-7 arrived in 1985 and the third in 1992. Each generation had some facelift that is referred to as a series in Mazda's designations, so it went through as many as eight series through three generations of the Mazda RX-7. But with each new generation, sales were declining. The first batch reached production of 471.000 copies, the second of 272.000 and the third of only 68.500, so in 2002 the RX-7 went down in history, replacing the RX-8.

Retrieved from: autopress.hr


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