NEW MAZDA RX-7 FOR 2014

A top Mazda engineer has confirmed that the automaker is developing an all-new, rotary-engined RX-7 sports car that will debut by 2017. MX-5 program manager Nobuhiro Yamamoto revealed to Car News that Mazda is working on a new RX-7 that will be lighter, more powerful and more fuel efficient than the discontinued RX-8.Yamamoto, who served as the powertrain manager for the previous RX-7 and also designed the Le Mans-winning Mazda 787B’s Wankel motor, said the car will use Mazda's next-generation 16X rotary engine. Whereas the RX-8's 1.3-liter Renesis mill made 232 horsepower, Yamaoto indicated that the 16X will displace 1.6 liters and produce around 300 horsepower in naturally aspirated form (a turbo variant is a possibility down the road).