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Journal: What Do You Think Of The Mazda RX-Vision?

What Do You Think Of The Mazda RX-Vision?

By Michael Banovsky
October 28, 2015
14 comments

Photos Courtesy of Mazda USA

Here’s the thing: if rotary engines weren’t so lovable, they’d have long been relegated to the scrap heap. Smooth, punchy, and unbelievably fun on a winding road, Mazda is the only major automaker left that still sees their potential.

At the Tokyo Motor Show, Mazda revealed this, the RX-Vision, which the company says would be powered by a next-generation rotary engine called SkyActiv-R. Still, there’s little more to go by. Nothing more than a fanciful look at what might be, without engine specifications, performance statistics, information on its construction, or projected price, all that’s left to do is ask, “Do you like how the RX-Vision looks?”

For what it’s worth, I do—it’s an attractive softening of modern car design and is one of the few to not wear glitzy LED lights and punchy styling details. It’s a classic GT car, with a body that still appears to have been shaped by hand. In 2015, that’s saying something.

The styling is there, so how great would Mazda’s new SkyActiv-R rotary engine have to be for you to consider this car?

Tags Japanese/ Mazda/ RX-Vision
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Tony Wood
Tony Wood
7 years ago

Shut up and take my money!

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Celio Parcera
Celio Parcera
8 years ago

The [url=”http://www.coc-europe.com/coc-mazda”]Mazda [/url]RX7 and RX8 were a great success. I love the design. However, the engine…not sure a rotary engine in the way forward.
I’m sure they will do a great job with the design though.

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Ali G
Ali G
8 years ago

I think that if Mazda can figure out how to get apex seals to live without rich fuel mixtures and injecting oil into the intake then the rotary might have a chance in this country. Unfortunately the other option, which up until recently served VW to great effect with their Clean Diesels, is probably a non-starter.

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rick bradner
rick bradner
8 years ago

My first impression of the RX Vision concept was that it really is a well executed design for a stylish GT, and I think the rear end and the surfacing in elevation are particularly nice.
My more critical eye, wonders why the car needs such a long front end. It seems it must be mostly to command “presence”, for the engine compartment is surely large enough to take a V12! Also, I’m not much of a fan of the claustrophobic “turret top” designs that seems to have developed into a bit of a fad of late (Chrysler 300, Camaro, M-B GT); can we leave the Jimmy Dean Merc behind please?
Given the size advantage of the rotary, I would hope that Mazda could be a bit more adventurous with a new “RX”, and I’d really like to see what these same designers could do with a mid-engine concept. I can understand their reluctance, after watching Toyota launch an number of MR2s over the years to limited enthusiasm, but there’s no reason they couldn’t use a mid-engine car to target the area just below the Alfa C2 & Cayman. It wouldn’t hurt that the different drive train layout would completely differentiate it from the Miata (which I believe hurt the sales of the last RX8) and I also think that this could be the “halo” car that Mazda really needs to draw customers to the brand.

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Willi Vogt
Willi Vogt
8 years ago

Really nice, THAT is the way an AMG GT should have looked like, I think mazdas actual design is vey awesome

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Rob Wright
Rob Wright
8 years ago

A great looking car by a great car company. If you haven’t owned a rotary car you should at some point there really is nothing quite like it. An amazing design of an engine that is so different from everything else in the motor world and yet so simplistic.

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Ghenadie Cadîn
Ghenadie Cadîn
8 years ago

it looks great, hope it will be rotary 🙂

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Douglas Anderson
Douglas Anderson
8 years ago

As a former RX-7 cabriolet owner , I hope they build this one !!

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john tolle
john tolle
8 years ago

This is what Jaguar should have designed as their follow up to the E Type, along with a few slight British styling elements. Exceptional, without all the trendy styling cuts, angles, and vents.

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Ae Neuman
Ae Neuman
8 years ago

it looks great with styling homages to the last rx7 and even rx8.
plus being mazda, they won’t take years to bring concept to production, unlike honda or toyota

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Nicolas Moss
Nicolas Moss
8 years ago

That hood seems long enough to house five rotors!

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jolocho
jolocho
8 years ago

I just want details on the new rotary!

As for the concept, I think the overall design is good, particularly the little wing thing over the rear lights and the pop-up look of the front lights. It looks similar to the recent Aston Martin concepts.

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Matthew Lange
Matthew Lange
8 years ago

I like it and slightly cartoonish wheel size aside seems to be reasonably production ready. Was a fan of the previous FD RX7 and could well be tempted by a production one of these if it’s sensibly priced.

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Ronnie M
Ronnie M
8 years ago

I really like it. It does everything a concept should. I think Mazda has done a great job in the last few years of translating their concepts to production models. There are some obvious elements like the small mirrors and minimal door breaks that won’t make it to a production model but I would expect a lot of the other elements to stay. I also like how you can see design cues from their other models especially the Mazda 6. It will allow it to function as halo model and increase interest in all their cars.

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