**Everything You Need to Know About the Mazda RX-7**
The Mazda RX-7 is a car that has been around for nearly four decades, and its impact on the automotive world is still felt today. First introduced in 1978, the RX-7 was meant to be a more powerful and agile version of the earlier RX-3. But what really sets it apart is its unique rotary engine.
**The Rotary Engine: A Game-Changer**
The rotary engine is a type of internal combustion engine that uses a rotor instead of a traditional piston and cylinder design. This allows for a more compact and lighter engine, which in turn makes the car faster and more agile. The RX-7's rotary engine produces a significant amount of power, but it also has some unique characteristics.
**The First Generation (1978-1985)**
The first generation of the RX-7 was introduced in 1978 and was available until 1985. During this time, Mazda took inspiration from the Porsche 944 and created a more touring car-like design with sporty highlights. The series 4 produced from 1986 to '88 came standard with the 13b DEI engine, while a turbo version was also available with 189 horsepower.
**The Second Generation (1985-1988)**
Mazda redesigned the RX-7 for its second generation in 1985, taking inspiration from the Porsche 944 and creating a closer-to-touring car design. The series 4 produced from 1986 to '88 came standard with the 13b DEI engine, while a turbo version was also available with 189 horsepower.
**The Third Generation (1992-1995)**
In 1992, Mazda released the futuristic-looking third-gen series 6 RX-7. This time, the car finally embraced its sportscar identity and came standard with a 13B-REW sequential twin-turbo engine. The international community was satisfied with this last imported version.
**The Fourth Generation (1995-2002)**
Ford took over as a controlling interest in Mazda in 1996, and the series 7 RX-7 released soon after was only available in Japan and Australia. The final iteration, the series 8, was released in Japan only with a myriad of upgrades.
**The Legacy**
Despite its retirement in 2012, the RX-7 has left a lasting impression on the automotive world. The car dominated endurance races like the 24 hours of LeMans, winning several IMSA GTU championships and making an appearance at the World Rally Championship. Today, Mazda still teases enthusiasts with news of a new rotary or RX-7, but so far, they've not returned to its classic form.
**Conclusion**
The Mazda RX-7 is more than just a car; it's a symbol of innovation, performance, and perseverance in the face of adversity. From its groundbreaking rotary engine to its numerous racing victories, this car has earned its place in history as one of the most beloved sports cars of all time.
WEBVTTKind: captionsLanguage: enAffordable, sleek and light as a feather.It bursts onto the scene just as the worldwas recovering from the gas crisis. Almostforty years later you can still find it tearingup tracks and endurance races around the world.For many cars you can describe the engine'ssound with a word like. Hum. Purr. Roar. Theywere here to spend time with an iconic carwhose engine noise could be described as abarrel of angry bees!Not the bees!This is everything you need to know to get up to speedon the Mazda RX-7.It would be impossible to discuss the RX-7without talking about its engine. A Wankelrotary engine. What is a Wankel rotary enginePumphrey? The rotary engine works of the geometricprinciple of inscribed triangles inside ofan ... f*** f*** dude. The rotary engine worksof the geometric principle of inscribed trianglesinside of an epitrichoid figure. Enormouswords to describe the slightly mesmerizingmovement of a triangle trapped in a pinched oval.As the triangle-piston rotates it createsthree areas inside of the compartment. Thefaces of combustion occur around the outsideof the triangle as it spins. The rotary enginewas invented by German engineer Felix Wankelwhen he was a f*** teenager. Didn't get aroundto actually marketing the engine until afterWorld War II while he was working for a motorcyclecompany named N.S.U. Nebraska State Universityholler! In 1959 N.S.U. invited a group ofengineers and leaders of the automotive industryfrom around the world to see Wankel's rotaryengine. One of the men was Matsuda, head ofwhat was then called Toyo Kogyo and they hadmade their money creating auto-rickshaws andlater trucks under the name Mazda-Go. Matsudaloved the Wankel. He immediately licensedit from N.S.U and brought the prototypeto Japan. He essentially bet the farm on theengine. And in 1961 told his chief engineerthat it needed to be reliable and productionready as soon as possible. Within the firsthour of running the prototype the motor ceased.Within a few days it had blown itself up.Yamamoto's job was gonna be a lot harder thanhe thought. The main problem was the tipsof the triangular-piston. As it spun aroundit left chattering wear marks on the insideof the chamber. The team called them devil'snail marks. It was only after Yamamoto hada eureka moment while writing that they solvedthe problem. Using graphite from the pencilleads the created apex-seals. RX-7 guys youknow that word. And they gave the rotor smoothmovement around the chamber without chattering.When all was said and done after eighty prototypecars Mazda released the Cosmo Sport 1 10 in1967. Their very first rotary-sports car.The Cosmo and the rest of Mazda's rotary fleetsold really well until the gas crisis hit.Now these are the gas prices last year, theseare the gas prices this year.In 1978the markets had recovered enough for them to debuttheir new rotary sports car. The Mazda RX-7.The RX-7 known as the Savanna in Japan wasmeant as a direct replacement for the RX-3series. The RX-7 ended up indirectly replacingall of the other rotary cars except the Cosmo.Mazda retired everything else in 1977. Itwas inspired by the Lotus Elan and the firstseries referred to as the SA because of thebeginning of the VIN series. It was a light,two-seat-coupe. Mazda called it front mid-shift-rear-drivesince the Wankel 12A engine was sitting slightlybehind the front axle. This gave the car alow center of gravity and good weight distribution.She's a good-looking girl, she got good weightdistribution.While the engine was definitelylight and it packed quite a punch.Falcon punch!The RX-7 could go from 0 to 60 in 9.2 secondsand ran at 100mph at six thousandrpm. Unlike a normal reciprocating engine,the rotary needed to be driven to red-lineon a fairly regular basis. Mazda actuallyrecommends running it to red-line in order toboth clear out the carbon deposits and tokeep the oil at the right temperature andviscosity.Now that's what I am talking about.And what kid form the 70's and 80's couldn'tget behind a car with pop-up f*** headlights.Come to think of it I am still behind anythingwith pop-up headlights. All three series ofRX-7's were released in the U.S. with theFB name attached to the series 2 and 3. Series3 saw the introduction of the 1.3L 13b engine.The RX-7 was already becoming a darling ofthe club racing level. It was fast and verylight. And it handled beautifully. As longas you had fuel in the tank because if youhad an empty tank it would spin.In 1985 the year I was born Mazda redesigned the RX-7for my birthday and the second generationwas born. This time they took inspirationfrom the Porsche 944 and the FC RX-7'S werecloser to a touring car with sport's car highlightsthan the first gen pure sports car. The series4 produced from 1986 to '88 came standardwith the 13b DEI engine. With a turbo versionavailable with 189 horsepower. Mazda alsofinally got around to upgrading to rack andpinion steering. Which greatly improved whatcould politely be called its tendency to over-steer.It also traded out the clunky drum brakesfor discs and the series 5 inched up the horsepowerto 160. And finally to 200 with the introductionof the turbo II. The coolest car in Initial D.The FC was Motor Trend's import car of theyear in 1986 and the Turbo II earned its second placementin Car and Driver's ten best listas well.But even after adding a convertible top the best RX-7 was yet to come.In 1992Mazda released the futuristic looking thirdgen series 6 RX-7. Finally embracing its sportscar identity it came standard with a 13B-REWsequential twin-turbo engine. The twin-turboshad been designed in part by Hitachi and workedtogether to give smooth acceleration. Thefirst turbo supplied extra torque at low rpm'swhich had always been an issue for the rotaryengine. And operated between eighteen-hundredand four thousand rpm. The second set on standbyuntil it reached four thousand. With the actualseamless change-over occurring at forty-fivehundred.Enough, you want my head to explode?!The international community however was goingto have to satisfied with this last importedversion. Due in part to Japanese financialcrisis in the 90's. Ford took over as a controllinginterest in Mazda in 1996. The series 7 RX-7released soon after was only available inJapan and Australia. It's final iterationthe series 8 was released in Japan only witha myriad of upgrades. More efficient turbochargers, better intercooling and radiators,new lighting design, more comfortable seats,17-in wheels. And more power.Power, power.But alas they were not for us. Mazda did introducethe RX-8 in 2003 and we got it. For many Mazdafans, the heavier less sleek and less powerfulRX-8 was no substitute for the legendary RX-7.The engine was more fuel efficient and hadbetter emissions ratings, but at the costof less torque. Problems with failure on theapex seals. And in some cases on the firstgen cars, total engine failure. Even increasedfuel efficiency couldn't save the RX-8 fromthe economic crash of 2008. And it was retiredin 2012. While the RX-7 is no longer in productionit has left a lasting impression in the automotiveworld and in all of our hearts. The RX-7 wasa constant presence in the 24 hours of LeMans endurance race. From its first missedby a second to qualify in 1979. To its eventual1991 dominance with the iconic 787b. Stillone of the most beautiful cars to grace thecircuit. The RX-7 dominated the IMSA GTU seriesfor ten solid years. From 1982 though '92.And won more IMSA races than any other model.It even made an appearance in eleventh placeat the world rally championship in 1991. Notbad for a car three quarters the size of aCorvette with an engine prone to backfiringand burning through apex seals. Every fewyears Mazda teases us with news of a new rotaryor a new RX-7. But so far they've not returnedtheir classic. Here's hoping that one daythey'll make it efficient enough to pass newemissions standards and still retain the purefun of the old one. This is everything youneed to know to get up to speed on the MazdaRX-7. Please click to subscribe. Comment downbelow. How are we doing? Do you like RX-7's?AreFD's worth the price now? What's your favoritegeneration of RX-7? Let us know. Whoo.
