Mazda’s Testing An RX-8 Mule At The Nurburgring And We’re Excited
The Mazda RX-8 limped out of production in 2012 and, since then, we’ve yearned for another rotary engine in a Mazda sports car. Yes, Mazda’s normal cars like the CX-5 and Mazda 3 are very nice, but there’s no high-revving halo sports car. Mazda has teased us for years, but could this be the real deal?
We’re getting a bit excited because this video shows an RX-8 prototype doing testing laps at the Nurburgring, and it’s not the first time such a car has been spied at the track this year. Only the front end is camouflaged, but it’s this that has got our attention. Why would a Mazda RX-8 be partly camouflaged? Although nothing’s confirmed yet, it could be the basis of the Mazda RX-9, if that ever makes it to production.
As we reported a couple of weeks ago, Mazda has submitted a patent showing a front end suspension design with a small space for the engine behind the wheels. It doesn’t look like there would be room for a conventional engine. But a compact rotary, on the other hand…
Judging by the noise of the RX-8 mule in the video, it’s certainly a high-revving car. It’s a rotary engine, we think, but we’re unsure as to whether it’s a new engine or the standard RX-8 powertrain. If it’s not a new engine, why would engineers be lapping a car that’s at least seven years old?
Before we get carried away, we need to remember that Mazda has yo-yoed about a new rotary sports car to carry on the lineage of the RX-7 and RX-8. It has shown the swoopy RX Vision concept at several motor shows, and then snatched the idea away from our fingertips. Recent developments seem to point at a new rotary sports car in development, so we’ll have to watch this space. Mazda has at least confirmed that it’s bringing rotary engines back as range-extenders for electric vehicles.
For now, though, if anyone needs us today, we’ll be browsing through second-hand RX-8 adverts in the classifieds.
Comments
Remember that Mazda patented a new rotary engine, with larger displacement, and more centricity that promotes higher torke a lower rew. compared to the usual excentricity. Also it
is almost upside down to simplify turbo installation and better intake flow. Also have dry sump lubrication
And propably has laser ignition if mazda has figured it out since they’ve been working on it for specifically that purpose as conventional spark plugs leave a gap that breaks the seal beween the combustion and compression chambers
AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAH!!!!!!!
Front bumper seem standard rx8 facelift so why Mazda wrap it? But inside you can see a japanese passenger and a pilot with helmet and race gloves… I don’t know if really Mazda test or some dude who drive is car…maybe only some partnership with a race team?🤔
Not sure why they camouflaged it . . . I mean we all kinda know what an RX-8 looks like by now
It sounds turbocharged, doesn’t it? You could even hear a hint of whoosh here and then. Awfully quiet too, even for stock exhaust.
What if it just some bloke weirdly wrap his RX-8 XD
If it were a factory car it would almost certainly have an LEV plate, that’s where Mazdas headquarters are in Germany
toyota making a hot hatch, and now maxda is testing new engine in a rx8 mule? have we successfully gone back to funtimes? i dearly hope we see another boom in the fun car market, before sity suv’s and suv’s take the new market like the coronavirus