History Lesson: The Mazda RX-7

Taking a long look back through the history of time, we can see that man worked hard to improve upon ideas. From the use of the wheel, to the use of a tool as a weapon, to fire, to pretty much anything you use today, we all owe it to someone who worked hard and didn’t give up. In the early 50’s, NSU (Motorenworke AG) in Germany tried to put the newly designed Wankel Rotary engine to use, but to no avail. They sold their stake in its patents to Mercedes Benz, who were similarly unable to improve upon the design. They spent endless hours working on it, to make it more reliable, and more powerful, and less smoggy, but in the end, they too gave up.

It wasn’t until the introduction of the Mazda Cosmos that people took notice of the Wankel Rotary It was to change the automotive world, eventually being used in one of the greatest sports cars of all time: The Mazda RX-7.

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When Mazda introduced the Cosmos, people took notice. Not just because it was a cool, sporty car, but because the engine was revolutionary - and in more then just one way. A single, somewhat curved triangular rotor (in some cases, two rotors) rotates around a spherical capsule, creating friction, and moving the output shaft. On each rotor there is a seal, which captures the air-fuel mixture, and causes a spark at its tightest interval, thus moving the car. Therefore, the car ran on a revolution setup, instead of a piston setup.

When Mazda introduced the sporty new RX-7 in mid 1977, they chose to use this engine, which had already been available in their pickups, and other sports coupes and sedans within their model range.

The difference between the RX-7 and the other Mazda models was that the RX-7 was marketed directly towards the gearhead sports enthusiast, whereas the other cars in Mazda’s line were sold more as family and economy cars. The RX-7 faced stiff competition, such as the Datsun 280Z (Fairlady Z in other markets) and the Chevrolet Corvette in America. It was also pushed as a competitor to the Porsche 924, and thus marketed as being more ahead of its time then the Volkswagen-powered Porsche.

The 1978 Mazda RX-7 was something special. It wore a stylish body that fit like a glove, with lines that would make a Porsche 911 blush. It was small, nimble, and insanely fun. Its exhaust note was its only downside, a sort of whiny tinny sound that only a true rotary enthusiast could enjoy. It only wore 100hp, but if you were feeling spirited you could order the 135hp 13B Sport version. In later years, a turbo version appeared, which offered the Savanna (so named in reference to its SA22C prefix), a tough-as-nails 165hp.

By the time the FC (For Federally Mandated Version C) rolled into the picture in 1985, the need for a small and nimble sports car to face the 924 was over. It was 944 territory now, and not just standard 944–this was a war with the 944 Turbo. Everything about this version of the 7 was breathtaking. From its wide fenders to its futuristic design to its high-end electronic interior, it all was a heck of a blast to the brain. The car handled better, with a brand new suspension package. 146hp was standard, but you could bump your nose up to the 200 horsepower range and really cause a ruckus. Although it couldn’t keep up with the 220hp in the 944 Turbo, it was still a great rival, and really a great car on both road and track. All FC’s featured the 13B powerplant this time, the 12A powerplant having been discontinued.

Some would claim that the FC was the epitome of the RX-7 range, with its futuristic styling and crazy electro wizardry, while still maintaining a light weight and good balance. However, there are others who would argue that the best car of the range was the FD3S.

The FD3S was introduced in 1991 to a crowded room in the top right wing of the Tokyo Motor Show. Shown in Type R, and Efini format, the car would soon dazzle many, with its smooth shape and potent 13B-REW powerplant. In standard guise, the car made a healthy 255 horsepower, but if you were really looking for the jump in performance, you could order a 260 horsepower version, with even faster sequential twin turbos. These turbos worked brilliantly, balancing torque throughout the rev range. As soon as the ECU sensed that the first turbo was lagging, it would gently press in the second turbo to compensate for the lack of power. All in all though, it didn’t take much from the FD3S to make a statement–its beautifully smooth shape went a long way in taking your mind off the important things in life. It had perfect balance, and if there was anything that was really funny, it was trying to fit an adult in those tiny rear seats. Even they, too, were stylized, looking more like half a hot tub than a backseat.

In 2002, Mazda discontinued the RX-7. In its final guise, they named it the “Spirit R”, in order to show off the heritage of the car and to celebrate its many wins in motorsport. This car was certainly rare, with only 1500 flying out of dealer lots, and at a hefty asking price, too. BBS wheels adorned it, it sat low, had a aggresive stance, but sadly, was replaced by the lower-performance RX-8 the following year. The RX-8 was, and is, certainly no slouch. But will we ever have the beauty, and the grace of the original RX-7, yet again to admire? One can only wonder…