Maybe it is the angle of image, but it looks like a doorstop.

As long as they equip it with an optional Diesel engine, it’ll sell well abroad.

There’s not many an option when it comes to designing a small car – you can have a box or you can have a wedge (a door stop). I prefer the latter.

BTW, pretty much all the Ferraris and the clones would have to be considered door stops

will there be an electric option?

A non-ugly city car would be welcomed.

Although Ferraris are very aerodynamic, I would not put them in the framework of Civics and Mazdas.If Ferraris are doorstops then they are sexiest doorstops on earth. My 2 cents.

Giving Mazda a version of the Kuga (assumedly to replace the Tribute) almost ensures that Kuga will finally replace the Escape in the US! And a Mazda1 would most likely share platforms with the new Fiat 500/Ford Ka.

Ferraris over the years have gotten larger (and heavier). As far as doorstop wedges go, nothing beats the 1st generation Lotus Esprit; I’d take one in a heartbeat…

Amen global_lightning

2010 for a new Mazda3? Give me a break, it’s a great car, but lets have a little redesign.

And does them refering to it as a RX-7 mean it’ll be a short wheelbase two-door?

global_lighting and JohnnyBlazE the latest issue of Evo magazine has an article on picking up a used Esprit; its the first thing I read.

Russia is in Europe?

That would be awesome if Mazda brought back the RX-7. They should keep the RX-8 as well. Offer the RX-8 with the 4 dr coupe look, and maybe re-tune the Renesis rotary (increase the HP and crappy low end torque) Then for a more sporty presence and flagship car bring back the RX-7 and keep that the short wheel base two door (as mr.meanpants said) bring back the twin turbo Rotary like they had with the FDRX7 and price that above the RX-8, sub 30k let’s say. Then keep the MX-5 Miata where it’s at and Mazda is all set.

To me Mazda seems to be the only Japanese automaker with excitement left.

I sold Mazdas from ‘80 to ‘82′. I couldn’t get an RX-7 as a demo because there was usually a 3-6 month back order. It was quite possibly the most sought after car on the planet until everyone finally realized it was still a Wankel engine that required more maintenance than most ex-wives. The 2nd gen looked like it was penned by a 5th grader and the 3rd was, like the Supra and Z, too techy and way too pricey.

If they’re serious about bringing this back and looking for inspiration, the choice is easy.

Mr.MeanPants, perhaps you forgot (it’s easy to miss), but the Mazda3 already had a mid-life facelift while waiting for its 2010 (2011MY) redesign. It was subtle, as most facelifts are thesedays, but it got a slightly revised front-end design (grills and bumper primarily) the same time that the Mazda6 did.

Here’s what Mazda needs to do….

Mazda1- Offer it in North America to compete against Yaris,
Completely revamp the B series (or kill it off until Ford brings back or re-designs a new Ranger)

Need4SSPeed, the B-Series will be discontinued when Ford shuts down the St. Paul plant that produces the Ranger/B-Series within the next year.

While Ford will be bringing the Ranger back within 2 years as the F-100. My money is it being based off the new Ranger they’ve released in Asia. Importing seems to be the way Mulally wants to go, so I imagine they’ll turn to Asia if they can make that model meet our DOT regulations.

I doubt however we’ll see a new B-Series. Sales are, literally, only DOZENS a month (not kidding). Mazda did the whole B-Series thing originally because it’s Texas dealers said it was necessary to draw people into the showroom, and it probably was 20 years ago when it debuted. Today, as evidenced by sales, that’s no longer the case. Few Mazda dealers even carry the B-Series anymore. They can justify keeping it around because the costs for developing it have been paid off for almost 20 years, it costs them almost nothing to make one and it gives the St. Paul plant something to make. But Mazda is going to have a hell of a time justifying putting ANY money into making an all-new model. For as few as they sell, even just putting up the money to design and produce a new grill for their version wouldn’t be worthwhile.

Here’s what Mazda needs to do….

Mazda 1- Offer it in North America to compete against Yaris,
Fit, Versa, etc…
B series- Revamp it (or kill it off until Ford brings back
or re-designs a new Ranger)
CX7- just give it a re-fresh for 2010.
CX9- just give it a re-fresh for 2010.
Mazda 3- Just give it a re-fresh and continue Mazdaspeed 3
production
Mazda 6- Was just re-designed… Offer for 2010 a Mazdaspeed 6
and keep production of it low.
MX-5 Miata- Give it a re-fresh, boost the 2.0L 4CYL engine’s
output to around 180hp, possibly offer a fixed
hardtop (like they did in late 90’s for the
Japanese spec Miata) and offer it exclusively with
a Mazdaspeed MX-5. Throw in the 2.3L turbo from
speed 3, price it in high 20’s and keep production
of it low.
RX-8- Was just refreshed. Keep it around. Hopefully the latest
version of the Renesis improves fuel efficiency, HP and
crappy low end torque.
RX-7- Bring it back. Keep it with the same design short wheel
base 2dr. Offer a Turbo or Twin Turbo 1.3 Rotary and
give it around 300hp. Keep it lightweight and perfectly
balanced like the Miata and RX8. Use for Mazda’s
flagship vehicle

Oh and lastly offer a Mazdaspeed package (like Ford did
with the Bullit Package) for RX7 and RX8
from the factory and keep it limited, sell only
1000-3000 packages.

lol sorry SigmaHyperion I accidentally posted part of my overall comment. But that would work too.

Nice to hear they are doing another RX-7, but please don’t let it be ugly like this Mazda1 !!

I’d largely agree with that list you’ve got there, with a few exceptions…

The Mazda3 needs a redesign. By the time it’s scheduled 2010MY redesign rolls around, it will be 6 years old. While I agree it still looks good and (I own one, and a 6), I think with the advent of the new Mazda6, the new Mazda1 (which I’m almot certain we’ll see), and the new RX-7 (a bit further off), the 3 will start to look a little dated on the lots. And, as the hugely-successful bread-and-butter of Mazda, they need to keep the 3 fresh. A lot of people will be rolling out of their ’04s and ’05s by then and Mazda will want to put them into another Mazda3 if they can (if not upsell them to a 6 or elsewhere).

I doubt we’ll see a 2010 MazdaSpeed6. Frankly, as dissapointing of a seller as the first one was, I wouldn’t be surprised if they don’t make one period. If they do it’s only because they CAN not because they need to (something Mazda does often). But, if they do, it’d be a 2012MY car. Mazda pulls out the ‘Speeds as a mid-cycle boost. With the new one hitting as 2009MY car, my money’s on a 2012MY MazdaSpeed.

I love Mazda and love rotaries, but I see a REAL tough business case for having 2 rotary “sports cars” (plus the Miata) on the lot. With an RX-7 out there, there’s not a lot of compelling reasons for keeping the RX-8 on the lots anymore. I can think of a lot of little things (seats 4, Automatic, nice GT cruiser, etc) but I doubt those really translate into a viable market of sufficient size in and of themselves what with the all the sales that would be going to the RX-7. I think I could make a better case for a MazdaSpeed6 to cover those segments of the market than the RX-8.

You also didn’t mention the Mazda5. An easy one to forget. And I think that’s its’ biggest problem. I think the Mazda5 needs to be marketed a HELL of a lot better than it has been. Particularly as gas prices pass $4/gallon and if they approach $5/gallon I think Mazda could be sitting on something really nice in the Mazda5, and I think the market is realizing that now. Sales are up over 50% this year, the thing is selling great, it’s really close to being Mazda’s #3 best-selling vehicle. It will of course get the same redesign that its’ sister-car the Mazda3 gets.

lol I did forget about the Mazda 5. Haha I don’t think of minivans probably why. I like how Ford rebadged the S-Max and brought it here as a Mazda. I rented a 2005 or 2006 Mazda MPV when travelling on vacation for a week and let me tell you it was the best minivan I had ever driven, It looked sporty, had pep, and the windows in the back rolled down, great for my immature college buddies whistling at girls walking down the street… I also forgot how old the Mazda 3 is already. A buddy of mine has an 04 and I forgot it’s that old. Certainly doesn’t look it. Still looks fresh, so it will need a re-design. I guess Mazda could do without the RX8 if they brought back the RX7, while unlikely I think it would be great to have both.

Very odd proportions.

Turbocharged RX-7 please, with the electrical assistance for the turbo so it works at all engine rpms