Who does not know the legend of the RX-7, two letters and one number, which caused a stir all over the world. And this year, the Mazda RX-7 celebrates its fortieth birthday. Mazda's British representative office decided to celebrate the event with a pleasant video.
The year is 1978, and Mazda is introducing an all-new RX-7 model to the domestic market. More precisely, it was a two-door sports coupe with a compact, powerful rotary engine that was placed lower and further back for a better driving experience. The first generation had a two-rotor engine with a capacity of 1.2 liters and an output of 103 horses at an incredible 7000 rpm.
The RX-7 (SA) was a huge hit for Mazda, selling over 470,000 units worldwide. In addition, it was also popular in the media, for example, Car and Driver magazine placed it five times on the list of the ten best cars. In total, over 800,000 units were sold across the three generations of the RX-7.
Next in line was the RX-7 (FC), which premiered in 1985 and for the first time a turbocharged version arrived. Since its launch, the RX-7 has been offered with both naturally aspirated and turbocharged powertrains. Initially, North American specifications produced 146 horsepower and later even 182 horsepower. Turbo models in other markets had up to 215 hp.
However, the last generation, the RX-7 (FD), is most remembered by fans. It was first shown in 1992 and remained in production for ten long years. Most certainly know that the FC generation was inspired by the Porsche 944, while the FD went its own way with a timeless design that still looks stunning today. Under the hood of the RX-7 (FD) is a 13B twin-turbo rotary engine that produced between 252 and 280 hp at the end of its life. The twin-turbo system is sequential, meaning the smaller turbo kicks in at low revs while the larger one takes over from 4,500rpm.
The Mazda RX-7 performed well in motorsport as well, as it visited both circuits and rallies. The rotary-powered Mazda took overall victory in the 1981 Spa 24 Hours, then scored points at Le Mans, but also took part in the crazy Group B rally. The car also won the BTCC titles in 1980 and 1981. And in a twelve-year career in IMSA competition she managed to win 100 times.
Today, the RX-7 is among the sought-after vintage cars and is one of the most unique sports cars ever to see the light of day. This begs the rhetorical question, will we see a full-fledged successor?
