Mazda RX-7

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Mazda RX-7
Mazda-RX-7-FD.jpg
Mazda RX-7 FD3S
Overview
Manufacturer
Mazda
Production
1978 2002
811,634 produced[1]
Assembly
Hiroshima Assembly, Hiroshima, Japan
Body and chassis
Class Sports car
Body style
2 door coupe
2 door convertible
Layout FMR layout
Chronology
Predecessor
Mazda RX-3
Successor
Mazda RX-8
The Mazda RX-7 is a sports car that was produced by the Japanese automaker Mazda
from 1978 to 2002. The first RX-7 featured an 1,146 cc (69.9 cu in) twin-rotor
Wankel rotary engine and a front-midship, rear-wheel drive layout. The RX-7 repl
aced the RX-3, with both models sold in Japan as the Mazda Savanna.
The original RX-7 was a sports car with pop-up headlamps. The compact and lightw
eight Wankel rotary engine is situated slightly behind the front axle, a configu
ration marketed by Mazda as "front mid-engine". It was offered as a two-seat cou
p, with optional "occasional" rear seats in Japan, Australia, the United States,
and other parts of the world. The rear seats were initially marketed as a dealer
-installed option for the North American markets.
The RX-7 made Car and Driver magazine's Ten Best list five times. 811,634 RX-7s
were produced.[1]
The RX-7 has become notable through pop culture such as Battle Fever J, Ultraman
80, Space Sheriff Shaider, Kyojuu Tokusou Juspion, Choudenshi Bioman, Shakotan
Boogie, Kamen Rider Black RX, Wangan Midnight, Initial D, Need for Speed, The Fa
st and the Furious series, Forza Motorsport and Gran Turismo.
Contents [hide]
1
First Generation (SA22C/FB)
1.1
Savanna RX-7 Turbo
2
Second generation (FC)
2.1
Convertible
2.2
10th Anniversary RX-7
2.3
GTUs (1989-1990)
3
Third generation (FD)
3.1
Reviews and awards
4
Motorsport
5
Revivals
6
Further reading
7
References
8
External links
First Generation (SA22C/FB)[edit]
SA/FB
Mazda-rx7-1st-generation01.jpg
Overview
Also called
Mazda Savanna RX-7
Production
1978 1985
471,018 produced[1]
Designer
Matasaburo Maeda (1976)
Body and chassis
Body style
2 door coupe
Powertrain

Engine
1146 cc 12A
1146 cc 12A turbo
1308 cc 13B RE-EGI
Transmission
5-speed manual
4-speed manual
3-speed automatic
4-speed automatic
Dimensions
Wheelbase
2,420 mm (95 in)
Length 4,285 mm (169 in)
Width 1,675 mm (66 in)
Height 1,260 mm (50 in)
Curb weight
1,000 1,100 kg (2,300 2,500 lb)
Series 1 (1978 1980) is commonly referred to as the "SA22C" from the first alphanu
merics of the vehicle identification number. In Japan it was introduced in March
1978, replacing the Savanna RX-3, and joined Mazda's only other remaining rotar
y engine powered products, called the Mazda Cosmo which was a two-door luxury co
upe, and the Mazda Luce luxury sedan.
The lead designer at Mazda was Matasaburo Maeda, whose son Ikuo would go on to d
esign the Mazda2 and Mazda RX-8.[2] The transition of the Savanna to a sports ca
r appearance reflected products from other Japanese manufacturers. The advantage
the RX-7 had was its minimal size and weight, and the compact rotary engine ins
talled behind the front axle, which helped balance the front to rear weight dist
ribution, and provide a low center of gravity.
In Japan, sales were enhanced by the fact that the RX-7 complied with Japanese G
overnment dimension regulations, and Japanese buyers were not liable for yearly
taxes for driving a larger car. The rotary engine had financial advantages to Ja
panese consumers in that the engine displacement remained below 1.5 litres, a si
gnificant determination when paying the Japanese annual road tax which kept the
obligation affordable to most buyers, while having more power than the tradition
al inline engines.
In May 1980, Mazda released a limited production run of special North American m
odels known as the Leathersport Models. This package was essentially an uprated
GS model with added LS badges on each B-pillar, special striping, and LS-only go
ld anodized wheels (with polished outer face and wheel rim). All LS editions cam
e equipped with special LS-only full brown leather upholstery, leather wrapped s
teering wheel, leather wrapped shift knob, removable sunroof, LS-specific four-s
peaker AM/FM stereo radio with power antenna (though listed as a six speaker ste
reo, as the two rear dual voice coil speakers were counted as four speakers in t
otal), remote power door side mirrors, and other standard GS equipment. Two prim
ary options were also available; a three-speed JATCO 3N71B automatic transmissio
n and air conditioning. Other GS options such as cassette tape deck, splash guar
ds, padded center console arm rest and others could be added by the dealer. The
LS model was only ever available in three different exterior colors: Aurora Whit
e, Brilliant Black, and Solar Gold. No official production records are known to
exist or to have been released. This series of RX-7 had exposed steel bumpers an
d a high-mounted indentation-located license plate, called by Werner Buhrer of R
oad & Track magazine a "Baroque depression."
Mazda RX-7 Series 2 (US)
The Series 2 (1981 1983) had integrated plastic-covered bumpers, wide black rubber
body side moldings, wraparound taillights and updated engine control components
. While marginally longer overall, the new model was 135 lb (61 kg) lighter in f
ederalized trim.[3] The four-speed manual option was dropped for 1981 as well, w
hile the gas tank grew larger and the dashboard was redesigned, including a shor
ter gear stick mounted closer to the driver.[3] In 1983, the 130 mph speedometer
returned for the RX-7. The GSL package provided optional four-wheel disc brakes
, front ventilated (Australian model) and clutch-type rear limited slip differen

tial (LSD). Known as the "FB" in North America after the US Department of Transp
ortation mandated 17 digit Vehicle Identification Number changeover. For various
other markets worldwide, the 1981 1985 RX-7 retained the 'SA22C' VIN prefix. In t
he UK, the 1978 1980 series 1 cars carried the SA code on the vehicle VIN but all
later cars (1981 1983 series 2 & 1984 1985 series 3) carried the FB code and these f
irst generation RX7's are known as the "FB". The license-plate surround looks mu
ch like Buhrer's "Styling Impressions."
In Europe, the FB was mainly noticed for having received a power increase from t
he 105 PS (77 kW) of the SA22; the 1981 RX-7 now had 115 PS (85 kW) on tap. Euro
pean market cars also received four-wheel disc brakes as standard.[4]