Why the 400Z was killed

mjd77

+1 on the RX-7. I know Mazda is working on the new 1.6L direct injection rotary but it''s probably a few years away yet. Unfortunately "affordable" sports cars seem to be a dying breed and the current economy seems to be speeding that up. I think what we will start to see in the future is smaller displacement engines (maybe with turbos) in much lighter cars. Think Lotus. I don't think the HP wars can go on forever. If things keep up the way they are we'll be looking at the Mustang, Challenger and Camaro with something like 10.0L engines and 800 hp in about 15 years. Eventually the focus with these cars will have to shift to other aspects besides power.

Lug

2012 according to most rumors.

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keep Chubbs in your pocket - Chubbs

mjd77

Obviously the new rotary will still likely have much less power than cars such as the Z, but their stated goal has been to use this engine in a sub 3000lb car. I'd guess somewhere in the neighborhood of 260-280hp is what this engine will end up with along with much improved fuel economy. I think they are really going after the essence of what a hardcore sports car is supposed to be, much like the old rx-7s. And I think smaller, lighter, and less powerful is what the future of sports cars holds. Nissan definitely did a good thing by making the 370 slightly smaller and it will be interesting to see how that FT-86 turns out.

I also agree with a previous poster who said the new 5.0 Mustang next year could be the pinnacle of the hardcore muscle cars. It will definitely be hard to top that at an affordable price and I'll call it now that the new Mustang will own the Challenger and Camaro SS in every way. Hell, if you compare the current V-8 Mustang with the other 2 it comes very close in every performance comparison on the track...and that is with 100 less hp. With another 100hp that Mustang will be a complete monster.