Prepare for an onslaught from the Land of the Rising Horsepower. Plus: Web-exclusive video of the Mazda Kabura and the Lexus LF-A.
By Sam Mitani Photos by Barry Hathaway
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In case you haven't noticed, sports cars are hot items once again. And we found out that Japan has a few things up its sleeve that will rock your world. Our team of spies has dug deep to uncover all that's brewing in the Land of the Rising Sun. As a special bonus, there's an exclusive preview of what Nissan's GT-R will be like in R&T's first virtual road test.
Mazda Kabura
Is this the next RX-7?
"Kabura." In Japanese, it means the first arrow released signaling the start of battle. At the North American International Auto Show, Mazda unveiled a new concept called the Kabura, a front-engine, rear-drive compact sports car, powered by the MX-5's MZ inline-4 and featuring a unique 3+1 seating layout.
When looking at the Kabura, the first thing that comes to mind is the RX-7. When we asked Mazda executives if the Kabura is a design study of the next RX-7, their answer was a nervous "No." Was the trickle of sweat forming on their foreheads an indication we were too close? Not to sound like Oliver Stone here, but I sense a conspiracy.
It's no secret that Mazda wants to bring back the RX-7, but it needs a positive business case to make this a reality. With RX-8 sales not meeting expectations, Mazda is in need of an image boost in the sports-car department (the MX-5 by itself just won't cut it). In the U.S., there's still a solid base of RX-7 fans thousands attend the Sevenstock event held at Mazda R&D headquarters each year. So, it makes perfect sense to test the waters now with a new sports-car concept that could become the basis for the next RX-7.
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Franz von Holzhausen, Director of Design for Mazda North American.
</TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE>If there is a formula for a future RX-7, we can expect a car unlike the last-generation model, a pure sports car with perhaps too heavy an emphasis on performance. That car was both expensive and virtually unusable for the masses as an everyday driver. Instead we'll see a product that has the general character of the first-generation RX-7 an affordable sports car with every-day creature comforts, such as luggage space and a pleasant ride that will appeal to a broader range of people.
Call it a hunch, but I believe Mazda has tried to mislead all of us by putting the MX-5's inline-4 under the Kabura's hood. Because the car is built on essentially the same platform as the RX-8 (and the MX-5), there is no reason why a rotary engine won't fit here. Another curve Mazda threw us is the 3+1 seating arrangement. It's interesting to be sure, but chances of Mazda introducing something so radical after the lukewarm response to the RX-8's "four-door sports car" theme are minimal at best.
The press release about the Kabura is filled with hints of it being an RX-7 (although Mazda was very careful not to mention "RX-7"). But perhaps the biggest hint could be in the name "Kabura" itself. When Mazda joined the world's sports-car battle with the Cosmo Sport in the late 1960s, it did so with the rotary engine; therefore, figuratively, Mazda's "kabura" is the rotary engine. Mazda seems to be getting ready to release that arrow again, the only question now is when. Sources say we could see a new RX-7 as early as 2008.
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Lexus LF-A (GT 450/500)
Japan's first true exotic?
Although the show car pictured on our cover isn't a runner, there is a version that actually runs and goes really fast. According to reports in Japanese car magazines, the GT 450 (LF-A) lapped the recently redesigned Fuji International Speedway like a true super exotic. Visually, the test car that ran that day was slightly different from the show car you see on our cover. It had a metal roof rather than a glass one, BBS forged-alloy wheels and small cameras mounted in the side mirrors. This undoubtedly means the Lexus coupe is not yet in its final state; there are a few more changes to come, most likely to the front and rear ends.
Mechanically, we know the future Lexus 2-seater will be powered by a 500-bhp V-10. Whether the displacement will be 4.5 liters or 5.0 liters remains to be seen (the engine displacement will likely decide if Lexus will call the car GT 450 or GT 500). A display-only model of the engine revealed that the cylinder banks are angled at 72 degrees. It's also the first dry-sump engine in Toyota's history. Redline is said to be above 9000 rpm, so we're talking about an engine that puts out power like a Formula 1 car. It'll come mated to a transaxle with at least six speeds.
One of our stealthy ninjas actually heard the thing revving, and said the engine and exhaust sounded eerily similar to an F1 engine. "There was no sense of friction when the thing was revving up or down."
In fact, a Toyota board member was overheard saying that the car's official launch will coincide with the company's first win in F1; therefore, the final production model must be ready to be revealed when that historic event occurs. Within Toyota, that date is expected around the summer of 2007. Does Toyota have something up its sleeve at that time in F1? Or does the company want to steal some thunder from Nissan's GT-R launch?
Also, we've seen spy shots of a convertible version of the LF-A running at a remote test track, so expect an open-air GT 450 to make an appearance soon after the coupe. Price of the Toyota super GT is expected to fall somewhere between $100,000 and $150,000.
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Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution & Subaru Impreza WRX STI
The rivalry continues.
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Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution
Subaru Impreza WRX STI</TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE>Mitsubishi surprised us (and probably Subaru as well) with the unveiling of the Concept X, which is what the next-generation Lancer Evolution (the tenth variant) is going to look like. It isn't customary for Mitsubishi to reveal a design study of its most prized model so early in the game. According to Mitsu designers, 90 percent of the Concept X's styling will make it to production. And it will be more than just looks that will differentiate the X from the Evo IX. First of all, there's a new turbocharged inline-4 engine in the works that could produce as much as 320 bhp. There's also a new awd system called S-AWC, which includes ACD (Active Center Differential), super AYC (Active Yaw Control), and active suspension and steering to maximize traction and cornering grip on all kinds of driving surfaces. The only thing that worries us is the price that all this hardware might command. Let's hope Mitsu can keep the car's sticker near its current level.
Subaru has just finished giving the Impreza WRX a facelift, so it's still too early for them to present a next-generation design study. But that hasn't kept the company's engineers from continually tweaking the product. Their latest work is the Impreza WRX STI S204. Last year, Subaru introduced the WRX STI S203 as a way of celebrating the company's success in the World Rally Championship. All 555 made were spoken for in a matter of days. The S204 is simply an extension of the S203, only with the new nose. Subaru was able to squeeze slightly more torque from the turbocharged 2.0-liter inline-4 (our STI comes with the 2.5-liter) from 311 lb.-ft. to 318. Horsepower remains the same at 320 bhp at 6400 rpm. Only 600 S204s will be built, at about $50,000, and will be marketed in Japan only.
Mitsuoka Orochi
A lightweight sports car with a funny face.
Okay, so it may not win any beauty contests, but this odd-looking contraption is a real sports car, and a pretty serious one at that. The Orochi made its first appearance about four years ago as purely a show car, but in 2003, Mitsuoka Motors announced plans to manufacture the car. Now comes word that the Orochi will go on sale this July. Despite (or maybe because of) its looks, the Orochi gained favorable response at numerous auto shows.
Mitsuoka is a privately-owned car manufacturer, whose lineup includes several odd-looking sedans available in Japan only. The Orochi will initially be sold as a Japan-only model, but the company has expressed the desire to market it worldwide.
In taking a look at the Orochi's data sheet, we noticed classic sports-car specs: mid-engine layout, rear-wheel drive and a lightweight body. Most of the car is original, including its tube-frame chassis manufactured at Mitsuoka's headquarters in Japan. Only the engine a 3.3-liter V-6 and 5-speed automatic transmission were supplied by Toyota. Output will be about 230 bhp and 240 lb.-ft. of torque.
It doesn't sound like much at first, but the car tips the scales at around 2800 lb., giving it an excellent power-to-weight ratio.
By Sam Mitani Photos by Barry Hathaway
<TABLE width="100%"><TBODY><TR><TD vAlign=top>
</TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE>
In case you haven't noticed, sports cars are hot items once again. And we found out that Japan has a few things up its sleeve that will rock your world. Our team of spies has dug deep to uncover all that's brewing in the Land of the Rising Sun. As a special bonus, there's an exclusive preview of what Nissan's GT-R will be like in R&T's first virtual road test.
Mazda Kabura
Is this the next RX-7?
"Kabura." In Japanese, it means the first arrow released signaling the start of battle. At the North American International Auto Show, Mazda unveiled a new concept called the Kabura, a front-engine, rear-drive compact sports car, powered by the MX-5's MZ inline-4 and featuring a unique 3+1 seating layout.
When looking at the Kabura, the first thing that comes to mind is the RX-7. When we asked Mazda executives if the Kabura is a design study of the next RX-7, their answer was a nervous "No." Was the trickle of sweat forming on their foreheads an indication we were too close? Not to sound like Oliver Stone here, but I sense a conspiracy.
It's no secret that Mazda wants to bring back the RX-7, but it needs a positive business case to make this a reality. With RX-8 sales not meeting expectations, Mazda is in need of an image boost in the sports-car department (the MX-5 by itself just won't cut it). In the U.S., there's still a solid base of RX-7 fans thousands attend the Sevenstock event held at Mazda R&D headquarters each year. So, it makes perfect sense to test the waters now with a new sports-car concept that could become the basis for the next RX-7.
<TABLE cellPadding=5 width=260 align=left><TBODY><TR><TD class=caption>
</TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE>If there is a formula for a future RX-7, we can expect a car unlike the last-generation model, a pure sports car with perhaps too heavy an emphasis on performance. That car was both expensive and virtually unusable for the masses as an everyday driver. Instead we'll see a product that has the general character of the first-generation RX-7 an affordable sports car with every-day creature comforts, such as luggage space and a pleasant ride that will appeal to a broader range of people.
Call it a hunch, but I believe Mazda has tried to mislead all of us by putting the MX-5's inline-4 under the Kabura's hood. Because the car is built on essentially the same platform as the RX-8 (and the MX-5), there is no reason why a rotary engine won't fit here. Another curve Mazda threw us is the 3+1 seating arrangement. It's interesting to be sure, but chances of Mazda introducing something so radical after the lukewarm response to the RX-8's "four-door sports car" theme are minimal at best.
The press release about the Kabura is filled with hints of it being an RX-7 (although Mazda was very careful not to mention "RX-7"). But perhaps the biggest hint could be in the name "Kabura" itself. When Mazda joined the world's sports-car battle with the Cosmo Sport in the late 1960s, it did so with the rotary engine; therefore, figuratively, Mazda's "kabura" is the rotary engine. Mazda seems to be getting ready to release that arrow again, the only question now is when. Sources say we could see a new RX-7 as early as 2008.
<TABLE cellPadding=10 width=605><TBODY><TR><TD class=caption align=right>
Lexus LF-A (GT 450/500)
Japan's first true exotic?
Although the show car pictured on our cover isn't a runner, there is a version that actually runs and goes really fast. According to reports in Japanese car magazines, the GT 450 (LF-A) lapped the recently redesigned Fuji International Speedway like a true super exotic. Visually, the test car that ran that day was slightly different from the show car you see on our cover. It had a metal roof rather than a glass one, BBS forged-alloy wheels and small cameras mounted in the side mirrors. This undoubtedly means the Lexus coupe is not yet in its final state; there are a few more changes to come, most likely to the front and rear ends.
Mechanically, we know the future Lexus 2-seater will be powered by a 500-bhp V-10. Whether the displacement will be 4.5 liters or 5.0 liters remains to be seen (the engine displacement will likely decide if Lexus will call the car GT 450 or GT 500). A display-only model of the engine revealed that the cylinder banks are angled at 72 degrees. It's also the first dry-sump engine in Toyota's history. Redline is said to be above 9000 rpm, so we're talking about an engine that puts out power like a Formula 1 car. It'll come mated to a transaxle with at least six speeds.
In fact, a Toyota board member was overheard saying that the car's official launch will coincide with the company's first win in F1; therefore, the final production model must be ready to be revealed when that historic event occurs. Within Toyota, that date is expected around the summer of 2007. Does Toyota have something up its sleeve at that time in F1? Or does the company want to steal some thunder from Nissan's GT-R launch?
Also, we've seen spy shots of a convertible version of the LF-A running at a remote test track, so expect an open-air GT 450 to make an appearance soon after the coupe. Price of the Toyota super GT is expected to fall somewhere between $100,000 and $150,000.
<TABLE cellPadding=10 width=605><TBODY><TR><TD class=caption align=right>
Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution & Subaru Impreza WRX STI
The rivalry continues.
<TABLE cellPadding=5 width=260 align=right><TBODY><TR><TD class=caption>
Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution
Subaru Impreza WRX STI</TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE>Mitsubishi surprised us (and probably Subaru as well) with the unveiling of the Concept X, which is what the next-generation Lancer Evolution (the tenth variant) is going to look like. It isn't customary for Mitsubishi to reveal a design study of its most prized model so early in the game. According to Mitsu designers, 90 percent of the Concept X's styling will make it to production. And it will be more than just looks that will differentiate the X from the Evo IX. First of all, there's a new turbocharged inline-4 engine in the works that could produce as much as 320 bhp. There's also a new awd system called S-AWC, which includes ACD (Active Center Differential), super AYC (Active Yaw Control), and active suspension and steering to maximize traction and cornering grip on all kinds of driving surfaces. The only thing that worries us is the price that all this hardware might command. Let's hope Mitsu can keep the car's sticker near its current level.
Subaru has just finished giving the Impreza WRX a facelift, so it's still too early for them to present a next-generation design study. But that hasn't kept the company's engineers from continually tweaking the product. Their latest work is the Impreza WRX STI S204. Last year, Subaru introduced the WRX STI S203 as a way of celebrating the company's success in the World Rally Championship. All 555 made were spoken for in a matter of days. The S204 is simply an extension of the S203, only with the new nose. Subaru was able to squeeze slightly more torque from the turbocharged 2.0-liter inline-4 (our STI comes with the 2.5-liter) from 311 lb.-ft. to 318. Horsepower remains the same at 320 bhp at 6400 rpm. Only 600 S204s will be built, at about $50,000, and will be marketed in Japan only.
Mitsuoka Orochi
A lightweight sports car with a funny face.
Okay, so it may not win any beauty contests, but this odd-looking contraption is a real sports car, and a pretty serious one at that. The Orochi made its first appearance about four years ago as purely a show car, but in 2003, Mitsuoka Motors announced plans to manufacture the car. Now comes word that the Orochi will go on sale this July. Despite (or maybe because of) its looks, the Orochi gained favorable response at numerous auto shows.
In taking a look at the Orochi's data sheet, we noticed classic sports-car specs: mid-engine layout, rear-wheel drive and a lightweight body. Most of the car is original, including its tube-frame chassis manufactured at Mitsuoka's headquarters in Japan. Only the engine a 3.3-liter V-6 and 5-speed automatic transmission were supplied by Toyota. Output will be about 230 bhp and 240 lb.-ft. of torque.
It doesn't sound like much at first, but the car tips the scales at around 2800 lb., giving it an excellent power-to-weight ratio.
