Popular Mazda RX-7 now turbocharged

Press, 10 November 1983, Page 15

Popular Mazda RX-7 now turbocharged

Launched in 1978, the Mazda RX-7 has become one of the world’s most popular sports cars. By the end of August, the maker, Toyo Kogyo, had produced almost 350,000 and now the Japanese company has come up with a blockbuster version — the Turbo RX-7. It is an additional model to the Mazda line-up in Japan and thhe turbo boosts power by 43.5 per cent and maximum engine torque by 48.4 per cent.

In other words, maximum power rises from 84.6 kW (113.5bhp) at 6000 rpm to 121.3 kW (162.6bhp) at 6500 rpm. Peak torque in-, creases from 151 Nm at 4000 rpm to 225.4 Nm at 4000 rpm.

The RX-7 turbocharger has smaller and lighter turbine blades than the unit Mazda uses in its 929 Cosmo/Luce RE model. The 12A rotary engine has electronic fuel injection and is fed from a 63-litre petrol tank. The capacity is eight litres more than that of the Eight-stage variable shock-absorbers are also original equipment. They enable the driver to manually select the damping force setting of the front and rear suspension and the system is a more advanced version of that fitted to the latest 626 two-door hardtop, limited numbers of which have been imported over the last few months.

Ultra low-profile 60 series 205 tyres, mounted on 14in’ diameter alloy wheels, replace the 175/70HS tyres on 13in alloy wheels of the normally-aspirated version. The spare wheel is of the space-saver type to allow the larger petrol tank not to infringe on the load area. Ventilated disc brakes on all wheels, a larger clutch and stronger crown wheel and pinion have been fitted to cope with the extra power. Also, for the first time, a speed-sensing power-as-sisted steering system is employed. Initially, the RX-7 Turbo will be available only in Japan, but eventually ex-, port is planned,.