This shouldn't be the first time that you've heard about Mazda bringing back the RX-7->ke344. However this time the news seems to be official, and even the current economic climate won't stop the Japanese automaker from unveiling the new sports car in 2011 as a replacement for the not so successful RX-8. All three previous generations of Mazda's rotary experimental 7 have been bona fide sports cars that offer their operators a lightweight chassis with razor sharp handling and the exhilaration of rear wheel drive that culminated with the FD3S and despite being down a few ponies from the competition, it made genuine Japanese super cars like the Skyline GT-R and NSX->ke307 head for the hills.

The next generation RX-7 will be powered by Mazda's all new Renesis 16X power plant which debuted at the 2007 Tokyo Auto Show inside of the Taiki concept car. The Renesis(2) rotary engine is a 1.6 Liter twin rotor motor that will develop a maximum output of 350 HP and 215 lb-ft of torque. The new RX-7's exterior will be inspired by the Furai concept and will go head to head with other sport compacts like the Hyundai Genesis Coupe and eventual Toyota FT-86->ke3538 as well as Japanese thoroughbreds like the Nissan 370Z->ke3043. If you were excited by the muscle car market coming back into full swing you might want save a little bit of emotion for the return of the sport compact tuning scene.

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