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| Mazda RX7 and Car Babe, Tuning Car, Import Tuner 2004 | | | |
The Mazda RX-7 (also called the Ẽfini RX-7) is a sports car produced by the Japanese automaker Mazda from 1978 to 2002. The original RX-7 competed in the affordable sports car segment with the likes of the Nissan Fairlady Z. The styling was inspired by the Lotus Elan 2+2. It featured a unique twin-rotor Wankel rotary engine and a sporty front-midship, rear-wheel drive layout, making it well balanced and appropriate for racing. The RX-7 was a direct replacement for the RX-3 (both were sold in Japan as the Savanna) and subsequently replaced all other Mazda rotary cars with the exception of the Cosmo.
The original RX-7 was a true sports coupé design, as opposed to a sports car like the Triumph TR6 or a sedan with sporting intentions. The compact and light-weight Wankel engine, also known as a rotary engine is situated slightly behind the front axle. It was offered in America as a two-seat coupé, with four seats being optional in Japan, Australia, and other parts of the world.
The RX-7 made Car and Driver magazine's Ten Best list five times. In total, 811,634 RX-7s were produced. Recently, Mazda has revived the rotary engine in the form of the RX-8. It produces approximately 232 hp naturally aspirated (the USDM version FD3S produces 255 hp stock with two Hitachi turbochargers), while the Japanese market version produces around 250 hp. Wikipedia
Movies and TV
* The car appeared in the Japanese anime series, Initial D, driven by both the Takahashi brothers-Keisuke and Ryosuke, with Keisuke driving a yellow twin-turbo FD3S and Ryosuke driving a white FC3S-and the girl that likes Keisuke, Kyoko, who drives a black single turbo FD3S.
* A yellow FB is used in the sentai Uchuu Keiji Shaider by Annie to patrol the streets.
* The FD was featured in several Need for Speed games as well as Japanese imported racing computer games. Many who played Need for Speed: Underground praised the FD for its versatile capabilities. The RX-7 has made an appearance in every Gran Turismo game to date, which includes many types of the different generations, including specially tuned racing versions by the various 'shops' in 'Gran Turismo mode'.
* The RX-7 FD has also been featured in every film in the 'Fast and the Furious' franchise so far.
* The FD RX-7 is shown in "Office Space" in the parking lot of Initech.
* The FD RX-7 is featured in "Fast Getaway II". It is the center of a high-speed chase.
* The FC RX-7 is shown in "Don't be a Menace To South Central While Drinking Juice in the Hood"
* Strangely, the FC RX-7 is very oftenly classified as a higher class(harder) car than the FD in video games.
* A highly modified RX-7 was fabricated by Veilside, one of Japan's largest automotive aftermarket companies, to show off its "Fortune" wide-body kit at the 2005 Tokyo Auto Salon. The car won the Grand Prix of show, soon after picture Car Coordinator Dennis McCarthy saw it and decided it should, repainted Sunset Orange Pearl, co-star in The Fast and the Furious: Tokyo Drift. Veilside also built three duplicates for the film while the Tokyo Drift shop built three more visual clones — including one destined for destruction using a Mazda RX-7 that appeared in both previous Fast and Furious films as its base. |
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