Could it be true

Well the new GTR is out, its time for Toyota, Honda and Mazda to build a car to meet these high standards. Some of you might not know that about the Mazda Furai concept which is suppose to be the next Rx7. Well ive heres the specs and some pictures of the new track furai. In my opinion it looks great, has very futuristic looks that the FD had when it appeared in 1991 at car shows.

"Furai takes Mazda's unique Nagare (Japanese for "flow") design language a step further as it is translated into a concept car based on an American Le Mans Series (ALMS) racing car. The car utilizes the Courage C65 chassis the company campaigned in the ALMS series only two seasons ago, and the 450-hp three-rotor rotary engine that distinguishes it from anything else on the track."
Spec on the Courage C65 chassis

2003-2005 Courage C65 LMP2 Specifications
Designer: Paolo Cantone
Layout: Mid-engine, rear-wheel drive
Monocoque: Carbon fiber and aluminum honeycomb monocoque
Gearbox: Hewland TLS, 6 speed sequential + reverse
Steering: Rack and pinion
Suspension: Double wishbones, pushrods, horizontally located Dynamic spring damper units
Wheels: Magnesium
Front 18“ diameter x11“ width
Rear 18” diameter x 13” width
Brakes: Carbon or steel
Diameter 355 mm x 35 mm thick
Length: 4650 mm
Width: 1970 mm
Wheelbase: 2790 mm
Front overhang: 860 mm
Rear overhang: 1010 mm
Front track: 1750 mm
Rear track: 1600 mm
Weight: 738 kgs. (2003 Le Mans)
798 kgs. (2004 Le Mans average)
781 kgs. (2005 Le Mans average)
Tank capacity: 90 liters

Kabura

At the Detroit Motor Show in 2006 Mazda revealed a new concept car called Kabura. Kabura or Kaburaya, meaning the sound an arrow makes when it is fired from a bow to signal to begin a war, is smaller than the Rx8 but the compact RWD platform is build as a true drivers car. This car utilizers parts from both the new Mx5 roadster and rx8. The rx8 style fenders create a futuristic, post-modern feeling that both the FDrx7 and the Rx8 both maintain. Mazda has invested heavily into this concept and has wants to produce a car that will be both have revolutionary styling and performance.







Instead of a 2+2 layout, Mazda has designed a 1+3 layout. This layout gives passengers more comfort to enjoy the driving experience.



Mazda claims that its goals for such a car are;

- to deliver Mazda driving enthusiasts another car that maintains the "Soul of a Sportscar" with breathtaking performance and handling.

- to deliver a car that is able to be used with youthful and active lifestyles. A car that maintains a flexibility and is able to be used daily. I sometimes think that the FDrx7 skips this goal, its a great sports car but isn't has many limitations as a practical car.

- to deliver a car that is affordable for a younger generation who cant quite afford an rx8.

With these 3 goals the Kabura was born.

Unfortunately, there has been little information released about this car. There has been much speculation to what engine the Kabura will be powered by. The 2.0-litre version of Mazda's highly respected MZR twin camshaft 16-valve engine is highly likely but true Mazda enthusiasts believe a rotary engine should be used. Mazda America is pushing hard for a rotary engine as it believes this is what defines a true Mazda.

I would like to see a rotary powered Kubura. I really think that not putting in a rotary engine would take away much of the excitement of the car. If Mazda really wants to produce a car that maintains the "Soul of a Sportscar" it needs a high revving rotary engine. A nicely tuned naturally aspirated engine would be the only rotary engine that should be used.

Well with the arrival and sales of the new GTR, and talk of Honda realeasing a new NSX, there has been much interest in a new RX7. I would really like to see a new Rx7 which delivers a revolutionary styling and concept, and hopeful set a new benchmark, as the FD did in 1992. Even now, the FD has lines and interesting curves that give the car a almost post-modern feel when in its presence. In my opinion many cars have yet caught up with this modern styling.

Mazda has not announced anything about a new Rx7, but with the previous models being so popular coupled with the release of the new GTR/NSX, Mazda will probably look at creating a car to compete with these major players as it has done in the past.

I would personally like to see a car created that utilises another form of energy to give its power. I feel if Mazda want to build a truely unique sports car, a gas guzzling twin turbo shouldnt be used. The new GTR, while quick, i feel that the engine just reuses old technology and brings nothing truely new. In an effort to compete with European markets, it has built a European style car, with somewhat bland looks. Nothing really amazing. I hope that Mazda will be able to change this, and bring once again, some of the excitement that Japanese cars had in the past. Keeping it rotary of course!

Heres some photos from the Tokyo Motor Show earlier this year, where a rx7 prototype was displayed. I really like the interior, and the car maintains some great futuristic lines, much more exciting than the GTR. Heres some pics.

Headlight kits

Well i really like the look of some aftermarket headlight kits. I really feel that they give the FD a personality that the stocks headlights lacks. There are several aftermarket companies that sell interesting combinations. The most popular and most expensive might i add, is the Knight Sports headlights which can be seen in one of my earlier posts. But recently while browsing the web i came across this set that captured my interest. At first the appearance is strange looking, but the look is really growing on me and is very different. It gives this car a very Transformer identity that the Knight Sports cant deliver. Heres some pics and links to the seller.

A change of colour

Well i changed my HKS filters the other day. My engine bay looks really different with yellow instead of the greyish green. HKS has has a reputation for its filter systems not being able to filter all substrates, especially when the filter is dirty, so its good to change the filters regularly. I did find some small black deposits in the pipes, but there wasnt much, the old filters were actually surprisingly clean. You can clearly see which filter was on the primary turbo as i rarely take the car to full boost.

the mistake

Well it seems there was a communication break down. It happens when there is two languages. Anyway, the mechanic installed some kind of metal plate for unknown reasons. At first I was worried that it would cause higher temperatures but im getting normal temperatures. Ive actually seen some other FDs with similar setups with their HKS filters. I think its to block hot air being blown onto the filters. Its looks very professional.

A drive

Well it was a nice saturday, and i was sick......arrrgh. Well we i decided to take my girlfriend to a secret place in the mountains to get some great pics of the Autumn leaves. Only to find out on arrival that my secret place wasnt a secret and there were hundreds of people. But it was spectacular anyway. The colours were amazing. I didnt get many pics of the car due as we walked most of it.

A day out

Well i was up for getting my car a service, i booked my car into a local rotary specialist, JUDAS. Its was a nice day out, we had a look at the cars he had for sale. None which were very cheap or were in a tidy condition. I got the feeling that most of his client el must be drifters, as the cars for sale werent going to win any beauty contests.

The service wasnt cheap either, but ive been told im a bit of a tight ass anyway.

I took a few shots of the cars in the yard, there were a few demo cars as well lying around.

He had lots of spare parts, most taken from cars which had been totaled.

This blue one with Re-Ememiya kit looked great from the outside, but the inside was guttered, not really my kind of car considering its being sold as a street car. Hot nevertheless!


This black one looked nice, but was an early model, actually all his cars were early model FDs, 1992 to 1993. I guess these are the easiest the use for racing as they are by far the cheapest.


Ive been tossing and turning over what mods i want to do to my car, i really dont want to muck around with much as i love the look of my car as is. But a rear diffuser would look good and bring the rear down a bit to match the rest. Some bigger, gold rims would be nice too. But i think im not going to have enough cash for such mods. I think later on, i would like to buy another FD for modifying. I have been thinking alot about a headlight kit like the Knightsports double headlight kit seen below or the other slim looking headlight look.

Heres a pic of my car getting the treatment.

The first

Well this is my first post. After visiting a few other blogs from the host server, i though i might join up. Ive been living in western Honshu, in Japan for almost 2 years now and thought i might start blogging a bit. Im an English sensei in a big public elementary school. I am really enjoying my experience here and its been a big character building block in my life.

Ive recently bought a new ride, an FD3S RX7, type R2. It took me along time to actually find a nice FD that hadnt been treated badly. The mods so far can be seen below, all of them have been undertaken by the last wealthy driver. Apart from the Series 8 tail lights that i picked up from a local garage sale for $50.

- Mazdaspeed GTC full bodykit (minus the rear diffuser, its on my to do list)
- MazdaSpeed catback,
- MazdaSpeed strut brace
- MazdaSpeed rear wing
- HKS intakes
- HKS Blow off valve
- MazdaSpeed CF gear knob!
- AVS lightweight rims
- S8 tail lights

heres a few snaps, it really needs some larger rims but i just dont want to spend too much money at the moment. Damn debts....




The S8 tail lights in action