Miata Mailing List: March 1995, Message #144
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   From: Michael Yourshaw/WRF 
Subject: Australia & Rotary production
   Date: Fri, 3 Mar 1995 09:24:05 -0500

I thoght the second half of this message would be especially interesting to the 
Miata list.

>>To: rx7club @ cbjjn.cb.att.com (Rx-7 Club) @ SMTP
cc:  
From: rx7club @ cbjjn.cb.att.com (The RX7Net) @ SMTP
Date: 03/03/95 10:03:52 AM
Subject: Australia & Rotary production

G'Day Folks,
I've heard whispers around the place that Australia is definately getting 
the '96 Cosmo from Japan.
This is based on two things, firstly a reputable Auto Magazine here has 
heard the same whispers, and secondly the currently Japan only Cosmo is 
due for a model update allowing the changes to be made for Australian 
compliance.  There are four examples that I have heard of in the country, 
and they had no trouble meeting the changes required to the lights for 
importation.  The second thing is a dealer has mentioned that Mazda is 
planning a total assault on the Australian market, similar to the one it 
carried out when the 121 was first released, this time it shall be a 
sports based revival.

The Cosmo is basically a 929 sedan fitted with a improved sports biased 
suspesion system, and all the goodies, under the bonnet resides a 20BTT 
engine, that is a triple rotor twin turbo of about 3.924L in capacity 
(current 13B is 2.616L).  As far as I hear it, in Japan 300hp is the 
output, limited by some regulation (308hp limit?), but in Australia, more 
might be on offer due to no such laws.  As it happens one of the Cosmos 
currently here is reputed to have some 500hp available, and does stunning 
quick drags.

I think that this confirms that Mazda is serious about the rotary, and 
it's future, Australia is not a large market, but we are in a position 
where the company can 'test' products here in the marketplace without 
risking losing everything.  The M2 skunk works at Mazda has also been 
playing with Miatas, over the past few years they have produced 
production ready prototypes of Hardtop 3.0L V6 models, and a 13B powered 
sample or three, perhaps these will make it into prodution over '96/'97 
giving Mazda sports cars in the AUS$40 000, AUS$80 000, and AUS$90 000 
brackets, the Cosmo would compete against such cars as a BMW M5 Merc E500 
and the like..Perhaps the upper market Audis as well.

I'll post more when I hear it :)

Aaron - The rotary is not dead, just waiting for a better chassis :)

Aaron Mihe                  : e-mail > u933985@Student.Canberra.EDU.AU
                            : e-mail > FooL@Blitzen.Canberra.EDU.AU
                            : phone  > +61 6 242 9312  
signature is on diet, DO NOT FEED.....<<