Radical-looking Taiki concept builds hopes for a revival of a Mazda RX-7, and it's powered by a bigger 1.6-litre rotary engine that will slot into the RX-8. By TOBY HAGON.
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The Mazda Taiki may be one of the most radical concept cars on display at the 2007 Tokyo motor show, but it also hints at Mazda’s desire to see the return of the classic RX-7 sports car.
The Mazda Taiki is the fourth in a series of concept cars and arguably the most daring-looking of the quartet.
The exterior forges Mazda’s design language further forward with a bold look dominated by covered rear wheels that sit outbound of the body of the vehicle.
The position of the rear wheels looks odd but is said to contribute to the car’s impressively low aerodynamic drag coefficient of 0.25, making it one of the slipperiest cars through the air.
The rear of the Taiki is also narrower than the front, again with the aim of maximising aerodynamic efficiency. Even the wheels and tyres are designed with efficiency in mind.
Mazda says the Taiki “reflects one possible direction for a future generation of Mazda sports cars aimed at helping create a sustainable society”.
Like other Mazda concept cars shown over the last few years, the overall look of the Taiki is inspired by nature, in this case air and wind.
“We wanted the concept car for the [2007] Tokyo motor show to convey both the beauty and power of nature, while also emphasising the importance and the wonderful splendour of our environment,” says chief designer Atsuhikoi Yamada.
Inside, the Taiki is all about minimalist but functional design. The doors open in a scissor shape to make it easier to get in and out.
The lightweight seats are coated in painted leather.
Inside, the Taiki’s colours are split down the centre of the car. The driver sits in a black cabin and the passenger in white.
“It’s a nice piece of sculpture … like yin and yang,” says Mazda general manager, design division, Laurens van der Acker.
Almost as interesting as the overall look is what lies beneath the Taiki’s skin. Under the distinctive bonnet is the next generation of Mazda’s Renesis rotary engine.
Increased in size from 1.3 litres to 1.6, the larger, more powerful rotary engine is codenamed 16X and will eventually replace the RX-8’s 13B engine to boost performance of Mazda's hero car. The rotary 16X has two rotary cylinders and employs a more efficient direct fuel injection system.
Mazda has not yet released output or performance figures for the 16X engine.
The rotary engine is also mated to a new seven-speed double-clutch gearbox.
Mazda has struggled with the performance of its RX-8 automatics and has been developing a twin-clutch system to improve response. Like the Volkswagen DSG system, the Mazda twin-clutch set-up uses one clutch to select one gear and the next to pre-select the next highest gear, ensuring fast, almost seamless gearchanges.
The twin-clutch system is expected to arrive on the RX-8 in the future.
Despite hints of a next-generation sports car and speculation about the revival of the legendary RX-7, Mazda stops short of linking the Taiki to the RX-7.
Mazda's Laurens van den Acker hints there are elements of a 21st-century version of the RX-7 in the Taiki.
“A two-seater sports car is a car we’d very much like to do,” says van den Acker in a guarded way.
Click here to see our comprehensive feature on the 2007 Tokyo motor show.
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