Rumor: Mazda Working On Next Generation, Forced-Induction RX-7

If you’re an automotive journalist who’s also a gear head, it’s easy to despair over all the news coming from manufacturer’s these days. Like them or not, we’re about to be force fed a steady diet of hybrid automobiles in every shape, size and configuration. Don’t get me wrong, I’m not anti-hybrid; they have their place in commuter cars. I AM anti-hybrid when it comes to building an enthusiast oriented sport sedan. I don’t want the added weight, complexity or cost of a hybrid drivetrain, especially when the increase in fuel mileage is only 10 to 20 percent.

So with that in mind, I really hope the latest rumor about Mazda, as reported on Autoevolution, is true. Sources at Mazda report work on a turbocharged variant of their Renesis rotary motor, for use in a new sports coupe dubbed the RX 9. The best news is that we’ll see the car as soon as 2013, and it appears that Mazda is taking it in the pure-sports-car direction of the last generation RX-7 Turbo.

There are some significant hurdles to overcome, including lowering emissions from the Renesis motor (now out of production in the EU because of stricter environmental regulations) and boosting the Renesis’ dismal fuel economy. Mazda has tricks up their sleeve to address these failings, but they’re not providing many details. An inside source reveals that Mazda is working on electric turbocharging as a way to reduce emissions, which will need to meet even stricter standards in the EU by 2014.

2010 Noble Supercar M600 The British Sports Cars

Here is a new supercar, aimed at the top of the market sector with sensational performance. And it comes from a company with an established record for fast fine-handling cars. That sums up the Noble M600. Noble has released the first images and details of its latest supercar, new M600 supercar. The M600 - built as a purist's car - features very little in the way of Ferrari-like computer control, with the main driver-assist system being a switchable traction control, deactivated via missile-launch-like switch labeled simply 'TC'. There is no ESP, and no anti-lock brakes.

Boasting generic supercar styling, the M600 is powered by a twin-turbo 4.4-liter Volvo V8. While it's odd hearing "Volvo" and "supercar" in the same sentence, the M600 is anything but Volvo-like. Packing 650 bhp, the car accelerates from 0-62 mph in 3.0 seconds, 0-100 mph in around 6.5 seconds, and tops out at 225 mph.

To keep things under control, the driver has a choice of three power levels. At the twist of a dial, outputs of 335kW, 410kW and 485kW are available. At the highest power setting, the M600 develops 820Nm of torque. A six-speed Graziano manual transmission is responsible for delivering power from the twin-turbocharged V8 to the rear wheels.

The M600 designer would like to defy these features of a modern car by turning off computer-assisted controls and the like. The design of M600 is focused on the more “analogue” quality of design that uses the principle of pure engineering integrity from building the chassis up to every tiny detail a car must have. A person who is driving this car definitely deserves to be called a driver in the real sense.

Featuring fixed-rate dampers and steering, along with Alcon brakes - with iron discs and limited servo assistance for increased feedback and ease of modulation - the M600 has been developed with an almost archaic sensibility.

It was established in 1999 by Lee Noble in Barwell, Leicestershire, for producing high-speed sports cars with a rear mid-engine, rear-wheel drive layout. Lee Noble was the chief designer and owner of Noble. He sold the company in August 2006. He resigned from the company in February 2008 and announced his new venture, Fenix Automotive in 2009.

Deliveries to customers are expected mid 2010. With a retail price of GBP200,000 the cost is as mind blowing as its 225 mph top speed.