Reliving the Glory Days of Japanese Sports Cars with the Mazda RX-7 on Ignition

Although 1995 marked the last year of the Mazda RX-7 in the U.S., the rotary-powered sports car remained on sale in Japan until 2002. The last 1500 models built were called the Mazda RX-7 Spirit R. On this episode of Ignition, Carlos Lago drives the only left-hand drive RX-7 Spirit R ever built.

This particular RX-7 Spirit R, a Spec A model, features the most hardcore factory-installed parts available including Recaro seats, rear seat delete (available on Japanese models), adjustable rear wing, forged BBS wheels, Bilstein shocks, and drilled brake rotors. The RX-7’s twin-turbo 1.3-liter twin-rotary engine was designed during the Japanese 276-hp pact that limited sports cars’ power levels. Lago says the horsepower limit forced automakers to focus on the overall package, leading to sharper inputs and lighter weight, plus improved handling.

The RX-7’s rotary featured a pair of sequential turbochargers: the first for the lower half of the rev band and the other for the upper half. Power deliver is smooth, but at about 4500 rpm the second turbocharger takes over, which could be dangerous mid-corner in a car without traction or stability control systems.

After spending some seat time in the Mazda RX-7 Spirit R, Lago compares the discontinued sports car with the driving experience of the modern MX-5 Miata, recently discontinued RX-8 as well as the new Scion FR-S and Subaru BRZ twins. Get Lago’s thoughts on the Mazda RX-7 Spirit R in the video below.

Source : wot[dot]motortrend[dot]com