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I don’t understand why Mazda doesn’t just make a drift-tuned electric car. You could do amazing stuff with software focused on that driving style. A true elect

I don’t understand why Mazda doesn’t just make a drift-tuned electric car. You could do amazing stuff with software focused on that driving style. A true electric successor to the RX-7 would capture so much attention.

HPsquared 2y ago
The unique sound is a key selling point for rotary enthusiasts. Kind of raspy, almost like a 2-stroke.
- mikestew 2y ago
  Kind of raspy, almost like a 2-stroke. That's not what the TV commercials from the 70s told me: "Piston engine goes 'boing, boing, boing, boing'" "But the Mazda goes 'hmmmmmmm'" (Oh, of course there's a YouTube video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oHzeGEHWMjo https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oHzeGEHWMjo)
porphyra 2y ago
Sports cars, in general, are much loved but seldom bought.
- kjkjadksj 2y ago
  You’d think its a different time now that the kids who grew up lusting over these cars now have money for one, enough money to create a new car market where even a pickup truck can be almost six figures optioned out
  - porphyra 2y ago
    Yeah but by the time you're able to afford one you will be married with kids and therefore prioritize practicality over drifting.
- Prcmaker 2y ago
  I'm literally waiting for it, have been for quite a while. Small cars have numerous benefits over just being sporty. An electric, or even a hybrid 86/BRZ or miata would be great, but can't be compared to the mini or fiat, and while tesla might be fast, it's huge. Even with a price increase these could be more affordable than a lot of sports cars. The 86/BRZ has been a huge seller too.
  - dkjaudyeqooe 2y ago
    The EV market is so frustrating right now. Everything seems to more or less be an SUV. I wish someone would deliver something small, light, aerodynamic, stripped down and without features of marginal utility. Sportiness sort of comes for free. The only important features for an EV are (excluding safety issues) are change speed and range. I might add a heat pump for the cabin (and battery in cold climes). Skip the screen and just let me use my phone and give me physical controls. If a car marker thought seriously for a moment and resisted the full techno wank that is inflicted upon us at the moment, they'd make a lot of money. It's a car, it's not that complicated, get back to basics.
  - PaulDavisThe1st 2y ago
    I'm not really that interested in cars. We drive a Honda Fit (Jazz for the rest of the world). I was really excited 8+ years ago when Honda said they might do an EV version of the Fit/Jazz - just perfect for my wife and I, combining the great utility of the Fit/Jazz with our preferred power source, all in a reasonable sized and reasonably slick package (incredibly internal visibility also). Not only has this not happened, Honda have even stopped selling the ICE version of the Fit in the USA. The closest thing to this concept - the Nissan Leaf - has also been discontinued in the N. American marketplace. Truly pathetic.
  - lagadu 2y ago
    The MG Cyberster is coming out pretty soon, also the electric Cayman, though it's a completely different price bracket.
ggreer 2y ago
Several reasons. First, like most of the Japanese manufacturers, Mazda bet against electric vehicles. They focused R&D on improving engine efficiency and getting their engines to run on hydrogen. If Mazda wants to make electric vehicles now, they have to play catch-up, or license key technologies from other manufacturers. Second, batteries are heavy. For sedans and mid-size crossovers, this isn't much of a problem. EVs of that class are about the same weight as combustion vehicles. But for a lightweight sports car with decent range, batteries would be a big chunk of the total weight. Tesla's 85kWh battery weighs around 1,200lbs. If your desired weight is 2,500lbs, that only leaves 1,300lbs for the actual car. Yes you can save some weight by making the battery part of the structure, and you don't need an exhaust system, engine block, alternator, intake, etc, but it's still a tough set of constraints to work within. Why do customers want sports cars to be light? Well all else equal, a lighter vehicle will have better performance. But even when all else isn't equal, vehicle weight can drastically affect driving enjoyment. I have a 4,048lb Model 3 Performance and a 2,182lb Mazda Miata. In terms of specs, the Model 3 is better in every way. It can accelerate, brake, and turn better than the Miata. It even has more range than the Miata. But the Model 3 feels like it's using brute force to beat inertia into submission. (Don't get me wrong, that can be fun.) The Miata is the opposite. Its light weight means that there's very little inertia to overcome, and something about that is extremely satisfying. It's almost like having a street legal go-kart. Until battery technology improves, an electric version just won't have the same appeal.
- lostlogin 2y ago
  Going with this theme, the idea of a battery car with longer range is appealing to me. However a smaller battery but quick charging would mostly remove the need. I’m not sure I want to drive around with a capacitor in the boot, but a huge battery isn’t ideal either.
  - gambiting 2y ago
    That's the whole thing right - most people don't actually care about having 600 miles of range, they care about being able to "refuel" quickly. My Mercedes AMG would only do like 200 miles on a tank of fuel and I don't ever recall having any kind of range anxiety with it, because you could gain all of it back within like 5 minutes and keep going.
ksec 2y ago
>A true electric successor to the RX-7 would capture so much attention. Not entirely sure that would be the case even with a Red Sun label on it.
- busterarm 2y ago
  As someone who owns a white turbo fc, sans stickers, I would be interested.

HPsquared 2y ago

The unique sound is a key selling point for rotary enthusiasts. Kind of raspy, almost like a 2-stroke.

mikestew 2y ago
Kind of raspy, almost like a 2-stroke. That's not what the TV commercials from the 70s told me: "Piston engine goes 'boing, boing, boing, boing'" "But the Mazda goes 'hmmmmmmm'" (Oh, of course there's a YouTube video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oHzeGEHWMjo https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oHzeGEHWMjo)

porphyra 2y ago

Sports cars, in general, are much loved but seldom bought.

kjkjadksj 2y ago
You’d think its a different time now that the kids who grew up lusting over these cars now have money for one, enough money to create a new car market where even a pickup truck can be almost six figures optioned out
- porphyra 2y ago
  Yeah but by the time you're able to afford one you will be married with kids and therefore prioritize practicality over drifting.
Prcmaker 2y ago
I'm literally waiting for it, have been for quite a while. Small cars have numerous benefits over just being sporty. An electric, or even a hybrid 86/BRZ or miata would be great, but can't be compared to the mini or fiat, and while tesla might be fast, it's huge. Even with a price increase these could be more affordable than a lot of sports cars. The 86/BRZ has been a huge seller too.
- dkjaudyeqooe 2y ago
  The EV market is so frustrating right now. Everything seems to more or less be an SUV. I wish someone would deliver something small, light, aerodynamic, stripped down and without features of marginal utility. Sportiness sort of comes for free. The only important features for an EV are (excluding safety issues) are change speed and range. I might add a heat pump for the cabin (and battery in cold climes). Skip the screen and just let me use my phone and give me physical controls. If a car marker thought seriously for a moment and resisted the full techno wank that is inflicted upon us at the moment, they'd make a lot of money. It's a car, it's not that complicated, get back to basics.
- PaulDavisThe1st 2y ago
  I'm not really that interested in cars. We drive a Honda Fit (Jazz for the rest of the world). I was really excited 8+ years ago when Honda said they might do an EV version of the Fit/Jazz - just perfect for my wife and I, combining the great utility of the Fit/Jazz with our preferred power source, all in a reasonable sized and reasonably slick package (incredibly internal visibility also). Not only has this not happened, Honda have even stopped selling the ICE version of the Fit in the USA. The closest thing to this concept - the Nissan Leaf - has also been discontinued in the N. American marketplace. Truly pathetic.
- lagadu 2y ago
  The MG Cyberster is coming out pretty soon, also the electric Cayman, though it's a completely different price bracket.

ggreer 2y ago

Several reasons. First, like most of the Japanese manufacturers, Mazda bet against electric vehicles. They focused R&D on improving engine efficiency and getting their engines to run on hydrogen. If Mazda wants to make electric vehicles now, they have to play catch-up, or license key technologies from other manufacturers. Second, batteries are heavy. For sedans and mid-size crossovers, this isn't much of a problem. EVs of that class are about the same weight as combustion vehicles. But for a lightweight sports car with decent range, batteries would be a big chunk of the total weight. Tesla's 85kWh battery weighs around 1,200lbs. If your desired weight is 2,500lbs, that only leaves 1,300lbs for the actual car. Yes you can save some weight by making the battery part of the structure, and you don't need an exhaust system, engine block, alternator, intake, etc, but it's still a tough set of constraints to work within. Why do customers want sports cars to be light? Well all else equal, a lighter vehicle will have better performance. But even when all else isn't equal, vehicle weight can drastically affect driving enjoyment. I have a 4,048lb Model 3 Performance and a 2,182lb Mazda Miata. In terms of specs, the Model 3 is better in every way. It can accelerate, brake, and turn better than the Miata. It even has more range than the Miata. But the Model 3 feels like it's using brute force to beat inertia into submission. (Don't get me wrong, that can be fun.) The Miata is the opposite. Its light weight means that there's very little inertia to overcome, and something about that is extremely satisfying. It's almost like having a street legal go-kart. Until battery technology improves, an electric version just won't have the same appeal.

lostlogin 2y ago
Going with this theme, the idea of a battery car with longer range is appealing to me. However a smaller battery but quick charging would mostly remove the need. I’m not sure I want to drive around with a capacitor in the boot, but a huge battery isn’t ideal either.
- gambiting 2y ago
  That's the whole thing right - most people don't actually care about having 600 miles of range, they care about being able to "refuel" quickly. My Mercedes AMG would only do like 200 miles on a tank of fuel and I don't ever recall having any kind of range anxiety with it, because you could gain all of it back within like 5 minutes and keep going.

ksec 2y ago

>A true electric successor to the RX-7 would capture so much attention. Not entirely sure that would be the case even with a Red Sun label on it.

busterarm 2y ago
As someone who owns a white turbo fc, sans stickers, I would be interested.