D Car — July 2004
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About this issue
246 available scans from D Car — July 2004, in right-to-left reading order. Japanese OCR and English translation drafts are available throughout. Drafts have not received exhaustive image proofreading; unreadable source remains recorded in the archival data.
Page 102 — English draft translation
The switches for the instrument panel and other controls are angled toward the driver, reinforcing the sporty atmosphere. A large tachometer sits in the center of the instrument panel, with the speedometer beside it—an unmistakably sports-car layout for the RX-7. Recaro and leather seats were offered on some grades, but the basic interior design remained unchanged through the end of production.
Captions and page details
6/10/2004
Interior
The interior design is tight and purposeful, with a cockpit-like feel. The cabin is so compact that a roof opening would be needed to provide more headroom—an arrangement unique to a sports car. Deep bucket seats provide excellent lateral support, holding the driver firmly on a circuit or mountain road.
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A tight, sporty cockpit
All the instruments are arranged for the driver. The steering wheel initially carried the Anfini logo, later gained an airbag, and on the final model—as shown here—wore the Mazda logo.
Semi-bucket seats that hold the driver securely during spirited driving came standard. Leather was offered on some grades. Standard seating is 2+2 for four people, though some special editions seat only two.
The four-speed automatic selector has a gun-grip shape.
The five-speed manual has a shift layout that makes heel-and-toe operation easy. The short-throw shifter allows quick gear changes with a flick of the wrist. For weight reduction, the accelerator pedal is resin, while the brake and clutch pedals are aluminum.
Some special editions came with Recaro seats and Nardi steering wheels. The final Spirit R Type A, shown here, was equipped with red Recaro full bucket seats.
Mechanism
The RX-7 earned recognition as a top-class sports car in large part because of its low weight. Along with an aluminum hood and pedals, it used aluminum suspension components to reduce weight. Many other ideas were also applied, with small savings adding up to a power-to-weight ratio below 5.0 kg/ps.
Aluminum construction.
The engine is mounted behind the front axle in a front-midship position. A space-frame monocoque body provides high rigidity. The suspension uses aluminum double wishbones at all four corners.
Comprehensive weight reduction
Low weight is the FD’s greatest weapon.
type
The body grew larger, and side-impact beams were added to improve safety—factors that normally add weight. That Mazda created a body that was actually lighter despite these changes is significant. The relentless pursuit of low weight sharpened the responsive rotary engine’s performance even further.
Specifications shown are for the final models.
Type R / RS
Key specifications
Type RB (4-speed automatic)
13B-REW
Type RB (5-speed manual)
Water-cooled inline twin-rotor engine with intercooler-equipped turbochargers
Engine type
Engine code
255/6500
654 × 2
265/6500
280/6500
Displacement (cc)
Maximum output (ps/rpm)
30.0/5000
Premium
32.0/5000
Fuel
Maximum torque
225/50-16
R255/40-17
F235/45-17
Tire size
The RE remained the same compact 13B two-rotor design used from the FC generation. One turbo operates at low speed; a sequential twin-turbo setup brings in both at higher speeds.
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