Brett Hillam and Eddie Tse were the first to write about the goings on at the Sydney Motor Show 2002. First up NEWSmotoring has this snippit: "MAZDA plans to revive the fabled RX-7 sports car. A halo brand for Mazda since 1978, the RX-7 was shelved in the early 1990s."

MAZDA plans to revive the fabled RX-7 sports car. A halo brand for Mazda since 1978, the RX-7 was shelved in the early 1990s.

The chance of bringing back the famous coupé in an all-new form has long been denied by Mazda but key platform personnel say the RX-7 is set to make a comeback along with an all-new MX-5 within two years.

It is said to be an evolution of the show car that Mazda displayed at the Tokyo Motor show in 1995.

The RX-7 and MX-5 will be off the RX-8 platform with the courageous new sports car family realising the next stage of Mazda's revival plan that was sketched in 1999.

The RX-8 set to be launched in Australia in late May next year, is already geared up for an open-top version. And in another bombshell, Mazda is said to be secretly developing ways to expand the capacity of its rotary engine.

Tricking up the rotary is a major breakthrough as the engine has essentially remained the same with, and without, turbo power since its inception on the Cosmo Sport in 1967.

Mazda powertrain managers have ruled out the chance of turbocharging the RX-8 RENESIS rotary engine but admit they are looking at ways of increasing capacity of the 1300cc two-rotor engine, bringing more naturally aspirated power to the lightweight unit.

There is also a chance that the new MX-5 could have its piston engine replaced with the RENESIS, making Mazda's sports car family an all-rotary affair.

Mazda have not officially declared that the RX-7 program is to go ahead, however, insiders with the Hiroshima manufacturer claim the car is well advanced and could be unveiled publicly as early as the Detroit Motor Show in January.

Platform and powertrain engineers are passionate about the possible revival of the coupé.

Some were said to have wanted a two-door born before the RX-8.

The RX-8 is an unusual four-door design with the two rear openings more in the mould of suicide doors which are rear hinged and open only when the front doors are open.

Final Australian specifications are yet to be confirmed for the RX-8 but it is almost certain it will come with a choice of two engine power levels and a choice of a manual and Activematic automatic transmission.

The Activematic has tip shift capability, a la Mazda6, and could have steering wheel mounted paddle shifts.