RotaryNews.Com has been tracking and speculating on Mazda's latest Kabura concept for 3+ years. We first published a story at our website, which speculated on this particular Mazda project, back in February 2003. Then, as now, we were particularly interested in Mazda's engine choice for the concept that was internally dubbed the "Coupe". Our curiosity began to peak in 2002, at the yearly SevenStock Rotary Engine/Enthusiast Vehicle Show, which is sponsored and hosted by Mazda North America Operations at their R&D Studios in Irvine, Ca. The RX-8 was just about to be launched, and Mazda's designers and engineers were already looking for the next big vehicle design. This show had given some of the true rotary car nuts and believers within Mazda a chance to observe and absorb the trends happening within the rotary enthusiast community.

In 2001, SevenStock-4 turned out to be a huge success, but with SevenStock-5 in 2002, Mazda engineers seemed to be on a mission: documenting people's reaction to older classic (1970-1985) Mazda rotary products, especially coupes, as well as the yet to be released RX-8. The row of "old school" RX-2's and RX-3's had an impression not only on attendees, but more importantly, Mazda staff. Many within the company already knew how large a following the RX-3 had, and the effect its "cool" factor had with current young car enthusiast. Rumors had been floating around for a while, but the classic and immaculate rotary powered vehicles at SevenStock seemed to solidify plans for a vehicle design based on the spirit of the classic RX-3 Coupe. RotaryNews.Com heard rumors of preliminary sketches being develop in the weeks before and after the 2002 SevenStock event. It seemed as a lot of ideas and inspirations were actually gathered at the event. Over the next year or so, a persistent stream of rumors and noise on the "Coupe" continued, along with several marketing clinics, for both consumers and industry alike, and the early beginnings of this project seemed to pick up steam within Mazda.

At SevenStock 6, 7, and 8, there again seemed to be a large emphasis in featuring “old school” rotary vehicles. RotaryNews.Com felt that this was no coincidence or mistake, and was actually being done with a purpose. It seemed as if the “old-schoolers” were being emphasized to gauge the reaction for new a product idea, which we now know was code-named the "Coupe"; a car design that was rumored to be a rear wheel drive light-weight rotary rocket. Conceived and based on the spirit of the original 1970’s RX-3. It was around this time that the "Coupe's" business plan began to develop. However, a rotary powered variant seemed to have a cost cloud over its head.

Early rotaries were low-cost compacts, but could the Renesis rotary engine be put into a modern day compact, while still maintaining a low entry level price point (around $18,000)? In the end, we speculate that this financial reality is what kept the Rotary out of the early concept displayed at the North-American-International-Auto-Show in January. All Rotary engines are hand assembled by skill craftsman, in a process that hasn't changed for close to 40 years, and it does not seem realistic to place a new Renesis Rotary into an $18,000 car, and turn a profit.

This rotary engine issue aside, Kabura seems destined for production, and will most likely be released with 2.0 piston power, in what might be called the MX-3. And if there is enough interest in a rotary powered variant from consumers, Mazda might also make the concession to the Wankel in a version called the RX-3. But, there’s still a challenge to Kabura reaching production though, as Mazda has not clearly labeled a winner in its in-house international design competition that has been on-going over the last year+, and given us the SASSOU and SENKU concepts, from Mazda Europe and Japan, respectively. And we might still see another competitor to Kabura in the next few months, as Mazda Japan is rumored to be working on a entry level small car platform at the request of Ford. Ford is looking to bolster its bottom line in the US market with a entry level vehicle, and knows it can leverage Mazda’s engineering expertise to so. The vehicle that emerges from this exercise might also pose a threat to Kabura’s production aspirations.

However, we recently received word from Japan that the word went out from the top of Engineering saying that the Rotary is top priority at Mazda now, and not to be pushed off the side. The message went on to talk about the history of the Rotary at Mazda, and how some wanted to drop the engine all together. The benching of the rotary is to stop, and it is to become a very intergal part of their future strategy.

But as sport compact enthusiast and consumers we can make a difference in getting the Kabura concept into production. We've said it many times at RotaryNews.Com that Mazda listens to enthusiast. If you would like to see the new Kabura Coupe make production with either a low-cost piston version, and or a high powered rotary version, please say so, and let Mazda know! Talk to Mazda, either by posting comments at RotaryNews.Com, or by going to the Mazda USA website (http://www.mazdausa.com/) directly and letting them know that you want this car built. Tell them how much you would be willing to pay for a Production Kabura (call it the RX-3) with a higher powered rotary engine under the hood... or the lower powered Kabura (MX-3) with an economical piston that’s priced accordingly. We need an economical RWD coupe back in the USA!