What if Ford took the Mazda RX8, replaced the rotary engine with one of the Zetec 4s or the 3.5L v6 and retrimmed it, and sold it as a Ford?



Maybe it could be a Fusion coupe? New Thunderbird?

 

Now that I think about it, it might be better as a Mercury



A new Cougar?

 

The Ford Probe returns...

 

That's what I was thinking, Return of the Probe.

I had a '94 Probe GT, and loved it. But I love my Mustang more.

 

Well they've bandied around the idea of a Focus Coupe.....

 

I think it looks better as a Ford. Ford Probe II WOOOO!!!!

 

Great another clone

great idea though

are u listening Ford?

 

Or Mazda could keep it, freshen it up a bit, and drop in a version of the MS 3's turbo I4 "MX-8" or something like that. Problem solved.

 

Mazda should just bring back the RX-7 and be done with.

 

+1!

 

+2...

 

EXACTLY

 

well technically ford does have this product, being that ford owns mazda..am i correct?

+1 to the rx-7

 

That's pretty much correct consideering the Ford/Mazda relationship, but I was just thinking, why doesn't Ford take adavantage of having a existing nice RWD platform and get more models out of it for the Ford/Mercury line? The big complaint about the RX7 is that it just rotary engine just doesn't have enough "punch". Adding an existing engine with more torque/hp would make it even better.

Plus, this would give Ford a nice base to build a RWD Cougar from that wouldn't be just a clone of a Mustang.

Also, I wanted to see if I could fix the ugly (imho) RX8 front fascia, which looks like it just sucked on a really sour lemon.

 

Even if you did that, you'd have to keep a rotary version. Ferrari will always have a V12 car, Porsche will always have boxer-engine cars, Mazda will always have rotary-powered cars. Sure, it's got shortcomings, but each generation gets better and it gives Mazda that something different it can claim as its own.

 

What I had in mind when I originally posted took into account the sentiments of others that Mazda should bring back the RX 7. Mazda could/will (depending on rumors) base a possible RX 7 either off of this chassis or a version of the Miata's chassis along with a turbocharged, updated version of the Renesis engine. IMO, the RX (7) series represented Mazda's rotary powered "hard core", no compromises sports car. While cars like the Miata/MX 5 would be Mazda's "softer", fun, yet no less focused sports car. The supposed "MX 8" would be more akin to a Mazda version of a Maserati Quattroporte (gorgeous 4-door, BTW)... or something like that.
In other words, wouldn't mind seeing Mazda producing both - though the RX 8 would be changed/updated in name, appearance, and no longer serve as Mazda's flagship.