The company is said to be focusing on a lightweight chassis paired with a new rotary engine, with a price target of $30,000 to fill a niche between the Scion FRS/Subaru BRZ and more expensive alternatives such as the Nissan 370Z and Subaru WRX STI.
Reports circulating in 2012 suggested the car would get a 300-horsepower rotary engine, though the latest sources claim it will likely be a naturally-aspirated 250-pony mill with better fuel economy.
The power discrepancy is likely related to the choice between a two- or three-rotor design. Engineers are said to be already working on the new engine, likely with a two-rotor configuration similar to the RX-8 powerplant.
Earlier reports suggest the new RX-7 will feature an aluminum body to keep the weight around 2800 lbs., sharing the same platform as the next-generation MX-5. Chief designer Ikuo Maeda–son of the original RX-7 design lead–has dismissed the idea of retro styling, without elaborating on any specific details.
The RX-7 isn’t expected to be revealed until after the new Miata arrives on the market in 2015.
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