Mazda’s RX-7 Turns 40!
It’s time to bust out the cake and candles because Mazda’s RX-7 turns 40 this month! With July marking the 40th anniversary of the world famous RX-7, Mazda should be celebrated for how they redesigned how a sports car should look and run over the years. If it were not for the automaker, who knows what sports cars would look like today.
Mazda’s RX-7 first debuted in July of 1979. The automaker was among the few to include a rotary engine in a sports car. Although it was not common for automakers to produce rotary powered sports cars, Mazda popularized this practice.
The first generation RX-7 was designed by Matasaburo Maeda, who leads Mazda’s global design team still to this day! The first generation car had two doors, two seats, a twin rotor engine, and included a five speed manual transmission. The popularity of this performance car grew between 1978 and n1985. Between that time, over 471,000 first generation RX-7’s were produced.
The second generation RX-7 received a completely new look in 1985. To stay competitive among the competition, the RX-7 combined technology with luxury. Not only did tge second generation rotary sports car include passive rear steering, it also included a turbocharged twin rotor engine for the very first time. Additionally, the second generation was the first and last time the RX-7 was offered as a convertible.
The third generation RX-7 lasted from 1992 until 2002. This generation included a twin turbo system that delivered 276 horsepower, making this generation of RX-7’s the fastest one ever. Not only was the third generation the fastest, but it was also the scarcest: only 69,000 were produced.
Mazda has a lot to be proud of- especially this month. The automaker should celebrate how they changed the sports car game throughout three whole generations. For more information on Mazda vehicles for sale, visit us at Mazda of Orland Park! We are proud to be your Orland Park Mazda dealer. Stop in today to see our new and pre-owned Mazda vehicles for sale nearby! Our great Mazda staff will help you find your perfect fit. Happy 40th birthday RX-7, from us and Mazda enthusiasts everywhere.
