I agree - while I know they were trying to increase sales, putting in a back seat and door added weight, opposite of what the low-torque Wankel needed.
Speaking of which, it looks like it migh be the end of the road for the Mazda rotary. Not surprising, can you imagine how much money they have to spend developing that engine, for the very small volume of production?
That was my thought as well. I don't think the limited production is a problem as Mazda could have used the engine in other vehicles, but reliability and emissions weren't ever string suits from my understanding.
Actually, I've read that the Wankel is pretty darn reliable.
It's the thirst for oil that gave it the sour reception with cars like the RX-8. That, coupled with measely torque and a rev-happy nature (which I love btw) and the RX-8 had a limited audience unfortunately. That engine in anything other than the lightweigth quasi-coupe would have been a sales bomb IMO.
They could have used it on the Miata which would have rocked, big time, but I think it was a combination of cost, production availability and just the Miata's history of traditional engines that kept that from happening.
Yikes - is that ever an ugly car. Seems to have been the inspiration for some of the more recent design stinkers.
MODERATOR /ADMINISTRATOR Find me at kirstie_h@edmunds.com - or send a private message by clicking on my name. 2015 Kia Soul, 2021 Subaru Forester (kirstie_h), 2024 GMC Sierra 1500 (mr. kirstie_h) Review your vehicle
At least it's ugly for good reasons; low price, large capacity for the size, all-terrain capability, etc. The more recent ones just seem to be styling malfunctions.
2009 BMW 335i, 2003 Corvette cnv. (RIP 2001 Jaguar XK8 cnv and 1985 MB 380SE [the best of the lot])
I went to the Indycar race at Loudon and saw several cars we don't see much of in Cow Hampshire.
-Audi R8 Coupe, the first I've seen darkish, gray metallic with charcoal "sail". Eye catching but not pretty enough for the money they want; make mine a Spider.
-Maserati Quattroportes, two different one gray,one black.
-Fiat 500, dark gray, cute, a little bigger than I expected.
-BMW 535i (F10) Black, very good-looking. They fixed the styling but word is messed up the steering. What a shame.
I think everything has been bumped up a size to make room for the 1er, exactly. The F11 Touring I drove in Germany was a pretty big car, and the 7er now can really be a boat.
I'm a rag top kind of guy, but you miss out on the carbon fiber blades on the side, which sort of make that car. The Spider just looks like a long wheelbase TT.
a little bigger than I expected
I'm sure the new 500 dwarfs the old one, but it's still a light compact this day and age.
A 550i xDrive has a twin turbo V8, plus AWD and probably other upgraded components to handle all that power. If it had 100 HP like a Miata, they would weigh about the same. :P
2024 Ford F-150 STX, 2023 Ford Explorer ST, 91 Mustang GT vert
Finally spotted two in the wild. Around Ottawa the other day. They were cruising the freeway in moderate traffic and the drivers seemed comfortable enough dealing with the trucks and tourists. One was a business vehicle with logos plastered all over it.
I spotted my first one not on a dealer lot a couple of weeks ago at, of all places, the autoX. I took a peek inside and it seems the backseat is more usable than I would have thought.
'11 GMC Sierra 1500; '98 Alfa 156 2.0TS; '08 Maser QP; '67 Coronet R/T; '13 Fiat 500c; '20 S90 T6; '22 MB Sprinter 2500 4x4 diesel; '97 Suzuki R Wagon; '96 Opel Astra; '11 Mini Cooper S
The difference was 80 lbs ... not significant. Reviews showed no measurable change in 0-60, plus all the weight is low and over the rear axle. Top it off, the PRHT model has the highest spring rates in the lineup.
80 lbs is the difference between before and after the all-u-can-eat buffet at Phillips Seafood. LOL
I was interested in the X1 too. I know it has been delayed due to lack of supply (they can barely keep up with Euro demand) capacity.
one of the car mags last month said it was delayed until at least next spring. At this point, might as well wait for the next model update, and build it in S.C. too!
Thanks for the info. Do they plan to bring over the X1? I'd like to see if the headroom is decent. I thought about the 128i, but I don't fit. Course, I imagine the NA 6 would no longer be an option. Too bad...
Today I saw both a new style Cayenne and an X6 on a car carrier. The douchiness emanating from that rig was almost enough to make me vomit. I wonder who will be taking delivery of those classy and tasteful chariots.
Saw the new Murano Cross Cabrio yesterday. Being driven by an older woman turning into a country club. I have to think that's the EXACT target market...high seating, nice interior, still convertible, etc. Surprisingly, it looked better than I expected in black.
He owns the store... Maxima isn't pretentious enough for her, GT-R is way too out there, she damages big SUVs so a hideous Armada is a no-go... so the 4 ton cabrio is the winner. I hope I see one soon.
I kind of like the idea of them. Had to park the minivan on a rocky road today and walk an extra kilometer to get to the trailhead. My oil pan looks like Gaddafi's face.
Hard to do a canoe rack though - Wranglers are about the only ones I know of that have a decent rack available (aftermarket I suppose).
I sort of like the idea of a do-everything, AWD open-top crossover, also, but the execution left a bit to be desired, and the price is looney-tunes high.
They should have made it an Infiniti. At least you wouldn't balk at a $47k starter price.
I'd just get the Wrangler Unlimited. Two of them for that price. Or maybe a 4 door and a 2 door.
Comments
Still think the RX-8 never had the same soul.
I agree - while I know they were trying to increase sales, putting in a back seat and door added weight, opposite of what the low-torque Wankel needed.
Speaking of which, it looks like it migh be the end of the road for the Mazda rotary. Not surprising, can you imagine how much money they have to spend developing that engine, for the very small volume of production?
It's the thirst for oil that gave it the sour reception with cars like the RX-8. That, coupled with measely torque and a rev-happy nature (which I love btw) and the RX-8 had a limited audience unfortunately. That engine in anything other than the lightweigth quasi-coupe would have been a sales bomb IMO.
They could have used it on the Miata which would have rocked, big time, but I think it was a combination of cost, production availability and just the Miata's history of traditional engines that kept that from happening.
My goodness. Didn't your mama tell you "If you can't say something nice....etc". :P
'11 GMC Sierra 1500; '98 Alfa 156 2.0TS; '08 Maser QP; '67 Coronet R/T; '13 Fiat 500c; '20 S90 T6; '22 MB Sprinter 2500 4x4 diesel; '97 Suzuki R Wagon; '96 Opel Astra; '11 Mini Cooper S
MODERATOR /ADMINISTRATOR
Find me at kirstie_h@edmunds.com - or send a private message by clicking on my name.
2015 Kia Soul, 2021 Subaru Forester (kirstie_h), 2024 GMC Sierra 1500 (mr. kirstie_h)
Review your vehicle
At least it's ugly for good reasons; low price, large capacity for the size, all-terrain capability, etc. The more recent ones just seem to be styling malfunctions.
2009 BMW 335i, 2003 Corvette cnv. (RIP 2001 Jaguar XK8 cnv and 1985 MB 380SE [the best of the lot])
I got a left over 2008 Miata mostly to avoid the 2009's ugly grin.
They've gotten big, boy have they ever. Positively dwarfs my Miata.
3814 lbs per Edmunds on a 528i. 4519 lbs (!) for a 550i xDrive, yikes that's bloated.
Seems like they're slotting the 3 where the 5 used to be, and I guess the 1 takes over where the 3 used to be.
-Audi R8 Coupe, the first I've seen darkish, gray metallic with charcoal "sail". Eye catching but not pretty enough for the money they want; make mine a Spider.
-Maserati Quattroportes, two different one gray,one black.
-Fiat 500, dark gray, cute, a little bigger than I expected.
-BMW 535i (F10) Black, very good-looking. They fixed the styling but word is messed up the steering. What a shame.
2001 BMW 330ci/E46, 2008 BMW 335i conv/E93
Today's odd new sighting, Saleen SSC
I'm a rag top kind of guy, but you miss out on the carbon fiber blades on the side, which sort of make that car. The Spider just looks like a long wheelbase TT.
a little bigger than I expected
I'm sure the new 500 dwarfs the old one, but it's still a light compact this day and age.
If it had 100 HP like a Miata, they would weigh about the same. :P
I spotted my first one not on a dealer lot a couple of weeks ago at, of all places, the autoX. I took a peek inside and it seems the backseat is more usable than I would have thought.
'11 GMC Sierra 1500; '98 Alfa 156 2.0TS; '08 Maser QP; '67 Coronet R/T; '13 Fiat 500c; '20 S90 T6; '22 MB Sprinter 2500 4x4 diesel; '97 Suzuki R Wagon; '96 Opel Astra; '11 Mini Cooper S
Bloat is rampant.
Don't throw stones. :P
80 lbs is the difference between before and after the all-u-can-eat buffet at Phillips Seafood. LOL
http://townhall-talk.edmunds.com/direct/view/.f18e3de/44#MSG44
No regrets.
Odd, but even though I know it is bigger, it looks smaller (by a lot) to me. I would be interested to see it side by side with a gen 1 model.
2020 Acura RDX tech SH-AWD, 2023 Maverick hybrid Lariat luxury package.
It is a much nicer looking package, I think..
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They seem so close in size...
one of the car mags last month said it was delayed until at least next spring. At this point, might as well wait for the next model update, and build it in S.C. too!
2020 Acura RDX tech SH-AWD, 2023 Maverick hybrid Lariat luxury package.
Per Edmunds the new X3 sizes:
# Width: 74.1 in.
# Height: 65.4 in.
# Length: 183.0 in.
# Wheel base: 110.5 in.
Wow, that wheelbase stands out to me, that's quite lengthy!
Per Consumer's Guide (not Reports, they are not related), the X1:
Wheelbase: 108.7 inches
Length: 175.4 inches
Width: 70.8 inches
Height: 60.8 inches
Also a long wheelbase, less than 2" difference, wow. It is about 8" shorter, probably more suited for tight U-turns in European streets.
Width varies more than the wheelbase does, LOL. I'm sure they made it narrow for Europe's narrow roads. It's also not nearly as tall.
I bet the X3 does actually feel roomier inside, with all that height and width, but for practical purposes the X1 really isn't that much smaller.
I do think we'll eventually see the X1, sure. Audi is brining a Q3 for those who feel the Q5 is too big (no one).
Basically I've seen a few cars that were not the new BMW X3.
Also a new Focus yesterday.
25 NX 450h+ / 24 Sienna Plat AWD / 23 Civic Type-R / 21 Boxster GTS 4.0 / 03 Montero Ltd
Can't believe they sold one...must be a dealer's wife
I wonder who the poor [non-permissible content removed] paying for the X6 or Cayenne will be?
So they exist, but none have sold yet.
Hard to do a canoe rack though - Wranglers are about the only ones I know of that have a decent rack available (aftermarket I suppose).
25 NX 450h+ / 24 Sienna Plat AWD / 23 Civic Type-R / 21 Boxster GTS 4.0 / 03 Montero Ltd
Bit odd - our decade old Mountain Hardware tent has a moonroof in it but neither of our cars do.
They should have made it an Infiniti. At least you wouldn't balk at a $47k starter price.
I'd just get the Wrangler Unlimited. Two of them for that price. Or maybe a 4 door and a 2 door.