Mazda RX-500

Mazda RX-500

RX-500 at Tokyo Motor Show 2009
Overview
Manufacturer Mazda
Production 1970 (concept car)
Body and chassis
Class Racing Car
Layout Rear-engine, rear-wheel-drive layout
Powertrain
Engine 982cc 10A
Dimensions
Wheelbase 2,450 mm (96.5 in)
Length 4,330 mm (170.5 in)
Width 1,720 mm (67.7 in)
Height 1,065 mm (41.9 in)
Kerb weight 850 kg (1,874 lb)

The Mazda RX-500 is a Japanese mid-engined concept car first shown to the public at the 1970 Tokyo Motor Show. It is a two-door sports car, accessed by forward-swinging butterfly-wing doors.

The RX-500 was promoted as a mobile test bed for road safety, including multi-coloured lights at the rear which indicated whether the car was speeding up, braking or cruising.[1]

The car weighed 1,873 lb (850 kg), and was powered by a 982cc twin rotor 10A Wankel engine that was mounted forward of the rear axles, producing 247 hp (184 kW). The engine was accessed via gullwing doors.[2]

The car was restored for the 2009 Tokyo Motor Show[3] and is now on display at Hiroshima City Transportation Museum, and was shown at the Goodwood Festival of Speed in the UK in 2014.[4]

References

  1. "Mazda RX-500 - a Tokyo show star from 1970". Autocar. 2009. Retrieved 17 August 2014.
  2. Johnson, Erik. "2009 Tokyo Auto Show: 1970 Mazda RX500 Concept". caranddriver.com.
  3. Johnson, Erik (21 October 2009). "2009 Tokyo Auto Show: 1970 Mazda RX500 Concept". Car and Driver. Retrieved 17 August 2014.
  4. Wilkins, Adam (24 July 2014). "ONE-OFF MAZDA RX500 MAKES ITS FIRST VISIT TO THE UK". Goodwood. Retrieved 17 August 2014.
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