1999 Mazda RX-Evolv - AllCarIndex
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1999
Original name: マツダ RX-エボルブ
RX-EVOLV: The Next Big Thing in Sports Cars
The first sports cars were barely civilized racecars, with only fenders and headlight separating them from the cars on the track. As sports cars evolved over the years, more creature comforts were added - tops, side windows, heaters, air conditioning, and sound systems. Even with this evolution, most sports cars have had only two seats. Until now.
Mazda is proud to introduce the RX-EVOLV, a concept car that promises to be a new species of sports car. The RX-EVOLV is unlike any sports car seen previously - not only is it sleek, with exceptional performance and handling, but it also has four doors and four seats. It is the next big thing in sports car.
Mazda is known and respected worldwide for the creation of products that have responded to the needs and desires of sports car enthusiasts. Over the years, our fundamental aim has been to create cars that are sheer pleasure to drive. Five elements that we believe embody the very essence of a sports car have been jealously guarded and instilled in these cars. They are:
The Mazda RX-7 and the MX-5 Miata are the two latest products that faithfully uphold Mazda's important brand DNA: "Stylish", "Insightful", and "Spirited".
Today, we live in a fast-paced rapidly changing world in which the motoring lifestyles of our customers are also changing. Witness the emergence and increasing popularity of multi-purpose vehicles. We at Mazda are encouraged by the trend and believe that the world of sports cars as we currently view it is about to undergo a major shift.
No longer will a sports car be seen as a means of pleasure for a lone driver (or at most two), but rather as a joy to be shared with family members and friends - - Sports car even kids like. Driven by this view, we have set for ourselves the goal of creating a multitalented sports car, one reflecting the sheer dynamic joy of our philosophy and, at the same time, a vehicle with a unique 4-door body configuration, which will accommodate four people in superb comfort and style.
Mazda has a history of being unique. A prime example is the automobile world's only pure rotational internal combustion engine - the legendary rotary engine. This is an engine that achieved what some described as "Mission Impossible," outright victory in the classic Le Mans 24-hour endurance race for sports racing cars in 1991. The rotary is lighter in mass and more compact than a conventional reciprocating piston engine of comparable power output. And the new RENESIS engine that powers the RX-EVOLV represents a giant stride in rotary engine development. It is even more compact than the current production engine and its immediate predecessor, the MSP-RE concept engine. In its naturally aspirated tune, the RENESIS rotary produces exceptionally high power, 280 PS, revs freely and smoothly to 10,000 rpm and meets Japan's stringent LEV (low emission vehicle) standards in order to respond to the environmental requirements. The RX-EVOLV incorporates an innovative lightweight, rigid body structure and an advanced chassis, that together produce exhilarating sports car dynamics.
The car also offers a number of unique and insightful comfort and convenience features, satisfying the needs of the driver and passengers. Front-hinged front doors and rear-hinged rear doors to allow easy ingress and egress; and ID access cards that control security systems and stores information on each driver's skill, are just two examples of the insightful features.
The unprecedented sculpturing of the body contours and in the cockpit-like cabin completes the Stylish design. We believe Mazda's RX-EVOLV team has successfully met the challenge of creating a 4-door sports car for the New Century.
They have produced a design that is more than capable of transporting Mazda's sports car heritage into the new millennium. We feel confident that we have embodied the DNA elements of Mazda's brand identity - Stylish, Insightful and Spirited - in the RX-EVOLV 4-door sports car, the car we are presenting as the evolution of the sports car for the new millennium.
Distinctive Design
Dynamic Four-door "Sports" Styling for the Next Millennium
Exterior - Mazda's "RX" Design Philosophy
"The most sports-car-like 4-door vehicle in the world" and "An innovative leap into the new millennium" are apt descriptions of the exterior design theme of the RX-EVOLV.
The exterior design theme of the RX-EVOLV provides an innovative leap into the new millennium through the creation of the most sports car-like 4-door car in the world.
Four large wheels and tires, located at each corner of the body, result in ultra-short overhangs, accentuating the visual impact created by the unique sculpturing of the body contours. The shape of the body also expresses the ideal front/rear weight distribution made possible by the use of the compact rotary engine. In addition, the Double Clamshell Hood covering the engine compartment visually focuses attention on the center midship layout of the rotary engine, which is positioned behind the front axle.
Designed as a canopy, the cabin, is visually separated from the body by the shoulder line, creating cockpit-like styling. A twin-bubble Aerowave Roof, reminiscent of the current RX-7, improves airflow over and around the body. The rear quarter pillar and wrap-around rear window increase roof rigidity, highlighting the strength of the wide rear track and low-profile tires. The rear section conveys a sense of the front-engine/rear-drive configuration of this unique sports car, complemented by the wide rear tires, which hint at the car's outstanding traction even when at a standstill.
Up front, extremely-thin Micro-HID (High-Illumination Discharge) lamps are mounted under the aerodynamic wing, providing a bright beam inside the front opening. The rear combination lights include two round lamps (a traditional design element of Mazda sports cars) inside oval lens covers on each side. When illuminated, the small protrusions around the round lamps emit a red light like the afterburners of a jet.
Interior - Sporty and Comfortable
The interior design theme is "Snug-Fit," aimed at creating a pleasant sense of being held comfortably but securely in the cabin and evoking an exciting, sporty feeling the moment any door is opened.
The RX-EVOLV's driver-oriented cockpit is designed so that the driver feels as if he or she is "at one" with the car. Controls, switches and pedals are designed and arranged for quick operation during spirited driving, while large dials are logically located for easy recognition. The most frequently used instruments, such as tachometer, speedometer and shift indicator, are set in the center of the dial cluster. Auxiliary gauges are displayed in the multi-mode display in the center of the instrument panel.
The individual "Lightweight Sports Mesh Seats," provide excellent support and breatheability, for the RX-EVOLV's four occupants. Together with the spacious cabin, these seats provide both privacy and relaxation. During spirited driving, they support the occupants firmly but comfortably, something the RX-EVOLV's designers describe as "comfortable tension," which unites the driver with the car and enhances the pleasure of enthusiastic driving. In addition, the passenger-side rear seat incorporates a built-in, fold-down "Integrated Child Seat" and a detachable "Baby Pad."
Exceptional Functionality
Superb Dynamic Performance and Excellent Packaging for Four Adults
By inheriting a strong dose of a Mazda brand DNA, "Spirited" to the RX-EVOLV next generation Mazda sports car required the inclusion of classic enthusiast attributes such as a front-engine/rear-drive layout, a 50/50 front/rear weight distribution, a lightweight body with agile handling and a low yaw (polar) inertia moment. But these vital features were still insufficient... for the designers also included a comfortable spacious interior as a development goal.
To achieve this objective without compromise, Mazda turned to the newly-developed "RENESIS" rotary engine. The RENESIS plays the same role here as the 13B-REW does in the RX-7 but to an even greater degree. The RENESIS is more compact than the 13BREW and is mounted center midship, low behind the front axle - as opposed to the RX-7's more forward front mid-engine layout.
By widening the front end of the floor tunnel and locating the engine in this area, the front bulkhead can be moved forward. Together with short front and rear overhangs and tires located at the corners of the body, this design results in a roomy cabin with a volume that exceeds that of existing compact sports sedans.
In addition, heavy components, such as the fuel tank, are carefully positioned within the wheelbase, contributing to the 50/50 front/rear weight distribution.
Balancing the stability provided by the long wheelbase with the agility produced by the low yaw moment of inertia, endows the RX-EVOLV with excellent control and never-before-experienced handling stability.
Freestyle Door System for Enhanced Rear Seat Access
The RX-EVOLV employs an innovative "Freestyle Door System" without central pillars, which provides easier access to the rear seats than that offered by conventional sedans.
The large front door features a double-action hinge: first the door extends out and forward, then it rotates to open. The rear doors are rear-hinged and open 90 degrees, creating a wide opening area. This greatly improves entry to and exit from the rear seats, making it much easier to get a child belted in, and to load or unload luggage. An electronic safety lock system prevents a rear door from opening from inside unless the same-side front door is opened.
Advanced Cockpit Technologies and Comfort Features
The RX-EVOLV employs advanced cockpit technologies and comfort features as follows:
- ID Access Card: The ID Access Card is used for locking/unlocking the doors and for starting the engine. Based on personal information stored on the IC chip, this card also controls engine output and actuation of the Active Cornering Brake system as a function of driver skill level. It also allows Internet access and transmission of medical information in case of an emergency.
- Shift Mode Selector: A joystick control mounted on the center console enables the driver to select the shift mode for operating the 6-speed auto-shift manual transmission. There is a choice of two shift modes: clutchless automatic shifting by electronically control actuator; or manual shifting using the wing shift controls in the back of the steering wheel.
- Wing Shift: Wing-shaped selectors set in the back of the steering wheel allow quick shifting during enthusiastic driving without moving the hands from the steering wheel.
- Active Cornering Brake Switch: The steering wheel is equipped with pad switches to actuate the active cornering brake function, which provides advanced cornering capabilities.
- One-Touch Parking Brake: One-touch button operation engages and releases the parking brake by an electrically-activated wire.
- Telemax / Multimedia: The multimedia display set into the center of the instrument panel displays air conditioning, audio system and tele-communication information, together with engine and chassis control information regulated by the ID Card.
- Rear-Seat Slide Mechanism: The rear seats can be slid fore and aft. Sliding the seats to their fully forward position enables the driver or front passenger to more easily reach children or luggage.
- Multi-Zone Super Sound System: 10 ultra-thin speakers integrated into the door trim, pillars and roof trim achieve excellent space efficiency and weight reduction, yet create the sound environment of a concert hall.
Responsive Handling and Performance
The Ultimate Driver-Machine Interface
RENESIS - Super Responsive Rotary Engine for the New Millennium
The RX-EVOLV is equipped with the newly-developed, naturallyaspirated "RENESIS" rotary engine, which revs eagerly to extremely high engine speeds while producing racecar-like power and performance. "RENESIS" stands for "The RE (Rotary Engine)'s GENESIS", or the rotary engine for the new millennium.
The RENESIS engine is improved from the 13B-REW rotary engine used in the RX-7. Refinements include positioning the exhaust and intake ports on the side housing, separate from the rotor housing. This reduces overlap between the opening of the intake and exhaust ports, stabilizing combustion. At the same time, it enables the intake port to be enlarged, increasing engine rotational speeds and power output to levels never-before achieved with a naturally aspirated production rotary engine.
Other refinements, including thinner, lightweight rotors, thicker eccentric shaft, and a 3-port, 3-stage variable intake system, contribute to the engine's maximum power output of 280 PS at 9,000 rpm, maximum torque of 23.0 kg-m at 8,000 rpm and a 10,000 rpm redline.
A new, compact wet-sump oil lubrication system, making use of the unique layout of the output shaft, and a thin oil pan contribute to the engine's lightweight compact design, which allows the engine to be located lower and further to the rear than ever before.
The engine and transmission are unified with a final drive unit connected by a carbon-fiber Power Plant Frame (P.P.F.). This increases rigidity and provides direct, positive shift feel plus linear response to movements of the accelerator pedal.
Lightweight, Highly Rigid Body
The RX-EVOLV's rigid structure suppresses bending and twisting of the body and enhances the performance of the engine and suspension by inhibiting vibration and minimizing noise to provide a supremely quiet driving environment.
The RX-EVOLV's construction without center-pillars features wide door openings.
However, a strong and highly rigid cabin structure is achieved through the use of hydroforming. This is a forming method in which super-high-tensile-strength steel is placed into a form and shaped using hydraulic pressure. In this instance the process begins with steel tubes which are formed into the closed-section structures forming each pillar and in the areas around the roof panel, quarter panels, and the cross members in the roof and floor. Hydroformed tubes are also built into the edges of the doors, which meet in the center of the car. To further reinforce this area of the body, foam material is inserted into the door tubes. When the body is heated during the paint curing process, the foam material expands and hardens further, increasing structural rigidity. Each door is equipped with upper and lower latches for precise, secure location. When closed, the doors overlap the roof reinforcements and side sills for added stiffness and side impact protection.
As a result of its structural reinforcements, the RX-EVOLV's body is as rigid as that of a conventional sedan with a center B pillar.
Never-before-experienced
Chassis Dynamics
The suspension employs double wishbones with aluminum arms and knuckles front and rear. Setting the engine behind the front axle and the fuel tank in front of the rear axle, creates far more usable space for the long suspension arms, enabling optimized geometry and long wheel travel. Electronically-controlled, quick-ratio motorassisted rack-and-pinion power steering, together with a low polar moment of inertia, provide agile and precise vehicle dynamics, despite the long wheelbase.
Ultra-light, highly-rigid, 5-spoke, 20-inch magnesium wheels are matched with low-profile tires featuring an unidirectional asymmetrical pattern based on the wet-weather tires used in Formula 1 racing.
The 19-inch, front and rear ventilated disc brake rotors are made from highly heat-resistant, aluminum-composite materials. Each front brake has a 6-piston caliper, while 4-piston calipers are used at the rear. The braking system also incorporates a 4-wheel Anti-lock Braking System (ABS) and Dynamic Stability Control (DSC).
Active Cornering Brake System for Active Control of the Yawing Moment
An Active Cornering Brake (ACB) system is used to further improve the excellent cornering ability of the vehicle. ACB controls the brake force at each wheel individually, allowing the driver, by pressing a pad switch on the steering wheel spokes, to vary the brake force (and thus the yawing moment) on the inner tires during cornering.This enables the driver to alter the handling characteristics of the vehicle from understeer to neutral to oversteer.
ID Access System to Control Vehicle Performance as a Function of the Driver's Skill
Based on personal information stored on the IC chip, the ID Access System controls engine output and actuation of the Active Cornering Brake system as a function of driver skill level. By regulating the engine management system and the electronic throttle, maximum output and torque are limited to 240 PS at 8,000 rpm and to 21.0 kg-m at 7,000 rpm, respectively. In addition, the transmission's shift schedule in the automatic-shifting mode is controlled to match the engine's power and torque characteristics, resulting in smoother shifting and improved fuel economy. On slippery surfaces the system also modulates the 4W-ABS and the DSC for added stability and security. It even cuts off the ACB when required.
Overall length
4,285 mm
Overall width
1,760 mm
Overall height
1,350 mm
Wheelbase
2,720 mm
Track
front
1,490 mm
rear
1,500 mm
Curb Weight
1,250 kg
Passenger capacity
4
Engine type
Water-cooled, serial, 2-rotor
Displacement
654 cm³ (654 cc) x 2
Maximum output (target)
Expert
206 kW/9,000 rpm (280 PS/9,000 rpm)
Non-expert
177 kW/8,000 rpm (240 PS/8,000 rpm)
Maximum torque (target) Expert
Expert
226 Nm/ 8,000 rpm (23.0 kg-m/8,000 rpm)
Non-expert
Nm/ 7,000 rpm (21.0 kg-m/7,000 rpm)
Transmission
6-speed with auto/manual shift
Steering
Electronically controlled, rack-and-pinion,
motor- assisted power steering
Suspension (front/rear)
Double wishbone
Brakes
front
19-inch Ventilated disc, 6-piston caliper
rear
19-inch Ventilated disc, 4-piston caliper
Tires
front
225/40ZR20 run flat
rear
245/35ZR20 run flat
Advanced Safety and Environmental Considerations
Safety Technologies to Support the RX-EVOLV's Fun-to-Drive Characteristics
The RX-EVOLV incorporates the highest levels of active and passive safety measures to provide all passengers with a feeling of security even when the car is engaged in spirited driving. Active safety includes technical features such as the RX-EVOLV's 4W-ABS and DSC brake systems plus excellent stability and accidentavoidance performance achieved through handling that faithfully reflects the driver's intentions.
The wheels are equipped with sensors to detect the loss of tire pressure - a warning lamp on the instrument panel informing the driver when the pressure falls below a specified level. And the tires are a run-flat design, allowing the driver to continue until the tire can be safely changed. This means that a spare tire is unnecessary, which not only reduces the weight of the car but also provides extra luggage space.
Advanced passive safety measures, including the highly rigid body, Mazda's Advanced Impact-energy Absorption and Distribution System, and the Smart airbags, are designed to minimize the impact of accidents on occupants.
The new, compact RENESIS rotary engine is mounted behind the front axle, creating a large crush zone at the front of the car. Also, setting the engine low reduces pedestrian head injuries in the event of a collision.
RENESIS, an LEV Rotary Engine for the New Millennium
Although it is a high-performance engine, the RENESIS also meets Japanese Low Emission Vehicle (LEV) standards. This is a necessity for any new-millennium power plant. The RENESIS rotary also features improved fuel economy at all speeds, from idling to high-speed operation.
RX-EVOLV, an Environmentally-Friendly Vehiclefor the New Millennium
Environment-friendly recyclable plastic parts are used extensively throughout the vehicle.
SOURCE: Mazda. Please mention www.allcarindex.com if you use this text.
