The newly hatched RX-8 should see only detail near-term updates. But remembering that the last RX-7 had twin turbochargers, don't be surprised if the RX-8 goes turbo at some point. This is strictly our guess, but the new "Renesis" rotary engine is known to be quite amenable to turbocharging. All that's needed is for parent Ford to allocate funds and for Mazda to deliver a turbo option at a reasonable price, admittedly not an easy task. Going out on another limb, we predict RX-8 will eventually offer a heftier automatic transmission, perhaps a 5- or 6-speed unit, so buyers who choose that option will get the same power as the shift-it-yourself crowd.

With Mazda lately edging back to profitability, one British source sees a new two-seat RX-7 coupe and perhaps a convertible by model-year 2006 or '07. Reportedly, project J77, as Mazda calls it, is all but ready for the assembly line. It would use a cut-down version of the RX-8 platform and a larger, 1.6-liter rotary engine with up to 300 hp in normally aspirated form. An more potent supercharged version is said to be in the works. The UK source also predicts edgy styling with strong Audi TT influence and a cloth top for the convertible instead of a folding hard top.