Mazda Furai

[Devinda_Z]

Price as tested: £350,000 (est)

Engine: 3.0-litre triple rotor

Power: 450bhp

0-60mph: 3.7 seconds (est)

Top speed: 180mph

Transmission: Six-speed sequential, rear-wheel drive

Kerbweight: 1,200kg (est)

Standard equipment: Carbon brakes, biofuel-compatible engine, sequential gearbox, carbon fibre bodywork, slick tyres, adjustable aerodynamics

The Furai (Japanese for 'sound of wind') concept is based on the 2005 Courage C65 chassis, an LMP2-class entry in the American Le Mans Series.

Powered by a mid-mounted, three-rotor Mazda 20B rotary engine fueled by E100 ethanol, the Furai generates around 450 horsepower. As expected, it's rapid. Even without its aerodynamic front splitter (a measure to prevent damage to this one-off showcar), the cornering grip is substantial, while even earplugs can't control the crescendo of sound from the rotary engine. Bach kept things tidy and clean in the corners, as the Furai we're sharing is the same one that will occupy the stage at the Detroit auto show.

The Furai sounds sensational at full cry. As we exited Turn 11 onto the main straight with the sound of the rotary exhaust reverberating off the concrete pit wall, the effect was not of a lone car, but instead an entire field of endurance racers. With the Furai, Mazda is suggesting that this aural deception will soon become a reality as it moves to join Acura and Porsche in an assault on the 24 Hours of Le Mans.

Named after the Japanese phrase for “the sound of the wind”, the two-seat Furai was built by Mazda engineers from a list of dream parts. This included cutting-edge components and materials from the world of motorsport, and one of the most famous engines in the company’s history.

The team started with the chassis. Rather than adapting a road car platform, Mazda chose a carbon composite item built by French endurance racing firm Courage. This had previously been used to race in the American Le Mans Series (ALMS).

At nearly two metres wide and four metres long, the structure was also the perfect place to mount a very special 450bhp rotary engine. It was inspired by the same unit seen in Mazda’s own Le Mans 24 Hours-winning 787B race car, and was built using parts similar to those found in the roadgoing RX-8 coupé.

But there’s no preparing you for the results. In the metal, the car looks out of this world. The Furai packs a huge visual punch just standing still and, sitting only a metre high, you have to crouch down to see inside. Climbing aboard is tricky, too. Although the scissor doors open wide, the cockpit is snug to say the very least – especially for two occupants!

Behind the wheel, our chauffeur awaits. And after wriggling through the door, we are shoulder-to-shoulder with racer Jamie Bach, ALMS driver of the Courage that donated the chassis on which the Furai is based. There’s only time for a brief hello before we blast off.

As we pull away, the clutch is pressed once, which helps the engine engage the sequential gearbox’s first ratio. After this, changes are made by operating the steering wheel-mounted paddleshifters – and they come like gun shots as we race to the 9,000rpm red line. At low speeds, the engine sounds more like a helicopter at take-off than a highly tuned rotary powerplant. But as our pace builds, the gruff note turns into the high-pitched whine of a fighter jet engine.

Out on the test track, we hit 100mph before the first big corner. The carbon brakes are pressed and we drop down from fifth to second, peeling into a tight bend. Forces build to an amazing 2G as we fire back out on to the following straight and race up through the gears to a staggering 160mph. “The hardest thing is to get it going,” says Bach, “and the carbon brakes need getting used to; they bite nearly twice as hard as conventional steel items. But it’s a responsive, fast, and well balanced car to drive.”

It takes a minute to climb out, and as we do, we can’t help but wonder what the car – undoubtedly impressive on the track – would be like to drive on the road. That’s clearly a question Mazda has asked itself, too. As our test session comes to an end, it becomes obvious that there’s more to the Furai than looks and speed alone – those outrageous curves and advanced features are a strong hint about the company’s future models, too.

Source : Isaac Hernandez, AUTOEXPRESS

[Devinda_Z]

[Devinda_Z]

[Devinda_Z]

[madmax]

And now for the Autolanka exclusive pictures of the Mazda Furai courtesy of yours truly..

Edited May 21, 2008 by madmax

[Devinda_Z]

And now for the Autolanka exclusive pictures of the Mazda Furai courtesy of yours truly..

i take it its a stunner in real life?!

[mazdaspeed]

i take it its a stunner in real life?!

Thanks Dav for sharing the info

Well what can I say...... ahhhhhhhh

Proud to me a MAZDA enthusiast.... way to go

[GuruG]

Thanks Dav for sharing the info

Well what can I say...... ahhhhhhhh

Proud to me a MAZDA enthusiast.... way to go

She always takes my breath away no matter how many time I see her.

[Ripper]

DZ

whoah...now you're talking mate thanks for sharing

[N@visport]

Awesome post..

The Furai is a thing of beauty...and listen to how it sounds...just like an F1 car!Check it out on Youtube.

sigh...lovely piece of design...

[KLM]

Awesome post..

The Furai is a thing of beauty...and listen to how it sounds...just like an F1 car!Check it out on Youtube.

sigh...lovely piece of design...

Do this guys, seriously. Watch the video of the car at Laguna Seca and turn the volume up. Phenomenal engine note.

[MasterDon]

it does remind one of their last LM racer which won the event in 91,sounds the same as well...awesome

but I think the actual race car will have more conservative looks...

btw guys does mazda have special connection with laguna seca? I noticed that most of their cars are being tested there.

Edited October 25, 2008 by HelRazor

[KLM]

HelRazor, Mazda own the title rights to the track and it is officially known as 'Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca', hence the testing there. Similarly, Infineon Raceway used to be known as Sears Point, a far better name IMHO.