A car loved by veteran enthusiasts who know the rich tuning era
The first generation Mazda Savanna RX-7 sticks out to the old man’s generation who experienced the era of intense tuning. Tuning, now world-acclaimed and proudly Japanese, blossomed and flourished in the early 1980s, just as this car was running as a midnight street racer.
The first Savanna RX-7, the driving force behind RE Amemiya
The RE Amemiya is well known for the RE Amemiya Seven, but the first generation Mazda Savanna RX-7 is one of the most memorable cars for its representative, Mr Amemiya. Looking back at the past, the car created numerous legends during the era of the street Zeroyon (drag race), and was the first car with a rotary engine to exceed 300 km/h at the maximum speed record meeting held at the Japan Automobile Research Institute High-Speed Circuit (commonly known as Yatabe). In other words, the progress of the first generation Savanna RX-7 tune was the driving force behind RE Amemiya and the beacon for the GReddy series that followed.
The numerous records set by RE Amemiya gave the impression that fast cars were cool, and the aero kits made by RE Amemiya, which were rare at the time, became a huge hit with tuning freaks who tried to imitate them. The iconic design of the bonnet, bumper, and rear wing took the world by storm.
The Savanna RX-7 on display at the Tokyo Auto Salon 2024 was a strong shadow of its former self. The shape and arrangement of the air outlets on the bonnet were reminiscent of the machines of yesteryear, and the front bumper had been re-created in a nostalgic shape, with under-panels and other parts added to give it a modern twist. It was not just a car that was full of nostalgia, but one that was packed with the latest technology in its nostalgia.
The exhaust system is put together by Powercraft
Let’s look at the specifications again. First of all, the exterior is interesting, but in an age when wider cars are the norm, the stock-style narrow body is a novelty. It can be said that the Savannah RX-7 has been built to make the most of its originality.
The original aero kit consists of a front bumper, sleek lights, under panels, side steps, rear wing, and aero mirrors. The shape has been finished to retain the “character” and “presence” of those days.
As for the engine, the 12A rotary engine was replaced with a 13B rotary engine. The turbocharged engine was a TD06-25G turbine, RE Amemiya SPL intercooler, and an RX-8 3-layer racing radiator installed. The exhaust system, exhaust manifold and muffler are all made by Powercraft.
The drivetrain has been strengthened in line with the increased power, with the transmission docked to a 6-speed manual transmission for the RX-8 after a minor change, an ORC twin-plate set for the clutch, and a Mazdaspeed differential to give the car more room to run.
Unlike in the past, the standard tuning today is to a specification that allows all-around driving enjoyment. The style that focused on one stage in particular is a distant memory. However, with memories of the past, we want to enjoy the atmosphere of the cars of those days again, albeit with different specifications. The Savannah RX-7 presented to us by RE Amemiya this time seems to have been displayed with this intention in mind.
translated by DeepL