Mazda Furai burnt to a crisp...

[TorqueHappenS08]

"Five years after the beautiful Mazda Furai Concept debuted, Top Gear magazine has finally admitted to accidentally burning it to the ground in a teaser for the 20th anniversary issue – sort of. The magazine provides a photo of the crispy Furai Concept on its website, but has since allegedly revised the announcement to say that Top Gear was on hand for its "untimely demise in 2008."

According to Jalopnik, the original teaser read like this:
"Forgive us, for we have sinned. Top Gear is responsible for the untimely demise of the quite remarkable Mazda Furai Concept, and we're very, very sorry. Find out how (if that picture hasn't clued you in...) in our bumper anniversary issue, and try not to hate us too much."


So can you forgive them? We'll forgive, but not forget, and keep watching Top Gear UK (how couldn't we?). Since it apparently no longer exists, celebrate the gorgeous Furai's former glory and take a look at its photo "

http://www.autoblog.com/2013/09/13/top-gear-cops-to-being-on-hand-for-mazda-furai-concept-car-b-que/

This is why we can't have nice things, rip furai...

 

[sems4arsenal]

STrange how they kept this under raps for so long,also shame how the fire crews responded that late,nice going there.

 

[RDF97]

How did they do it?

Also in season 11 of Top Gear they had on the show and it was p[erfectly fine and they said it was broken. Explain that.

 

[mattythedog]

How did they do it?

Also in season 11 of Top Gear they had on the show and it was perfectly fine and they said it was broken. Explain that.

They didn't specify in the magazine, it caught fire while it was being driven for photos.

And Season 11 was in '08, so the feature for the magazine (and the Furai's unfortunate demise) was done after its TV appearance.

 

[Solo]

Here is the magazine article on it.


Click each image for a larger one for easier reading.

 

[AudiMan2011]

I kind of feel sorry for TG mag because they're going to get a metric-ton of flak for something that wasn't really their fault. If it was a mechanical fault that caused the fire then the rotary fanboys crying "TG is at fault", "TG ruined my favourite concept", are just making something out of nothing.

 

[evanzo7]

Seen this the other day, mental!!

 

[Wolfe]

Thanks for the article Solo. 👍

 

[MoLiEG]

So... the Furai... has been dead FOR 5 YEARS?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!

 

[AzNTypeR]

Wow. Now I know why I haven't seen another review of the Furai.

However, it is a bit sad that Top Gear were the only magazine ever to drive it - and it's dead.

RIP Furai. You will be missed.

 

[Bobert power]

One of the camera men wanted a picture for a backfire from a downshift. Turns out, he got more than expected. A MASSIVE flame shot out and caught the chassis on fire (correct me if i'm wrong).

 

[CodeRedR51]

I already posted this in the rotary thread.

 

[sumbrownkid]

I can imagine the phone call to Mazda not going down well.

 

[Solo]

One of the camera men wanted a picture for a backfire from a downshift. Turns out, he got more than expected. A MASSIVE flame shot out and caught the chassis on fire (correct me if i'm wrong).

Wrong, it's explained in the article that the engine caught fire. Although they were trying to capture images of the exhaust flames at the time it was not due to one of those flames that the fire started.

 

[disinfected]

Whoever was responsible for this was more than likely...


Fired.

 

[GTracer38]

Just had a quick look and found the Top Gear Australia magazine from October 2008 which featured the Furai. It says on the cover;
"WORLD EXLUSIVE! Only The Stig will ever drive Mazda's drop-dead Furai. Who's Jealous now?"

Nothing else related to that was in that article, but I just thought it was interesting.

EDIT: - Image of cover -

 

[Inferno251]

"WORLD EXLUSIVE! Only The Stig will ever drive Mazda's drop-dead Furai. Who's Jealous now?"

Looks like they weren't wrong

 

[LeGeNd-1]

Does this mean we will never see a premium Furai in GT? I sure hope PD can still reconstruct the interior using photos and scale models.

 

[1241Penguin]

Does this mean we will never see a premium Furai in GT? I sure hope PD can still reconstruct the interior using photos and scale models.

No, I'm sure they can get around that problem. The only trouble is that they can't record its engine noise so we won't get to hear its authentic noise in game.

Oh wait that was never gonna happen was it.

 

[Furinkazen]

Such a damn shame

 

[ProjectWHaT]

Do you think Mazda will make a new?

 

[Doodle]

Doubt it.

 

[Inferno251]

Doubt it.

You never know. The Jaguar XJ-13, for example, was restored after it crashed. Maybe in a decade or two someone might be interested in restoring it, I hope...

 

[XS]

I am legitimately sad. For years I've been hoping to see it IRL, somewhere, someday.

 

[Youngun]

Noooo but as a Phoenix, hope it rises from the ashes as a new and improved rotary. Long live the 16x proto.

 

[Keef]

The only trouble is that they can't record its engine noise so we won't get to hear its authentic noise in game. Oh wait that was never gonna happen was it.

There are numerous 3 and 4 rotors around for them to record, and since a rotary of any size sounds just like another it would be simple.

 

[phillgt2002]

Man, those tail-lights will be missed.

 

[SlipZtrEm]

There are numerous 3 and 4 rotors around for them to record, and since a rotary of any size sounds just like another it would be simple.

Not only that, but I'm pretty sure the prototype racer it was built upon still exists in its uglier original shape, so snatching the recording shouldn't be too hard.

 

[adam46]

Not only that, but I'm pretty sure the prototype racer it was built upon still exists in its uglier original shape, so snatching the recording shouldn't be too hard.

Yep, the Courage C65 should be readily available somewhere.

 

[SuperShouden]

R.I.P.

I love that the wing is completely untouched. I bet it's sits in the Mazda design studio somewhere as a tribute.