The Mazda Furai Burned To Death In 8 Minutes, Hidden From Help

"Mikeado" (mikeado)
09/11/2013 at 09:51 • Filed to: Mazda Furai, Top Gear

I got my subscriber's copy of TopGear Magazine today, and it's an extra-large 20th Anniversary issue. Naturally, after hearing the tragic news that !!!error: Indecipherable SUB-paragraph formatting!!! in 2008, I immediately flicked through to the explanation. I won't scan or re-type the whole article because you should buy the magazine and I might get in trouble or something, but here are some choice quotes from the three-column article spread out with many tragic pictures I won't put you through the horror of looking at.

!!! UNKNOWN CONTENT TYPE !!!

After The Stig and writer Bill Thomas had done the actual driving and opinionating (Some Say The Stig does so telepathically through a talking dog called Hubert), the camera crew had their turn to play with the stunning concept LMP car. Charlie Turner writes:

" As we've been shooting I've spotted the Furai's central exhaust spitting a thin cone of blue flames on downshifts. It's this I want to capture on our last run. [Mazda factory driver Mark] Ticehurst, duly instructed, heads off at pace, and Lee [Brimble] and I jump into the tracking vehicle and barrel after him, leaving the fire and support crews at the end of the runway. We catch the Furai over the crest of the runway (which rises in the middle) and track it down towards the far end.

As Ticehurst begins to slow for the turn and drops through the gears, things start to go wrong. The Furai is making a noise less Le Mans racer and more... fatally wounded elephant. "That doesn't sound good," mutters Lee.

As the Mazda straightens, Lee and I spot the same small lick of fire deep within the engine bay at the base of the bulkhead. Priceless concept. Flames. Ah.

"FIRE! OH GOD, IT'S ON FIRE!" I state calmly, resisting the urge to panic. Ticehurst can't hear me, so I bury the throttle to try to catch him and warn of the danger. Unsurprisingly, even a wounded, smoking Furai is faster than a people carrier. "

Eventually they get close enough that frantic beeping and headlight flashing grabs Ticehurst's attention. They then shout (calmly) at him that it's on fire and he throws out the anchors, jumping out of the car before it was even stationary.

Where are the fire crew? On the other side of the rise in the runway, completely oblivious...

Mr. Turner promptly thrashes his unnamed MPV up the runway to get them, but they're too late. The car becomes engulfed as the wind blows the flames forwards towards the nose. They eventually get to the car, their hoses blasting shards of charred bodywork off with their force.

" One of the fire crew rips at a door to get better access to the bulkhead. Still burning, it comes off in his hand. At first, I'm annoyed at the disrespect he's showing this priceless, irreplaceable concept car. Then I realise that's like worrying the Titanic's deck chairs are getting damp. "

" From spotting the first flame to staring at the soggy, scorched carcass of one of history's most beautiful concept cars has taken less than eight minutes. The Furai is dead. Dead with shocking speed, savagery and finality. "

Oh, and to clear something up, I've seen a few comments that they put the wrong fuel in it. It seems this is false:

" As the ethanol burns, it's clear the game is up ."

I suppose it's just the result of a racecar with a body designed more for beauty than engine-cooling getting too hot.

DISCUSSION (100)

Nick, Drives a Cobalt LT > Mikeado
09/11/2013 at 09:56

I guess there is some sort of rumor saying the fire happened in 2008....Or something like that?

Not sure, but it is definitely said to see such an impressive concept car go.

Takuro Spirit > Mikeado
09/11/2013 at 09:58

At least the wing appears salvageable.

Kookanoodles > Mikeado
09/11/2013 at 10:04

So it's not really Top Gear's fault, then. Still, it's a damn shame. I hope Mazda builds a new one.

TylerLinner > Mikeado
09/11/2013 at 10:06

I'm sure they could dig up the math and build a new one if they wanted to. The question is where the money would come from.

namesakeone > Mikeado
09/11/2013 at 10:07

Hmmm: From the picture, it looks like the body (and interior) burned off, but the chassis is still intact, and the rims look like they may be salvagable. Could it be possible (assuming that, in the intervening five years, the car wasn't sent to the recycler) that a replacement body and interior (and probably engine) may be fitted?

blackonblack > Mikeado
09/11/2013 at 10:07

Every time this tragedy is mentioned I die a little bit inside

Zuzax > Mikeado
09/11/2013 at 10:08

Where are the fire crew? On the other side of the rise in the runway, completely oblivious...

No radios or cell phones at the Top Gear facility?

Mikeado > Zuzax
09/11/2013 at 10:09

Apparently not, or they didn't have the phone number for any of the fire crew. You'd think there would be walkie talkies involved, unless they were out of range? I don't know...

Mikeado > Takuro Spirit
09/11/2013 at 10:10

Yeah, from the top of the rear wheels backwards it's actually fine in the pictures, as the fire burned forwards in the wind.

Victorious Secret > Mikeado
09/11/2013 at 10:10

If Mazda hasn't built a new one in 5 years, they never will.

RIP Furai.

johnnymossville > Takuro Spirit
09/11/2013 at 10:10

That wing'll look great on a civic.

Mikeado > Victorious Secret
09/11/2013 at 10:11

I reckon you're right, unfortunately...

Julio Libre > Zuzax
09/11/2013 at 10:12

Because of the unique way the BBC is funded...

Casper60 > Mikeado
09/11/2013 at 10:14

Kinja'd!!!

It's all good, they saved the rear wing. Nothing to see here folks!

Victorious Secret > Mikeado
09/11/2013 at 10:14

Its a shame because that was one awesome concept/supercar/because racecar.

Andrew Seifert > Takuro Spirit
09/11/2013 at 10:15

If somebody puts that on a Civic he's getting bitchslapped.

McMike > Mikeado
09/11/2013 at 10:16

"Figure out what material that wing is make out of."

Kinja'd!!!

McMike > Takuro Spirit
09/11/2013 at 10:17

http://oppositelock.jalopnik.com/figure-out-wha…

distractyourself > Nick, Drives a Cobalt LT
09/11/2013 at 10:21

http://japanesenostalgiccar.com/2013/09/10/maz…

promoted by the color red > Mikeado
09/11/2013 at 10:22

Seeing as this thing was built up from an ALMS [LM]P2 car it shouldn't be that hard to rebuild - the question is if Mazda's willing to sink in all those dollars fabricating all new parts. I'm guessing this doesn't have much in the way of parts compatibility with a 3.

Mikeado > promoted by the color red
09/11/2013 at 10:23

Considering it happened 5 years ago, I wouldn't hold out much hope. Unless they do a Kodo-style Furai II, which is also not all that likely IMO.

Nick, Drives a Cobalt LT > distractyourself
09/11/2013 at 10:24

So did they definitely say they destroyed it in 2008?

I remember hearing stuff back then about it maybe was destroyed when it stopped making appearances...

I don't have Top Gear Magazine, so I can't read the article.

SasquatchElvis > Mikeado
09/11/2013 at 10:28

Can we get a whitehouse.gov petition together to force Mazda to build another one?

Kinetis > Mikeado
09/11/2013 at 10:29

"I suppose it's just the result of a racecar with a body designed more for beauty than engine-cooling getting too hot."

I thought the Furai was a fully functioning car sent to tracks to do laps.

Hydrochloric > Nick, Drives a Cobalt LT
09/11/2013 at 10:30

Not a rumor, the mag itself pointed it out. Mazda just didn't want to announce it at the time.

A Gearhead > johnnymossville
09/11/2013 at 10:31

I see what you did there

Nick, Drives a Cobalt LT > Hydrochloric
09/11/2013 at 10:32

For what reason though?

Jenshi > Mikeado
09/11/2013 at 10:33

Kinja'd!!!

Everything burns.

Mikeado > Kinetis
09/11/2013 at 10:33

Granted, it was a full-on working car, but it's primarily a design concept and probably wasn't tested as thoroughly as their actual ALMS car for stuff like this. It's meant for five laps at Laguna Seca with a journo on board rather than repeatedly going flat-out down a runway.

That's my guess, anyway. I could be making it up. They didn't actually state an explicit cause of the fire, just that it happened from deep within the engine.

The Stig's graphic designer cousin > Mikeado
09/11/2013 at 10:33

Weird.

1) Why/how did this remain so quiet for 5 years?

2) Another source said it happened at the 2010 Goodwood Festival and was caused by incorrect fuel being used.

From the pictures, it was obviously on the TG test track, but why wait 5 years? And where did that other info come from?

jamisparker > Kookanoodles
09/11/2013 at 10:37

Consider the source. Even if it was Top Gear's fault I doubt they would say so in their own article.

Hydrochloric > Nick, Drives a Cobalt LT
09/11/2013 at 10:38

Weren't they just announcing the death of the rotary around that time? That's pretty bad juju.

"We can't continue to build rotary cars because no money, sorry guys."

"Oh, PS. The Furai kinda came over all Ferrari. Now it's the FuraiBQ."

I feel like there would be a few confirmed heart-attack deaths of rotards.

Mikeado > The Stig's graphic designer cousin
09/11/2013 at 10:38

1) Mazda kept a lid on it until now.

2) The only Goodwood footage I can find is from 2008. I suppose rumors of a fire may have circulated at some point and got muddled up.

This actually happened at a different runway at RAF Bentwaters in East Anglia, near Ipswich (the TopGear track is at the Dunsfold Aerodrome in Surrey). I've quoted directly from the article in this month's new TopGear magazine.

CobraJoe > The Stig's graphic designer cousin
09/11/2013 at 10:39

I didn't forget about it, it's one of my favorite R2 cars in Forza.

babou > Mikeado
09/11/2013 at 10:40

Kinja'd!!!

Original shape of the donor car

Nick, Drives a Cobalt LT > Hydrochloric
09/11/2013 at 10:42

Maybe use the Furai Death as a symbol for Rotary death.

Mazda could have come out and said "Since the Rotary is a dying engine we decided to burn up the Furai, we are not sorry for this as the engine displeased us and we can't have that happening"

unDEEfined > Mikeado
09/11/2013 at 10:43

This happened 5 years ago???? I didn't even think the concept itself was that old.

ZeFookus > Mikeado
09/11/2013 at 10:44

But think about it, said theoretical Furai II would probably want to go and avenge the death of its family. It would be like the original Furai, except MORE PISSED OFF.

JawzX2, Boost Addict. 1.6t, 2.7tt, 4.2t > Mikeado
09/11/2013 at 10:49

with apologies to QuestionableContent

Kinja'd!!!

Hydrochloric > Nick, Drives a Cobalt LT
09/11/2013 at 10:50

Considering when they announced they were ceasing rotary production they said "we really do want to keep making Wankels and Wankel-powered cars, we just can't afford to right now" and they more or less said it would likely come back in the future, that probably would have gone over pretty badly.

Blunion05 drives a pink S2000 (USER WAS BANNED FOR THIS POST) > Mikeado
09/11/2013 at 10:50

How do the tires always survive?

KillerBee > Mikeado
09/11/2013 at 10:53

Kinja'd!!!

At least the wing was spared from FIERY DEATH.

Nick, Drives a Cobalt LT > Hydrochloric
09/11/2013 at 10:55

Still, I just don't see what reasoning was behind covering up the death of the Furai.

That's just me.

Had they come out right off and said that it happened that'd be alright with me.

Mikeado > Blunion05 drives a pink S2000 (USER WAS BANNED FOR THIS POST)
09/11/2013 at 10:56

Because they're designed for high temperatures, maybe? I'd bet the top surface melted, though.

Hydrochloric > Nick, Drives a Cobalt LT
09/11/2013 at 10:58

Why do you have a problem with it now? It's their concept car, they can do what they like with it. Maybe they knew they weren't going to be able to re-build it, so they didn't want to let people think it was gone? I dunno.

Nick, Drives a Cobalt LT > Hydrochloric
09/11/2013 at 10:59

I just don't like seeing things covered up, it seems dishonest in a way.

Either way it was a Concept, it was theres, they can do whatever.

tduassassin > Mikeado
09/11/2013 at 11:00

Sounds like it was the Mazda factory driver's fault not top gear.

b33g33 > JawzX2, Boost Addict. 1.6t, 2.7tt, 4.2t
09/11/2013 at 11:07

I want this T-Shirt.

Someone make it happen.

300hp30mpgrwdfor30k > Nick, Drives a Cobalt LT
09/11/2013 at 11:10

I agree, but it may have been covered up out of internal Mazda dialogue and decision making rather than just keeping secrets. This was right as the recession was spreading, the RX-8 was wound down, and you know there were some broken hearts about the Furai burning at Mazda who had to decide what to do next. It was probably a state of confusion over there.

freds4hb > Mikeado
09/11/2013 at 11:10

Just sad to see. Got my then 2 year old son the Hot Wheels Furai.

He knew just a few words at the time and Furai was one of them.

It was already gone when he got the car.

Sad.

That thing was simply awesome.

Chairman Kaga > Mikeado
09/11/2013 at 11:10

Furai burned. Scarlett Johansson getting married.

I give up.

Kinja'd!!!

Cherry_man1 > Mikeado
09/11/2013 at 11:11

Wait 2008.....what? are they about to reveal another concept like this and call it project Phoenix or something? Because, they should of salvaged what they could and used it on another car like this.

TwiceAroundTheClock > Mikeado
09/11/2013 at 11:12

Mazda,

Now that your dirty, embarrassing secret is out, it's time to build a Furai Evolution. Fix everything you didn't like about the old one, especially that annoying burning-to-the-ground glitch. Add some custom stitching to the headrest. Hell, give it more LED lighting if you're feeling saucy. But build it, and build it now. That car was the most exciting thing you've done in the last 20 years, and now that everyone knows it's gone you have a chance to make sure nobody has to miss it. It was more than a halo car; it, along with the 787B, were figurehead cars, Royal family-style. Don't give up your Kate Middleton.

Sincerely,

Everyone Who Ever Liked You

CHuber > Mikeado
09/11/2013 at 11:16

My hope: Mazda has built a new Furai/Concept Car and have been waiting for this article to make it debut and gain traction before releasing it to the public. (Now what should I use my other two wishes on?)

DrivesaCorolla > Victorious Secret
09/11/2013 at 11:16

Just came to the same conclusion myself :/

Not quite what I needed to start my day off... need news of Furai successor now.

CelrDwelr > Mikeado
09/11/2013 at 11:18

It's a bit poetic, really. Concept car becomes conceptual art.

Maxis47 > CobraJoe
09/11/2013 at 11:18

Mine too. Repainted it with the Celestial Blue from the MS3...looked stunning

Pessimippopotamus > promoted by the color red
09/11/2013 at 11:21

Let's pitch in and get Mazda a Courage LMP chassis!

JawzX2, Boost Addict. 1.6t, 2.7tt, 4.2t > b33g33
09/11/2013 at 11:31

Done.

http://www.cafepress.com/cp/customize/p…

JawzX2, Boost Addict. 1.6t, 2.7tt, 4.2t > b33g33
09/11/2013 at 11:44

we'll see how long this lasts...

http://www.cafepress.com/jawzx2

Johnnyma45 > Chairman Kaga
09/11/2013 at 11:45

Hollywood marriages are like Redbox rentals, give it a day or two.

therotaryisdeadlonglivetherotary > Mikeado
09/11/2013 at 11:46

Kinja'd!!!

The best ones go so quickly.

jedi4life > Takuro Spirit
09/11/2013 at 11:58

they should make the whole car out of the wing material.

boxrocket > Mikeado
09/11/2013 at 11:59

Kinja'd!!!

The rear looks to be in decent enough shape to be wall mounted. With the lights wired to a switch, of course.

Salmanorguk > Mikeado
09/11/2013 at 12:02

I remember Jalopnik made Pedobear Miata write out lines.

Top Gear needs this done to them immediately.

vdub_nut: scooter snob > Mikeado
09/11/2013 at 12:03

it's possible that walkie talkies don't go through ground, and if the rise was high enough to block sight, it could have blocked transmission.

b33g33 > JawzX2, Boost Addict. 1.6t, 2.7tt, 4.2t
09/11/2013 at 12:22

Awesome! Thanks!

aismo > Mikeado
09/11/2013 at 12:22

I guess the moral of the story is someone at Top Gear should invest $65 in walkie talkies.

Joe Noble > Hydrochloric
09/11/2013 at 12:23

Yes they owned the Furai but to the rotary community it was an icon and loyalty was probably the biggest contributing factor to the success of the rotary powered vehicles. Therefor I feel like they owed it to us to tell the truth.

Goshen, formerly Darkcode > Victorious Secret
09/11/2013 at 12:23

Five words: and what if they have?

Joe Noble > Hydrochloric
09/11/2013 at 12:25

Apple didn't hide or lie about the death of Steve Jobs....

neXib > Mikeado
09/11/2013 at 12:33

Was it ever on the top gear show, or just the mag? Think I'd remember it.

With-a-G is back to not having anything written after his username > Mikeado
09/11/2013 at 12:34

They made the wing out of aircraft-grade black box.

Bakkster, touring car driver > Mikeado
09/11/2013 at 12:35

Well, if the Mazda test driver was in the cockpit, at least that means it wasn't really TG's fault, which must be some small consolation.

Mikeado > neXib
09/11/2013 at 12:37

They had one in the studio. It was going to do a lap but it wasn't working, so they just walked over to it during The News and looked at it for a bit.

Hydrochloric > Joe Noble
09/11/2013 at 12:52

I mean, that's, shall we say, SLIGHTLY different. But I would like to point out Jobs had resigned CEO before he died, and it wasn't exactly hidden that he wasn't always in the best of health.

Is the reason people are upset about this the fact that they seem to think it belies some deeper hidden message or something?

Hydrochloric > Joe Noble
09/11/2013 at 12:54

You believe you're entitled to information about the car solely because you happen to like a unique kind of engine?

Hooker > JawzX2, Boost Addict. 1.6t, 2.7tt, 4.2t
09/11/2013 at 13:00

Can we get one that says, "This is why we can't have nice things."

JawzX2, Boost Addict. 1.6t, 2.7tt, 4.2t > Hooker
09/11/2013 at 13:10

Kinja'd!!!

jaczor > Mikeado
09/11/2013 at 13:18

If this happened in 2008, why are we first hearing/reading about it 5 years later??

JawzX2, Boost Addict. 1.6t, 2.7tt, 4.2t > JawzX2, Boost Addict. 1.6t, 2.7tt, 4.2t
09/11/2013 at 13:20

on black..

http://www.cafepress.com/cp/customize/p…

JawzX2, Boost Addict. 1.6t, 2.7tt, 4.2t > JawzX2, Boost Addict. 1.6t, 2.7tt, 4.2t
09/11/2013 at 13:24

added to the cafepress store...

Mikeado > jaczor
09/11/2013 at 13:34

The text in the picture answers that. Mazda didn't want people to know.

CarBastard > Mikeado
09/11/2013 at 13:42

Someone should give a call to the guys at Abbey Panels. They know a thing or two about bringing back to life inmensely and absurdely gorgeous prototype cars that have been hit by catastrophe. Just ask this handsome Jaaaaaaaaag:

Kinja'd!!!

CarBastard > Mikeado
09/11/2013 at 13:44

Someone please give a call to the guys at Abbey Panels, they know a thing or two about bringing back to life absurdely gorgeous cars that have been struck by catastrophe. Just remember this sweet, amazing Jaaaaaaaaaaaaaaag:

Kinja'd!!!

Trang > CHuber
09/11/2013 at 14:11

Here it is...

(Fade in) (black & white) Scenes of Furai going around Top Gear's track. All you hear is the engine and gear box at first. In car chatter starts up saying the car is on fire. Many cut shots showing the furai burning. Crew standing around burned vehicle (fade to black) "The world lost something good in 2008" (fade to black) "Prepare for greatness Le mans 2014" (fade to black) cue p-ported 4 rotor engine start up and idle followed by a few revs (cue chills worldwide)

Snakeman82 > Mikeado
09/11/2013 at 14:19

I hope the 787b is okay

Minardi Gras > Mikeado
09/11/2013 at 14:26

This is a strange one. It used to be kept at the Mazda museum in Hiroshima and when I went in 2009 and asked about it I was told it had been dismantled. I think I even posted about this on Jalopnik at the time...

Mikeado > Snakeman82
09/11/2013 at 14:33

Actually, by some strange sequence of events, all the 787Bs spontaneously combusted or shat their engines in disgust. There are none left.

Not really.

Mikeado > Minardi Gras
09/11/2013 at 14:34

Interesting. I suppose that's not entirely inaccurate...

NemoDesigns > Mikeado
09/11/2013 at 14:35

Hey Mazda, make a new one...

Hooker > JawzX2, Boost Addict. 1.6t, 2.7tt, 4.2t
09/11/2013 at 14:44

Wait, I can buy it? Oh damn. Is there a limit? I lost my wallet to the ocean this week on vacation and won't have it all sorted out for a week! Do. Want!!! Nice job!

JawzX2, Boost Addict. 1.6t, 2.7tt, 4.2t > Hooker
09/11/2013 at 14:47

I'm putting together cleaner versions and more color/style options in the cafepress store ( http://www.cafepress.com/jawzx2 )