Mazda RX-7 FD3S

Lore & Background

The RX-7 FD3S arrived in 1992 as Mazda's answer to the growing supercar segment, yet it retained the soul of a driver's car. Its mid-mounted rotary engine sat low and central, giving the FD3S a near-perfect weight distribution that made it feel almost telepathic in corners. In the Forza world, that character translates directly: the car wants to be driven hard, to be leaned into, to be trusted at the limit where lesser machines would step wide.

Mazda's rotary technology is a singular engineering story. Where every other manufacturer in the Forza garage relies on reciprocating pistons, the 13B-REW spins two triangular rotors in a continuous combustion cycle. The result is a power delivery that builds in a long, linear sweep rather than in discrete torque pulses. In Forza's physics, that manifests as a car that feels lighter on the throttle, more progressive in acceleration, and—when the turbos spool—capable of a sudden, violent lurch that catches even experienced players off guard.

The FD3S's place in the Forza community is almost mythic. It is the car that new players discover when they unlock the E class and realise a relatively affordable, characterful machine can out-drive far more expensive supercars in a tight circuit. It is the car that appears in countless fan-made videos, drift compilations, and 'build of the month' showcases. Its discontinuation in 2002 only deepened its legend, and its recurring presence in every major Forza title is a testament to how much the community values it.

In Their Own Story

The rain had stopped, but the tarmac still held a sheen that caught the sodium lights of the coastal circuit. You dropped the FD3S into third, felt the rotors climb past six thousand, and the twin turbos kicked in with a low, guttural shove that pinned you to the seat. The mid-engine weight shifted as you loaded the rear, the car rotating with a grace that felt almost deliberate. Apex. Throttle. The rear slid out just enough, just long enough, and you caught it with a flick of the wrist and a blip of counter-throttle. The rotors screamed at nine thousand, a sound like tearing silk, and you were gone—two car lengths ahead, the rear wing catching the wet air, the whole car singing in a key no V8 or V10 could ever hit.

Reader's Guide

Mazda RX-7 FD3S, 1992–2002, E class. Stock, the FD3S sits around 280 hp with a mid-engine, rear-drive layout and a dry weight in the low 1,200 kg range. Its handling rating is typically in the mid-to-upper 70s, reflecting a car that is genuinely quick through corners but not outright a supercar in a straight line. It is nimble, balanced, and very driver-dependent.

Tuning levers in Forza are broad. On the engine side you can upgrade the turbo system, swap the intake and exhaust, and add rotary-specific components that push output well past 400 hp in a full build. The trade-off is that a heavily turbocharged rotary produces a lot of low-end shove, which can make the car twitchy on the throttle if your suspension isn't dialed to match. Handling-wise, you can upgrade springs, dampers, anti-roll bars, brakes, and tires. Stiffer suspension sharpens the turn-in but reduces grip on bumpy surfaces—critical in Forza Horizon's varied terrain. Weight reduction (removing interior trim, upgrading the exhaust, lighter wheels) helps the power-to-weight ratio but can make the car feel nervous under braking.

Aerodynamic upgrades and a rear wing add downforce for high-speed stability, which matters if you are pushing the car past 300 km/h on a straight. The trade-off is added drag and a slight penalty in low-speed agility.

Build philosophy: treat the FD3S as a driver's tool, not a drag-strip missile—prioritise balance, keep the power in the 320–380 hp band where the car still feels connected, and let the rotors do the talking.

Did You Know?

• The 13B-REW rotary engine is the only production Wankel engine still offered by a major manufacturer in the modern era, making the RX-7 one of the last cars to carry that technology.
• The RX-7 FD3S has appeared in virtually every mainline Forza title released since the series began, making it one of the most consistently present cars in the franchise.
• In Forza's physics, rotary engines produce a smoother, more linear power curve than piston engines, which gives the FD3S a noticeably different throttle feel compared to a similarly powered V6 or V8.
• Mazda discontinued the RX-7 line in 2002, meaning the FD3S is the final chapter of a three-generation sports car lineage that began in 1968 with the original Cosmo Sport rotary.