RCA

Head of the department was Craig Logan, manager of P!nk and former band member of Bros. Mazda Wankel rotary timeline. In 2006 Sony BMG was re-organized, and RCA became one of two main label groups in the United Kingdom.
. This eventually led to RCA's sale to GE and its subsequent break-up. Recently, Mazda has revived the rotary engine in the form of the RX-8, a sport sedan similar to the Mazda Cosmo. Forays into new consumer electronics products, such as the innovative but technologically obsolescent SelectaVision videodisc system, proved money losers. Group B received much of the focus for the first part of the 1980s, but Mazda did manage to place third at the 1985 Acropolis Rally, and the Familia 4WD claimed the victory at Swedish Rally in both 1987 and 1989.

Despite maintaining a high standard of engineering excellence in such fields as broadcast engineering and satellite communications equipment, other businesses such as the NBC radio and television networks declined. The car finished 11th on its debut at the RAC Rally in Wales in 1981. Robert Sarnoff was ousted in a boardroom coup by Anthony Conrad, who then resigned after admitting failing to file income tax returns for six years. The RX-7 even made an appearance in the World Rally Championship. During the 1970s, RCA Corporation, as it was now formally known, became increasingly ossified as a company. Australia's adoption of international Group A regulations, combined with Mazda's reluctance to homologate a Group A RX-7, ended Mazda's active participation in the touring car series at the end of the 1984 season. However, sales of the 8-track tape format peaked in 1974-75 as consumers increasingly favored the compact cassette format. Over a four year span beginning in 1981, Moffat took the Mazda RX-7 to victory in the 1983 Australian Touring Car Championship, as well as a trio of Bathurst 1000 podiums, in 1981 (3rd with Derek Bell), 1983 (second with Yoshima Katayama) and 1984 (third with former motorcycle champion Gregg Hansford).

The eight-track cartridge initially had a huge and profitable impact on the consumer marketplace. Canadian/Australian touring car driver Allan Moffat was instrumental in bringing Mazda into the Australian touring car scene. RCA was a major proponent of the eight-track tape cartridge, which it launched in 1965. TWR's prepared RX-7s also won the British Touring Car Championship in 1980 and 1981, driven by Win Percy. RCA was one of the eight major computer companies (along with IBM, Burroughs, Control Data Corporation, General Electric, Honeywell, Scientific Data Systems and UNIVAC) through most of the 1960s, but abandoned computers in 1971. Mazda had turned the tables on BMW, who had beaten Mazda's Familia Rotary to the podium eleven years earlier at the same event. David Sarnoff died the next year; much of RCA's success died with him. After hours of battling with several BMW 530i and Ford Capri, the RX-7 driven by Pierre Dieudonné and Tom Walkinshaw won the event.

However in 1970, now 79 years old, Sarnoff retired and was succeeded by his son Robert. Three Savanna/RX-7s were entered in 1981 by Tom Walkinshaw Racing. His drive and business acumen led to RCA becoming one of the largest companies in the world, successfully turning it into a conglomerate during the era of their success. The RX-7 also fared well at the Spa 24 Hours race. In many ways the story of RCA is the story of David Sarnoff. The RX-7 has won more IMSA races than any other car model. Despite the company's indisputable leadership in television technology, David Sarnoff in 1955 commented, "Television will never be a medium of entertainment". The RX-7 took the GTO championship ten years in a row from 1982.

Note that due to their rarity and technological significance, RCA Merrill/CT-100 (and other early color television receivers) are highly sought-after collectibles; attic "relics", especially with an RCA emblem, should be assessed by several knowledgeable and trustworthy antique radio or television collectors prior to disposition. The car continued winning, claiming the GTU championship seven years in a row. RCA cameras and studio gear, particularly of the TK-40/41 series, became standard equipment at many American television network affiliates, as RCA CT-100 (external link) ("RCA Merrill" to dealers) television sets introduced color television to the public. That first year, RX-7s placed first and second at the 24 Hours of Daytona, and claimed the GTU series championship. In 1953, RCA's color-TV standard was adopted as the standard for American color TV, the NTSC ("National Television Systems Committee" or "Never Twice the Same Color", depending on RCA/NBC or Westinghouse/CBS affiliation). Mazda began racing RX-7s in the IMSA GTU series in 1979. In 1949, RCA-Victor developed and released the first 45 rpm record to the public, answering CBS/Columbia's 33⅓ rpm "LP". The RX-7 Le Mans effort was replaced by the 717C prototype for 1983.

The "NBC Red" network retained the NBC name, and RCA retained ownership. Those two cars were back for 1982, with one 14th place finish and another DNF. It would become the American Broadcasting Company (ABC) in 1946. That same car did not finish in 1981, along with two more 13B cars. Noble for $8,000,000, and renamed "The Blue Network, Inc". The next year, a 12A-engine car not only qualified, it placed 21st overall. On October 12, 1943, the "NBC Blue" radio network was sold to Life Savers candy magnate Edward J. The first outing for the car, equipped with a 13B engine, failed by less than one second to qualify in 1979.

Antitrust concerns led to the breakup of the NBC radio networks by the FCC, a breakup affirmed by the United States Supreme Court. Racing versions of the first-generation RX-7 were entered at the prestigious 24 hours of Le Mans endurance race. World War II slowed the deployment of television in the US, but RCA began selling television sets almost immediately after the war was over. A later special version, the Bathurst R, was released in 2001. With the introduction of the NTSC standard, the Federal Communications Commission authorized the start of commercial television transmission on July 1, 1941. The formula paid off when the RX-7SP won the title, giving Mazda the winning trophy for a fourth straight year. In 1939, RCA demonstrated an all-electronic television system at the New York World's Fair. It was a serious road going race car that matched their rival Porsche 911RS for the final year Mazda officially entered.

(This was not the first attempt at a commercial long play record format, as Edison Records had marketed a microgroove vertically recorded disc with 20 minutes playing time per side the previous decade; the Edison long playing records were also a commercial failure.). Weight was reduced significantly with the aid of carbon fibre; a lightweight bonnet and seats were used to reduce weight to just 1218 kg (from 1310 kg). The system was withdrawn from the market after about a year. An improved intercooler, exhaust, and modified ECU were also included. The format was a commercial failure at the height of the Great Depression, partially because the records and playback equipment were expensive. Other changes included a race-inspired nose cone, race-proven rear wing, a 120 L fuel tank (as opposed to the 76 L tank in the standard car), a 4.3:1-ratio rear differential, 17 in diameter wheels, larger brake rotors and calipers. These had the standard groove size identical to the contemporary 78rpm records, rather than the "microgroove" used in post-WWII 33⅓ "Long Play" records. The RX-7 SP produced 204 kW (273.6 hp) and 357 Nm (263.3 ft.lbf) of torque, compared to 176 kW (236 hp) and 294 Nm (216.9 ft.lbf) on the standard version.

In 1931, RCA Victor developed and released the first 33⅓ rpm records to the public. An initial run of 25 were made, and later an extra 10 were built by Mazda due to demand. The company also created new techniques for adding sound to film. This model was developed as a homologated road-going version of the race car used in the 12hr endurance race held at Bathurst, New South Wales, beginning in 1991. RCA Victor produced many radio-phonographs. Australia had a special high performance version of the RX-7 in 1995, dubbed the RX-7 SP. With Victor, RCA acquired New World rights to the famous Nipper trademark. The R (R1 in 1993 and R2 in 1994–95) models featured stiffer suspensions, an aerodynamics package, suede seats, and Z-rated tires.

The company then became RCA-Victor. The touring FD had a sunroof and a complex Bose stereo system and Acoustic Wave system in the trunk. In 1929, RCA purchased the Victor Talking Machine Company, then the world's largest manufacturer of phonographs (including the famous "Victrola") and phonograph records (in British English, "gramophone records"). In North America, three models were offered; the "base", the touring, and the R models. By 1926, RCA had grasped the market for commercial radio, and purchased the WEAF and WCAP radio stations and network from AT&T, merged them with RCA's own attempt at networking, the WJZ New York/WRC Washington chain, and formed the National Broadcasting Company (NBC). The continued use of the front-midship engine and drivetrain layout, combined with an equal front-rear weight distribution and low center of gravity made the FD a very competent car at the limits. It also acquired the patents of United Fruit and Westinghouse, in exchange for ownership stakes. Handling in the FD was regarded as world-class, and it is still regarded as being one of the finest handling and best balanced cars of all time.

RCA took over the assets of American Marconi, and was responsible for marketing GE and Westinghouse's radio equipment. The changeover process was incredibly smooth, and provided linear acceleration and a very wide torque curve throughout the entire rev range. RCA's charter required it be mostly American-owned. The first turbocharger provided 10 psi of boost from 1800 rpm, and the 2nd turbocharger was activated at 4000 rpm and also provided 10 psi. David Sarnoff was named General Manager. The 2nd unit was on standby until the upper half of the RPM range during full throttle acceleration. RCA was formed in 1919 as a publicly-held company owned in part by AT&T and GE. The system was comprised of one small turbocharger to provide torque at low RPM.

Congress to entrust in his company, General Electric (GE), together with American Telephone and Telegraph (AT&T), a monopoly of international radio. The sequential twin turbocharged system was a very complex piece of engineering, developed with the aid of Hitachi and previously used on the domestic Cosmo series (JC Cosmo=90–95). Owen Young convinced the U.S. It also made Car and Driver magazine's Ten Best list for 1992 through 1995. The United States Navy tried, but failed, to gain the monopoly for the Navy. The FD RX-7 was Motor Trend's Import Car of the Year for 1993. After the war, many saw radio as a natural monopoly. The 13B-REW was the first-ever mass-produced sequential twin-turbo system to export from Japan, boosting power to 255 hp (190 kW) and finally 280 ps (276 hp, 208 kW, the Japanese manufacturers' gentlemen's agreement on engine power) by the time production ended in Japan in 2002.

The seizure of the assets of British-owned American Marconi by the United States Navy and the cooperation between General Electric, United Fruit and Westinghouse Electric Corporation laid the groundwork for the Radio Corporation of America, RCA. It featured an aerodynamic, futuristic-looking body design (a testament to its near 11 year life span). All production of radio equipment was for the military.
The third and final generation of the RX-7, FD (with FD3S for the JDM and JM1FD for the USA VIN), was an outright, no-compromise sports car by Japanese standards. During World War I the patents of the major companies involved with radio in the United States of America were merged to facilitate the war effort. Overall, the 2nd generation was the most successful for Mazda saleswise, with 86,000 cars finding buyers in 1986 for the USA alone. . This can be attributed to insurance companies penalising turbo cars (thus restricting potential sales).

Due to their popularity during the golden age of radio, their manufacturing quality, their engineering innovations, their styling and their name, RCA antique radios are one of the more sought-after brands of collectible radios. In the Japanese market, only the turbo engine was available; the atmospheric version was allowed only as an export. Although Bertelsmann AG is new to the RCA family (though the creation of Sony BMG is similar to that of EMI more than 70 years earlier), Thomson started as the French subsidiary of a company which later evolved into General Electric. In Japan, the United Kingdom, and other regions outside the US, a turbocharged version of the convertible was available. Thomson eventually bought the RCA trademarks, subject to the perpetual license GE had issued to Sony BMG's predecessor. Despite production ceasing in October 1991, Mazda built a limited run of 500 convertibles for 1992 as "specials" for the domestic market only. Initially, GE continued to control the RCA trademarks (including the rights to the His Master's Voice trademark and known worldwide as HMV, or Nipper, in parts of the Americas), which were then licensed to Thomson and Bertelsmann. In 1987, a convertible version started production in atmospheric and turbocharged form, proving an instant success.

The two companies bought those assets from General Electric, which took over the RCA conglomerate in 1986 and kept RCA's NBC broadcasting interests. The FC RX-7 was Motor Trend's Import Car of the Year for 1986, and the Turbo II was on Car and Driver magazine's Ten Best list for a second time in 1987. RCA, formerly an initialism for the Radio Corporation of America, is now a trademark used by two companies for products descended from that common ancestor:. Though heavier and more isolated than its predecessor, the FC continued to win accolades from the press. Sony BMG Music Entertainment, which owns the RCA Victor and RCA Records record labels it received from one of its owners, BMG. The rear seats were optional in some models of the FC RX-7, but are not commonly found. Thomson SA, which manufactures consumer electronics like RCA-branded televisions, DVD players, video cassette recorders, direct broadcast satellite decoders, camcorders, audio equipment, telephones, and related accessories; and. Disc brakes also became standard, with some models (S4: GXL, GTU, TII, Vert; S5: GTUs, TII, Vert) offering four-piston front brakes.

Steering was firmer, with rack and pinion steering replacing the old recirculating ball steering of the FB. Handling was much improved, with less of the oversteer tendencies of the FB. While the SA22/FB was a purer sports car, the FC tended toward the softer sport-tourer trends of its day. The second generation RX-7 ("FC", VIN begins JM1FC3), still known as the "Savannah RX-7" in Japan, featured a complete restyling reminiscent of the Porsche 944.

In 1983, the RX-7 would appear on Car and Driver magazine's Ten Best list for the first time. In 2004, Sports Car International named this car #7 on its list of Top Sports Cars of the 1970s. Sales were strong, with a total of 474,565 first-generation cars produced; 377,878 were sold in the United States alone. For other countries, Mazda used a turbocharged (but non-intercooled) 12A engine for the top end model.

Additionally, North America was the only market to have offered the 1st generation RX-7 with the fuel injected 13B. The gauge layout and interior styling in the Series 3 was only changed for North American versions. Options and models varied from country to country. Because of the smoothness inherent in the Wankel rotary engine, little vibration or harshness was experienced at high rpm, so a buzzer was fitted to the tachometer to warn the driver when the 7000 rpm redline was approaching.

The 12A engine produced 100 hp (75 kW) @ 6000 rpm, allowing the car to reach speeds of over 120 mph (190 km/h). 12A-powered models accelerated from 0–60 mph in 9.2 s, and turned 0.779 lateral Gs on a skidpad. The handling and acceleration of the car were noted to be of a high calibre for its day. .

In total, 811,634 RX-7s were produced. The RX-7 made Car and Driver magazine's Ten Best list five times. It was offered in America as a two seat coupe, with four seats being optional in Japan, Australia, and other parts of the world. The relatively light Wankel engine was situated slightly behind the front axle.

The RX-7 is a true sports coupe design, as opposed to a sports car like the Triumph TR6 or a saloon with sporting intentions. The RX-7 was a direct replacement for the RX-3 (both were sold in Japan as the Savanna) and subsequently replaced all other Mazda rotary cars with the exception of the Cosmo. It features a unique twin-rotor Wankel rotary engine and a sporty front-midship, rear wheel drive layout, making it well balanced and appropriate for racing. The styling was modeled after the had styling inspired by the Lotus Elan 2+2.

The original RX-7 competed in the affordable sports car segment with the likes of the Datsun/Nissan 280Z. The Mazda RX-7 (also called the Savanna and Efini RX-7) is a sports car that began production in 1978. RotaryEngineIllustrated - animations & info about The RX-7 engine. URL accessed on November 28, 2005..

Edmunds.com. Generations: Mazda RX-7 and RX-8. ISBN 0312694563.. Martin's Press, New York.

The New Mazda RX-7 and Mazda Rotary Engine Sports Cars, St. (1985). Yamaguchi, Jack K. They still command amazing prices on the Japanese used car scene years later.

Dubbed the "Spirit R", they combined all the "extra" features Mazda had used on previous limited-run specials and all sold within days of being announced. Easily the most collectable of all the RX-7's was the last 1500 run-out specials. The effective result made for safer driving for the average buyer. The improved ABS system worked by braking differently on each wheel, allowing the car better turning during braking.

Further upgrades included a new 16-bit ECU and ABS system upgrades. It also featured custom BBS wheels and a custom red racing themed interior. The Type RZ version included all the features of the Type RS, but at a lighter weight. Power was officially claimed as 280 ps (276 hp, 208 kW) (with 330 Nm (243 ft.lbf) of torque) as per the maximum Japanese limit, though realistic power was more likely 220–230 kW (290–308.4 hp).

The top-of-the-line "Type RS" came equipped with a Bilstein suspension and 17" wheels as standard equipment. The rear wing was modified and gained adjustability. The seats, steering wheel, and front and rear lights were all changed. More efficient turbochargers were installed, while improved intercooling and radiator cooling was made possible by a revised frontal area.

Series 8 (January 1999– August 2002) was the final series, and was only available in the Japanese market. Only Japan and Australia received this version. The main difference was an updated ECU allowing for increased boost which netted an extra 10 hp. Series 7 (1996–1998) included minor changes to the car.

In Japan, Mazda sold the Series 6 FD RX-7 through its Efini brand as the Efini RX-7 and then returned it to the Mazda brand for 1996. Series 6 (1992–1995) was exported throughout the world and had the highest sales. The naturally aspirated Series 5 FC made 160 hp (119 kW), while the Series 5 Turbo made 200 hp (149 kW). The Turbo II moniker was dropped, and the turbocharged model was simply dubbed Turbo.

Series 5 (1989–1991) featured updated styling and better engine management, as well as lighter rotors and a higher compression ratio. An optional turbocharged model, known as the the Turbo II, had 189 hp (141 kW). Series 4 (1986–1988) was available with a naturally aspirated, fuel-injected 13B-VDEI producing 146 hp (108 kW). (The S3 RX-7 is the only rotary-engined car to not have a centrally mounted tachometer.) The GSL-SE model (S3 only) had a fuel injected 1.3L 13B-RESI engine, four-lug hubs with a more common bolt pattern in 4X114.3, a clutch-type rear LSD and stronger drivetrain components.

Series 3 (1984–1985) featured an updated lower front fascia and different gauge display layout. Elsewhere in the world, the 1st generation RX-7 kept the SA22C designation. The "FB" designation was only used in North America after the US Department of Transportation mandated 17 digit Vehicle Identification numbers. Series 2 (1981–1983) had wraparound taillights, a 4-wheel disc brakes option and updated engine control components.

Series 1 (1979–1980) is referred to as the "SA22C".