Wankel fans will rejoice at Mazda’s planned introductions during the North American International Auto Show next month. A funky new Furai concept takes the Nagare design language to a more realistic car and runs on E100. The revised RX-8 will also be shown.

Furai recognizes the number of Mazda vehicles that are raced on any given weekend in the U.S. The concept is built on a Courage C65 chassis that was designed for ALMS racing. It is powered by a 450 horsepower three-rotor engine. The concept is designed to be eco-friendly and bridge the gap between street cars and race cars at the same time. We’ll bring you more information and images once press days for the Detroit Show kick off next month.

(Click through for Mazda’s official press release.)

Mazda Furai Concept and New Mazda RX-8 to Make World Debut at 2008 North American International Auto Show

HIROSHIMA, Japan, December 12, 2007—Mazda Motor Corporation will showcase the world premieres of the Mazda Furai concept vehicle and the heavily revised new Mazda RX-8 sports car at the 2008 North American International Auto Show (NAIAS), to be held in Detroit from Sunday, January 13 through Sunday, January 27, 2008. On the heels of its show-stopping debut at the 2007 Tokyo Motor Show in October, the Mazda Taiki concept vehicle also will make its North American debut, the first time it has been shown outside Japan. Additionally, Mazda will have a special display of racecars on its stand during the press days, and the full lineup of production cars for consumers to sample on the public days.

All attending media are invited to the company’s formal unveiling on the Mazda show stand, scheduled at 13:45 p.m. on Monday, January 14, 2008.

Mazda Furai –‘Sound of the wind'

Inspired by the fact that, on any given weekend, there are more Mazdas and Mazda-powered cars road-raced in the United States than any other brand, the Mazda Furai is the sort of car that could only come from a company that incorporates the “Soul of a Sports Car