web777

Personally, I feel the 350Z and G35 are in a higher league than the RX8.

rotorbrain

wow, i think this is great. . . thats one killer ride, IMO.

the one thing i dont like is that a supercharger kinda limits the owner to chosing pulley sizes and the such. . . instead of upgrading the compressor wheel on a turbocharger, but i understand if mazda is learning from their mistakes with the 3rd gen. . . and the 2nd gen as well. im speaking of longevity, of course.

all in all. . . kudos. . . and i look forward to it.

paul

RamCon

You may feel that, but mags and shows are getting almost the same lap times out of the Rx-8 as the 350Z. I don't like using magazines and shows as the basis for my facts, but untill I get both cars out on a track with me behind the wheel, its all I got

RedX7

The RX-8 is just a test platform for the return of the almighty RX-7!

Falcoms

keep saying that, maybe it'll be true.

I honestly, yet sadly, think that the 7 is dead. I think that if they did anything more with the rotary, it'll be the RX-9. Yet, we can still nurture the hope that there is hope for the 7 yet.

foxman

There should be 3-4 turbo or S/C kits in early 2005 for those who cant wait for MS, if it even happens. The latest is this one.

http://www.rx8club.com/showthread.php?t=44537

EJayCe996

BOOOO! I hope that mazda puts more time into the ROTARY to get more horsepower reliably. 7s and 8s should stay around for a while. Heck maybe rx-8s will be s/c'd rotaries and rx-7s would be turbo'd rotaries... therefore you can take your pick.

CodyHokieFD

yeah i dunno. Somehow i like turbos better than superchargers. Superchargers may help out greatly in the performance department, but its nice also for the added efficiency from a turbo. But then again, I obviously dont work for mazda so............. Still a sweet lookin car

darkphantom

iTrader: (2)

I just hope that pettit doesnt get a hold of it like they did with the stock RX8. Road & Track September 2004.

tried to fix it up and the car ended worse than the stock


If it nots broken dont fix it. "Justin Bell"

darkphantom

iTrader: (2)

the way the Rx8's are going im kinda glad i got a 7 than a 8

rhscare

Supercharger? I hope thats a joke. I guess thats what happens when Ford buys your company out...

formula-mazda

Interesting that they chose a supercharger. After several variations on mapping we were able to pull 250/186 with race mapping at 8250. With minor porting I think that the engine is very capable of going above 300 without forced induction. Unfortunately...we sucked up most of the renesis engine supply for our series and the possablilities of the renesis might have suffered because of it. The tough thing to figure out on the new engine is the APV valve. The top end rocks when it opens up but the midrange has a huge lag....all drivers complained of this at Laguna. It will be quite difficult to map a turbo to compensate for the new valve on the street....me thinks.

DoriSPL

Bah, should be Turbo IMO.

Sanspistons

Hmmm; dunno about this car. I think the body work ricers the clean lines of the stock -8 too much, especially the goofy "sharks teeth" in the grill and the stupid wing. Not so sure about the skirts, either.

As far as superchargers go formula-mazda hit it on the head; midrange and low end is the stock engines down fall; this engine NEEDS a supercharger to feel at least a little more tourqey. After all it IS a four door sedan...!

First time I took a look under the hood of an -8 I saw only one place for a supercharger; AHEAD of the engine mounted "backwards", unless Mazda decides to disappear most of the intake manifold and put in a hood bulge.

Maybe that's exactly what they did....

Sanspistons for future rotary ownership (I hope!)...

SomeGuy_sg

Apv value ? what that ? Where is it located ?

Superrican

It looks like the Viper front now.........cuz of the hood scoop ...... But its nice

Gouki7

hey it looks like they took pics at my old work that structure looks really familiar... =) I know those cable fences anywhere (considering it's in Irvine and I scratched my old cars' bumper on it) That rx8 is pretty nice.

hondahater

iTrader: (2)

I'm not going to take anything this guy says to heart as far as numbers goes because I'm sure, like another poster said, he is being very conservative!

ps. that hood scoop looks bad ***! For stock boost levels the tmic was fine in the second gen rx7. Name one car that you can through any upgraded turbo/supercharger on and expect to keep the stock intercooler?

oh yeah one more thing that wing is the **** as well! Very tastefully done! that side view of it driving is incredible!

formula-mazda

The APV Valve. It is the electronic valve located in the upper intake and poke into the outer irons. The are two cylinders that open at around 6000rpm and up depending on throttle position adding more fuel/air. These valves are the main difference between the older engines and the Renesis. Kinda like a power valve in a two stroke engine. When they are closed the motor makes better low end torque/power. At a certain rpm they open to help the top end ala...variable valved timing.

Crit

iTrader: (6)

They did this in 84 with exhaust backpressure-driven sleeves that rotated in the endplates. It's not new. Any 6-port motor has it. The multipath induction is definietely new, though.

Elevation7

I like it a lot , and it's good to see Mazda is looking for ways for continual improvement.

I also agree though, I think it needs more power somehow. It's got to be able to compete with it's competitors better. 300HP should be Mazda's goal, and they can't lie about their numbers, either.

I think a Mazdaspeed RX-8 should incorporate a 20B Renesis with a Supercharger on it and that goal would be made, and the car would be truly something special.

foxman

Is this with a piggy back controller like Ric Shaw or something?