First Drive: Mazda RX-8

[N8Magic]

http://www.canadiandriver.com/articles/tw/04rx8.htm

"I put several hundred kilometres on a pre-production RX-8 and it performed flawlessly. On the road, it's a very well-mannered machine and response is "right there" when the time arrives for some spirited driving."

Also of note, the article claims two different engine configurations.

 

[KhoiFather]

:Q

 

[ElFenix]

turbo?

 

[N8Magic]

Originally posted by: ElFenix
turbo?

Unfortunately not.

 

[Dacalo]

nonetheless, what a beauty

 

[Mookow]

Originally posted by: N8Magic

Originally posted by: ElFenix
turbo?

Unfortunately not.

At least... not stock

 

[johneetrash]

mazda has already said they probably wont bring a turbo to the rx-8, at least anytime soon. they havent gone close to the limits of this rotary engine, and they will most likely tune/redesign this engine a lot before they bring in a turbo.

personally, id rather have a 300hp NA engine than a 300hp turbo engine (i think the mazdaspeed rx-8 will have 300hp)

 

[XCLAN]

Originally posted by: johneetrash
mazda has already said they probably wont bring a turbo to the rx-8, at least anytime soon. they havent gone close to the limits of this rotary engine, and they will most likely tune/redesign this engine a lot before they bring in a turbo.

personally, id rather have a 300hp NA engine than a 300hp turbo engine (i think the mazdaspeed rx-8 will have 300hp)

ditto

 

[BatmanNate]

Even if they managed that, it would still be a relatively torqueless car. The addition of a turbo would do wonders for torque.

 

[johneetrash]

The RX-8 is clearly a sports car of great class and a fine successor to the RXs that went before

i dont like this statement.. it's not the successor to the rx7..

<-- cant wait for the next gen rx7

--

i found this in another article.. how do you convert Nm of torque to ft/lbs?

The engine's maximum torque of 220 Nm is achieved at 7500 rpm, but 90% of torque is available from just 3250 rpm.

 

[ElFenix]

Originally posted by: johneetrash
mazda has already said they probably wont bring a turbo to the rx-8, at least anytime soon. they havent gone close to the limits of this rotary engine, and they will most likely tune/redesign this engine a lot before they bring in a turbo.

personally, id rather have a 300hp NA engine than a 300hp turbo engine (i think the mazdaspeed rx-8 will have 300hp)

well, yeah, because you can turbo the NA one and make more power

i was just thinking... the altima is going to have a lot of performance parts, what with all the SE-R tuners and 350Z tuners

 

[Pocatello]

I like it , if only I can afford the monthly payment and insurance...

 

[WinkOsmosis]

Originally posted by: johneetrash
mazda has already said they probably wont bring a turbo to the rx-8, at least anytime soon. they havent gone close to the limits of this rotary engine, and they will most likely tune/redesign this engine a lot before they bring in a turbo.

personally, id rather have a 300hp NA engine than a 300hp turbo engine (i think the mazdaspeed rx-8 will have 300hp)

But the RX-8 engine has all its torque at high revs.. so a turbo would be better most likely.
Edit: Or maybe it just has low torque at all revs.

 

[WinkOsmosis]

Originally posted by: johneetrash

The RX-8 is clearly a sports car of great class and a fine successor to the RXs that went before

i dont like this statement.. it's not the successor to the rx7..

<-- cant wait for the next gen rx7

--

i found this in another article.. how do you convert Nm of torque to ft/lbs?

The engine's maximum torque of 220 Nm is achieved at 7500 rpm, but 90% of torque is available from just 3250 rpm.

I don't know the conversion, but I remember the ft/lb number being ALOT lower than the hp number. Something like 180.

 

[boyRacer]

I saw one on the otherside of the freeway yesterday... :Q ...it was red... and i didn't really get a chance to see it... but all i could say is it looks like how it looks in the magazines. Considering how it no longer has turbos... and they changed the configuration of the exhaust port (can't remeber exactly what they changed)... the rotary shouldn't be a problem now. Still not a replacement for the RX-7 though...

 

[N8Magic]

^^^

 

[StageLeft]

That black one looks awesome.