Why is everyone concerned about horsepower? Handling is this car's strong point. I've always thought of horsepower as a crutch for poor driving skills (unless you're drag racing). The fact that this car can keep up with, and beat in some circumstances, the Z and G35 means that Mazda's doing the right thing. I would be happy with more chassis tuning. In my opinion, horsepower is one of the last things they should be worrying about. I guess the average consumer doesn't care about all of this, oh well.

 

That's very true, especially since the Integra Type R beat the RX-8 in the Best Motoring video with less horsepower. A Lotus Elise would handily beat any of these cars with only 180hp, and a motorcycle with puny horsepower can beat some auto monsters.

 

It's called power-to-weight ratio .

 

I think you missed the point. All the things you mention are examples of good power-to-weight ratios. I do think decreasing the weight of the 8 should be a priority though.

 

An effective way to reduce the weight of the car is to turn the RX-8 into a coupe (4th gen. RX-7?). That may not happen for a long time. I believe the RX-8 fared quite well against these powerful, lightweight cars. If there were a modern version of the FD3S in the mix, I believe it would've at least achieved 2nd place .

 

no not really. the last rx-7s reliably made from 280 up, and the STOCK competitors coming out were at the same level. the rx always weighed the least though, so it always had the better power to weight ratio. horsepower (not torque) has always been a rotary highlight because it offers high hp for low displacement and size. look at the rx-2,3, repu. they were ahead of competitors all along. rx-7 wasnt underpowered, it was at the same level of performance with less power, meaning the rx-7 was more advanced.

 

I would say a larger displacement MSP and/or FI coming soon to the 8, and a 7 coming within 2-3 yrs.

 

A larger displacement for the 8 = even large fuel consumption. Arrghh... this make the H2 look like a Honda Insight!

 

lol, not quite that bad, but yeah MPG could and probably will get worse before it gets better.