In the UK mag's they have mentioned a lower 187 BHP version of the car several times over the last few months... anyone have any info on that?

I hope they don't do this as it'll just give an excuse to make the real car more expensive!

 

i think that is going to be the automatic tran madel. supposedly they can't find a torque converter that will stay together so they had to detune the engine.
by the way good post about the rx8 section on the other website. i might have to register there as well. they have some good pics which i haven't seen yet. especially those ones with what looks like the design team standing next to the yellow car.and the photoshopped one i am about to post in our photo section.:D

 

I also found this link:-

http://www.fasterfords.com/mazda/

FORD...... Aaaargh, run for the hills! LOL.

 

187 BHP? What are they going to do, rev-limit it at 3k?

---jps

 

ya, they'd probably limit the revs somewhere around 6K i guess, and if this is for the automatic version, i've yet to drive any automatic (no matter HOW hard you try) that'll use the engine above 5K...

but also, i guess they'd just not bother with the 5+6 ports, or just leave all the ports considerably smaller (for waaaay better torque down low...)

 

According to this thread (http://www.rx8forum.com/showthread.php?s=&threadid=573)
if Mazda is limiting HP on the slushbox versions to 190, that must mean the redline is set to 6200 RPM (unless they re-tune the engine to have different HP/torque curves).
That seems a little extreme. There are lots of automatics that can handle 7000 RPM, which would translate to 220 HP. That seems a little more reasonable.
I can understand that 9000 RPM + torque converter can be trouble, but I can't imagine that 7000 RPM would be a problem, especially since the Renesis isn't a torque monster.

 

Hmmm... 4 vs. 6 ports... Lower compression rotors too maybe?

I wonder if this "automatic" engine will turn out to be more turbo friendly than the "manual" engine, just like you will occasionally see with some vehicles in the present and the past. Mazda has a history of doing this too.

---jps