It will probably be some time before companies start making parts for the car. Should we start emailing AEM, Eiback, Koni, etc. now? It would be nice to see some aftermarket parts out for the car when it comes out. Ok so anyone got any info on who would be a good canidate to work on the Twin Turbo for the RX8?

 

dude, at least test drive the thing first.. i plan on doing no mods whatsoever, possibly tires.. i'd rather learn how to be fast in the car on my own before screwing it up..

 

Keep an eye on Racing Beat for some excellent and expensive mods sometime next year.

 

There will be mods, and I bet they will cost over double what you would pay for FD mods.

To me the car souds like it is going to kick *** stock.

 

I have posted things from quite a few companies that are looking forward to the RX8. So mods arent going to be a problem. They have also said that certain products may be compatible from the FD RX7s. This could mean similar pricing, not double amounts.

 

I highly doubt that I'd mod mine right away.

I've kinda modded my Impreza a lot...and aside from the suspension, I'm wishing I left it alone. Oh well...

 

Word has it that some of the big 3rd gen tuners ie:M2, Pettit, Racing Beat, etc. may get preproduction RX-8s to start developing parts for before the car ships. I would expect to see a few turbo setups and the usually array of intakes and exhausts and what not. I'm looking forward to see what M2 and others can do with the RX-8.

Mike
94' Black Touring

 

So a turbo on the RENESIS would put out what, some 300+HP, add a performance intake and exhaust, and were looking at an easy 330HP

 

My personal goal is 500 Hp, i am looking at lowering the compression to 8:1 or as close as possible, and running 12-15psi intercooled. A nice little diddy of a porting job and someother goodies a cold air intake and proper exhaust, not to mention some weight saving options like carbon fiber hood and a diet.

 

Considering:

a) They tuned the RX-8's Renesis down to 250 hp form 280 hp,

and;

b) They probably only had it tuned down to 280 hp to meet the Japanese regulations that make all of our favorite Japanese imports max out at 280 hp,

it should be pretty easy to top 300 hp without forced induction. Maybe even 330...

 

...yes, but then there's no torque.

When you have a 1.3L engine (even a rotary) putting out 300+ hp, it's all above 8,000RPMs.

Let's throw a twin-turbo on there, and get some nice low-end boost in power

 

My '85 GSL-SE had 122 ft. lbs of torque at the rear wheels (before turbo transplant), which is somewhere near the torque rating of the RX-8 at the flywheel. They are pretty close in weight class as well. I would not consider that wimpy power in the least in a car of that weight.

The increase in torque from modding or freeing up power will be proportional to the hp increase since torque and horsepower are really the same thing , measured differently. If you were to open up an NA Renisis to above 300 hp, the torque would most likely shoot up to around 190 lb.ft. or so. Pretty respectable for a rotary if you ask me. In addition, NA power curves tent to be more flat and less peaky than turbo, meaning that the lower torque will not give you the laggy low power feeling one can get before their turbo(s) spool up.

I will save the turbo fun for the sports car and or the 4th gen RX-7. For the "sporty family car", I prefer the reliability of NA power. :D In any case, I would wait until you drive the car before you go putting a turbo on it.

Personally, I'm interested to know how far the RX-8 can be taken in the power scale

Look around at what other small engine import manufacturers are doing. Less and less factory turbos coming out. A signal of the new market trend in import performance? reliably and without forced induction...

 

i hear ya, but the way I'm thinking is this.

In my 00 Impreza 2.5RS, i have 166lb/ft of torque peaking at 4,000RPMs. That's stock. Hp is 165 @5,500RPM.

Low end on this car is rather nice. Better than the WRX for instance.

Now, with the Rotary, it's not really a matter of how much torque, it's where does it peak? (and how flat is the curve?)

On the stock Renesis, it has about 155lb/ft of torque, but that's at a whopping 7,500RPM. That's just too high for normal every day street use. (not to mention an autoX where I don't like to downshift).

If we strapped a twin turbo on there...the smaller one could engage around 2,800RPMs, therefore giving adequate torque by the time the engine revs to 3,400RPM or so.

Then with a second (and much larger) turbo engaging around 5K or so... well, then that would be a MONSTER of a car

...it's all just wishful thinking. I like a broad powerband, and for that, I guess I'm a typical American

 

Well, a Turbo would only add to this car, I'm tired of the meager 250HP driving experience, esspesialy if I'm going to have 3 friends in the car with me. Given the "reliability" talk of the RENESIS Id love to see how it would perform.

Do know what options Mazda has planned?

 

Don't forget that that 250hp is likely only going to be moving around about 2700lbs worth of car. That's about the weight of you basic RSX Type S or Celica, but with 50-70 more hp. Those cars are not lightening fast, but they're quick, so I would assume that the RX should be pushing the envelope of being termed "fast".

However, fast is different from throw you in the seat torque. I LOVE high revving engines, regardless of lack of torque. Make me feel like a champ driving a race car

That said, I don't know exactly how rotary torque figures can change, but with piston engines, I think there is a pretty definite limit to peak torque. A 2.0L engine will probably never be able to get 170 lb ft without forced induction. The rotary I would guess would act the same way, though I'm no expert.

Lets see.... Speculating on the RX-8:
2700lbs/250hp = 10.8 lbs/hp
3000lbs/250hp = 12 lbs/hp

For comparison:
FD3S 2800lbs/255hp = 11lbs/hp
Other high hp/low torque cars:
Honda S2000: 2800lbs/240hp = 11.6lbs/hp
Acura RSX Type S: 2800lbs/200hp = 14lbs/hp

Other sports/sports cars:
BMW 330i coupe: 3285lbs/225hp = 14.6 lbs/hp

Just remember though, that there is so much more to the driving experience than numbers. The Mazda Miata would likely be classified by us as a relatively slow car, especially as a sports car. However, I would have to say that the most fun driving I have ever had was in a Miata. Speed and grip are not everything

 

Major props to the Jerome man, spoken like a hero. All i have to say is rolling start. All the power is at the high end of the tachometer. Say your rolling down the interstate just cruing in 6th gear, when BAM Honda S2000 pulls up, honks the horn flips you off, down shifts and begins to pull away....you downshift, the engine screams, and you have a race. A good close driver skill testing race.

 

hey, I'm not saying the 8 will be slow by any means. I'm sure it'll go like hell, and it'll be a VERY fun ride...


...I'm just looking for a broader power-curve

as for the power:fun ratio. Look at the Mini. 115hp in the UK, and it's probably they're favorite car to drive. On top of that, it's FWD!

 

very nice race ready car right off the line. dunno if i want to mess with it just yet.

 

Im planning on...

Custom Down Pipe
Ditch the Cats
AEM computer
Air Intake
cleaning out the emissons
taking out the rear seats
taking my Apex Dual N1s for FC and making them fit
Racing Heart CP035 Light weith wheels
changing to Red in the tranny and rear
for starters

when available
coil overs
camber plate
takiko 5 ways
strut tower bars front and rear

Was thinking of Trying
maybe trying a tubro setup
or pulling the motor and porting it abit more
BP or PP if posable


who else got a plan already

 

I refuse to make plans before I have driven the car. Also, since I plan on having one of the first 100 RX-8s in the country, I want my warranty to last at least until I'm sure the recalls and quirks are all taken care of.

 

I too refuse to do any modifications until i drive or own the car, i just plan on keeping it all factory because its going to be my daily driver, maybe i'll do some light mods but nothing serious.

 

yeah I wont mod it till I dirve it home. once it makes it to my house all bets are off. get out the tools and take it apart and strip it down.

 

im going to drive it for a while before i invite the twins in!!!