From my thread in the Aussie forum:

Can now back this up. The 40th Anniversary RX-8 will be manufactured in December for Jan 2008 sales in Australia.

The next generation (not next series) RX-8 will be available in showrooms in May (April production). I've been told it will be an all new car. It's not just new bumpers and new wheels.

There is no detail at all on the tech specs. The bulletin given to dealers about this new RX-8 was released on 13th Sept 2007.

 

I imagine Mazda will lift the lid on this new RX-8 at the Tokyo Motor Show.

It opens on the 26th October 2007.

 

Is this real?

 

Have you ever known me to bullshit you?

 

gomez: my camera will be taking pics of everything at SS X

 

No hard feelings, i trust you. This is ultra unexpected, im shocked. I still can't believe it.

 

There will have to be something there....they've done a bloody good job of hiding it so far.

 

Most likely for the next generation RX8 they will have a 13B DI Direct injection rotary together with a hybrid electric motor to get it moving faster and hopefully more efficiently

Cheers
Michael

 

Unless it's been right under our nose the whole time, cunningly disguised as a three seat piston-driven car...

 

Although the prospect of the market not been flooded with RX-8's anymore suits most of us, until I see it in writing the jury is still out.

I'm not even sure Mazda know their next move yet....

 

Um, something tells me they do Trev.

 

Well, the CX-7 bore a very close relationship to the Crossport.

If the second gen RX-8 turned out to be the Kabura, I for one wouldn't be too upset.

 

we're supposed to trust a self-proclaimed shifty bastard? looks interesting.. but dont they usually release info a bit sooner? I dont really follow all the info as far as when it gets released and when the car hits the road, but seems like half a year is pretty short. Will definitely be good to see what happens though

 

Hrm. And what happens to the resale value of the current gen RX-8?

 

Don't trust me....unleash your own spies!!

 

They are keeping their secret under good wraps then!

 

You don't need me to answer that question.

 

Need? Nah. I really hope it's not the Kabura. I still want the utility of the large interior space and 4 seats...

 

I'm tipping there'll be 4 seats in a stretched Kabura-esque shape - the 3 seat thing was just a concept (and blind).

Ah, speculation. It costs nothing and is endless fun, hahaha...

 

But ASH said the rotary would not come back again. That's a different statement.

 

YES I did...this was from a local dealer service manager (Australian Motors where I once worked) who had just come back from a service managers meeting hosted by Mazda Australia...the head mechanic said his boss said that Mazda were going to stop (abandon) the rotary..."because of engine reliability issue???"

I personally was in disbelief, but this could mean the current "RENESIS" design, but as I have said before the RENESIS exhaust structure was done to improve HP emissions and fuel consumption.
IMO it would be impossible to revert back to the old system, so what can they do now, nothing in my opinion.

My thoughts...IF we see the Rotary continue it will be a "improved" RENESIS, that is the only design they can use.

Will we see an ALL new RX-8, NO... It would be a face lifted/tail light change/interior change version, the body shell (freestyle doors) as we know it still has some years left in it...at least till 2012.

I still believe we will see something at the Tokyo Motor Show, an all new car never seen before is due, or you will have to wait 2 years till the next TMS in 2009.

The Kabura as a Rotary, ?? I think there is still a chance, Mazda have done this before, surprised us with a rotary.

BUT ALL THIS is speculation by me, we have to remember that Europe are toughening up emission regulations, if Mazda can not halve (approximately) the Rotaries CO2 then it is a no show.

I just do not know how Mazda are going to achieve this.

A 1.6L Engine...IMO NO, it will use more fuel and there is again emissions.

 

Having said all that by me above....

Gomez is on the money most of the time...an ALL new RX-8 would be a REAL Surprise..
I am trying to recall any Mazda model that has only been in production for 5 years with a complete redesign, it is not normal for Mazda.

 

Whether it's a Kabura with or without a rotary or a new RX7, I don't care. Whatever the next rotary will be is what I want to speculate on here. I don't know anything about emissions but I'll take your word on it with regard to a 1.6. I also think a 1.6 isn't going to boost the HP sufficiently to compete in a 2010 world with more high HP cars than we've ever seen before (btw what kind of HP can a 1.6 rotary be expected to get?).

This is why, with regard to the info that Zoom44 cited in another thread, I'm going to put my money on a direct-injection rotary with Honda-type hybrid. The other possibility stated in that article that Zoom44 cited was a turbo that is electrically assisted, but I'm going to guess that Mazda will not do the turbo. The reason is because Mazda has always surprised the public, even back in the early 90's with a 1.8 L V6, the world's smallest V6, which was put into the MX3. Also, turbos and rotaries don't seem to coincide with the idea of longevity. Finally, a turbo is too obvious, and Mazda doesn't seem to do the obvious.

My hunch is that direct injection alone would increase the HP a bit AND maintain the mpg at about 22 mpg, or about the same as the present Renesis. A Honda type battery, then, would get us to or a little under the 300 HP mark while increasing low rpm torque and increasing mpg to possible 25 to 28 mpg. A 1.6 direct injection rotary with battery would get even better HP of course and I bet it could stay around 25 mpg, which would be acceptable. Could future emissions requirements be met with direct injection, Ash?

I could be completely wrong, of course, but because Mazda doesn't tend to do the obvious, I'm placing my bets on a Honda-type battery combined with a 1.3 or 1.6 rotary and direct injection.

 

What resale value? It never had any to begin with.

 

The detail given to the dealers was scant.

The next RX-8 was described (and I quote) as a "new model" RX-8. That would make it the FF, I suppose.