Just came back from SevenStock 5 at Mazda R & D. The VP of Mazda North America said that the RX-8 will be priced at $26000 base to $31000.

Thought you guys would like the good news.

 

Good news. (Hope they stick to it!) Was anything said about what comes with either version of the car?

 

How does that structure work? 26k for the Manual, 31k for an auto?

*is confused*

I want info!

 

If I can get the car under 30k, I'll be a VERY VERY happy camper.

I want everything though, just no navigation, no automatic. Everything else I must have

 

What will their "sportiest" varient of the RX-8 cost? I don't need nav. system, no automatic, and nothing else frivelous. Just a sporty version---please top out at ~28k

 

The VP of Mazda North America gave a few details

1. the RX8 will weigh less than 3000 lbs

2. Standard 18 x 8 wheels

3. 12.8" brake rotors front and 11.8 rear

4. .9 laterial acceleration

5. carbon fiber drive shaft

6. Mazdaspeed version - about 300 hp :D

He wouldn't gave the 0 - 60 time

 

Did he indicate the mazdaspeed would come out about the same time as the regular RX8?

 

You taking notes, rpm?

 

Hee hee, I know I would be taking notes! I hope the Mazdaspeed version doesn't take to long to be released. I'm surprised he mentioned 300hp, did he add if it's n/a or turbo?

 

The MPS version is going to make me sick with envy.

All I want is nav, manual, and xenons for their wide beam pattern.

That's all. I could care less about power seats, leather, sunroof, hydraulic hood mounts, auto climate control... I want it as light and as spartan as I can stand. :p

 

I wonder how that VP knew about that? I thought they would launch the base RX-8 first and introduce a Mazdaspeed version much later. I wouldn't think it would make much business sense to introduce them at the same time. What makes sense is let the hype of the RX-8 die down a little bit after the introduction and then introduce a Mazdaspeed version. Just as was done with the Protege---that took, what, 2 years to introduce? And how does Mazdaspeed start (or even complete) tuning of the RX-8, as the VP of Mazda USA suggests, while it is still supposedly in its R&D phase and the bugs are still being worked out?

 

If 31k makes the RX-8 a MazdaSpeed.. sign me up

 

I wonder how that VP knew about that? Maybe because he's the VP and maybe because the director of Mazdaspeed North America was standing off to one side.

He never mentioned when the Mazdaspeed version was coming out.

If I remember correctly he did say xenon lights were going to be standard.

A question of price gouging by dealers was thrown out and his reply was they’d take care of that. Will see!!!

 

There is a God! Thank you for that wonderful news.

 

I would be a very happy man indeed if Xenon are standard.

rpm: when the VP mentioned 18" wheels were standard, what version of the car was he talking about? We've all seen the pics of the 16" wheels floating around.

 

I doubt that the Mazdaspeed version was inlcuded in that price range...

I might have to wait for the Mazdaspeed version, depending.

As far as taking two years after the Protege' release before a Mazdaspeed version was released, you forgot that Mazda has only recently made their deal with Mazdaspeed. In other words, there was no deal with Mazdaspeed in place to produce the Mazdaspeed version when the Protege' came out.

---jps
(How many times can I put Mazdaspeed inna post?)

 

I'm sure it's on the manual version.. it's already quite known that the auto will feature the 16s.

 

Yes, I know about the auto + 16" wheels combo, but I really think its a strong possibility that Mazda will offer a base version of the 8 with 16" wheels and a 5 speed (or perhaps the 6-speed we've all seen). It would be keeping in line with how Mazda has been marketing its other sports car, the Miata. On the Miata, the (2003) packages are as such:

Base version: 15" alloy wheels, 5 speed manual, etc. Auto transmission IS available.
Sport package: 6-speed stick, 16" Alloy Wheels, 205/45R16 Tires, Sport Suspension including Bilstein Shocks, Strut Tower Bar, and LSD. Auto tranmission NOT available.
Leather package: Leather Interior, Nardi Leather Shift ****, Tan Convertible Top, 6-speed manual, ABS, LSD (not available on AT models), BOSE audio sound system (includes AM/FM radio, CD, with 4 speakers and speed sensing auto volume control), foldable wind blocker with storage pocket, 16" Alloy Wheels, 205/45R16, Keyless Entry and Strut Tower Bar. Auto transmission IS available.

Based on this type of option packaging, which may or may not be a fair assumption, the RX-8 versions would be as follows:

Base version, $26000: 190 HP, 16" alloy wheels, 5 (possibly 6) speed manual*. Auto transmission available for an extra $800 or so. May or may not have a LSD. Will have enough creature comforts like A/C and a decent stereo to keep most people happy, but not as much as the Leather/touring package below.
Sport package, $28000-$29000: 250 HP, 18" wheels, 6-speed manual, probably stiffer suspension, LSD for sure. Other go-fast goodies.
"Leather**" or "touring" package $30000-$31000: 250 HP, 18" wheels, 6-speed manual, suspension tuning somewhere between the Base and Sport packages (like on the Miata). Navigation, power seats, and other luxury items that have been discussed on this forum. Auto transmission IS available, but you have to get the de-tuned 190 HP engine, but you can keep the 18" wheels.

Of course, its all speculation, but its an educated guess, based on how Mazda has marketed their other sports cars. The old RX-7 was marked exactly the same way (except all versions had the big wheels and 255 HP). You had the "R" packages, the touring packages, and the base RX-7.

I think history will dictate the future as far as this stuff goes.

*All manual versions may come with a 6-speed rather than a 5-speed to save development costs associated with Aisin developing two seperate trannies for the '8.
**Probably wouldn't be called the "leather" package if all versions come with leather interior. If the base and sport packages have a cloth interior, then the final option package would likely be called the "leather package".

Edit - ma spellin' ain't so good. Neether is ma grammer.

 

I'm really wondering about the Mazdaspeed version. Availability, cost, and power. If the VP of Mazda NA was so willing to dump any info about the RX-8 at Sevenstock, then why not just make an official press release? They may be holding out until the Detroit Auto Show, but then he shouldn't have mentioned anything at all. And I still want to know how a number of 300 HP came about when Mazda is still supposedly working out the issues of the non-Mazdaspeed version. I'm not doubting it, but the secrecy has to end!

 

Damn it's good to get some info but it just leads into more speculation and questions! I just hope the Mazdaspeed version if there is one comes out in spring 2004.. my year to get new car..
Any word on Canadian pricing?

 

Just got off the plane from sevenstock. here's the skinny:

Pricing the US will be $26-31K, loaded. HP is 250Hp with 6 sped standard. Auto drops redline form 9000 to 7500 and reduced HP to 2 something(can't remember).

Options include sunroof, leather, auto (sportmatic and not sequential shift), and more stuff like Navigational system ,etc.

The price is the very best news. if it tops out at $31K (Robert Davis quote) then take offf auto trans and nasv system (assuming he meant that to be part of the high end price) what a friggin' bargain!!!

I moght need to order two of them.
:D :p :D :p :D :p

 

Boo, did you read through the stuff above? Is it accurate for the US market? Any inconsistencies?

 

Those price quotes seem reasonable, I can't wait!

What the final figures come out to depend on how they package their options. The $26k and $31k may be the base price for the two different trim levels and then the options could take it up from their. I hope that isn't the case, but it seems more likely than the speculation that you can subtract the price of useless options like Nav and auto from the $31k.

I hope they make the Navigation system a stand alone option and not part of a package. I would like the nicer trim level, but I don't want one cent of my money going towards a navigation system. Plus, I'm sure there are those who would like Nav but don't want some of the other options, so it would be wise for Mazda to do it that way.

 

So how does this compare to the Swiss Pricing form in the other thread? Does the US get only the 250hp/6spd version? If so that is good news.. I don't want the 192hp/5spd one here..

 

I wouldn't even assume that the auto tranny will be a part of that top price right now. Especially if you are only able to get it with the de-tuned engine.

---jps