REtali8

iTrader: (2)

Perhaps that is what the open area on right side of steering wheel is for? It's obviously set up for buttons of some sort.

DailyDriver2k5

Yes they did....and from all the mags i read Mazda said that this new one will be "slightly" faster in the acceleration department. So low to mid 5's isn't impossible to see IMO. It sure would be nice since most cars are running low to mid 5's .... seem like 5-5.5 ticks is the new 6 sec of yesteryear. The average joe smoe cars are running these times and the new sh*t hot number to be considered a performer is in the mid 4 sec and under range. Mazda has got to catch up....perhaps with the RX-9!

rotary crazy

Dont know the specific parts but they are there

Floyd

From what I have seen it is an all new exhaust and header along with lower gearing. That plus maybe a better cat and a new tune and i'd bet it picks up maybe 10-15 hp.

LionZoo

Low to mid 5s is a pretty significant improvement and you won't get that from just a slight power boost. If there is a change in straight line acceleration, it's probably only a couple tenths of improvement. As it is, with the RX-8 being such a high strung motor, the pavement has a lot of say in how fast it'll accelerate from a dead stop and so magazine tests might not find much improvement at all.

LionZoo

The stock 18s are pretty light for manufacturer supplied cast wheels. Not too many stock 18s are lighter than the RX-8's, and most of those are for special edition models that have forged construction (Nismo Altima, Spec B, etc.).

Metal Soldier

I'm digging the looks, especially on the MS. If there's a decent power boost I'd be very interested in it.

rotary crazy

thats about what I think too

rotary crazy

you think I dont know that, so you are sayng it cant be done?

RCCAZ 1

I love this thread. If you were to start around page 15 and read slowly, you could likely keep reading all day without reaching the end at the rate this sucka is growing.

Look..., I own a Gen 3 and have been sitting on the sidelines since the 8 came out in 2004. Although I doubt if the Gen 3 will ever be up for sale, I can tell you that with each passing model year I'm getting closer and closer to pulling the trigger and purchasing an 8 as my daily driver.

Even though I know about the crappy gas mileage and lack of power, there's just something about the car that I can't get out of my head. The styling still looks great to me, even after 4 model years and countless sightings on the road. Dollar for dollar it's hands down the best drivng car out there. Steering feel and feedback through the steering rack is world class.

A friend of mine who's owned countless cars and has autocrossed them ALL claims that his RX-8 provides the best steering feedback and handling of any car he's ever driven.

Maybe feel and good handling really DO trump the negatives. I'm starting to believe it and the facelift (IMO) is just the icing on the cake.

thuneon

A German News Magazine wrote 212hp auto and 232hp manual. Can anybody confirm that ?

Spin9k

If Mazda had taken all the time and money they seem to have put into this 'facechange' effort and instead simply taken the car as it was, added plus or mius the old MS kit (body kits/suspension), LED lighting, and a turbo/SC/rewored 1.3NA or 16X, I think 90% of everyone that cares (less the only-4-show crowd) would have been more than happy until the 2011 REAL new model arrived.

That's what's been done to nearly every Mazda model in the yr it took it's last breath.

... wo/significant power add, this will be a cosmetic success/ sales disaster. Without power, it'll get desimated in the reviews because they'll naturally compare it's performance to the existing car. Two days to go.

ShAdOwFoX

The MS exterior color is pretty darn nice i just realized it right now, I got too mesmerized with the interior. Anyone wanna take a guess as to what color it is. Looks like the liquid platinum metallic or could be some custom color, o well.

rotary crazy

If you love rotary cars ( and I can see you do) you will love the rx-8, it is a more fun more tossable car than the Fd, it lets you go to the limits without getting into trouble

As long as you dont get into a " I want to be the fastes guy in the block" mentalitty you will love it

LionZoo

I'm saying Mazda probably won't get much lighter due to the costs involved. I don't see Mazda sticking forged wheels on the RX-8 except for a special edition model.

rotary crazy

And Im saying mazda could have got a 19" that weights the same as a 18", we are going to have to wait for the oficcial info, thats all

BaronVonBigmeat

same weight + bigger diameter = more inertia = slower

rotary crazy

same weight of wheels + less weight on car + more agresive gearing + a bit more HP = faster car

But this is all speculation, lets wait and see

Raptor75

MS is a little better but still way to ricey. If they kept the basic shape of the new face but didn't add all the plastic slapped on all over.

The big question is what kind of HP will the new tran take. Also they really need a HP increase. 30 is required to keep the car competitive in the market and shows that Mazda is interested in making this car a contender.

delhi

I bet I can round my neighbourhood block faster than any "higher hp" cars there.

Endgame

Everything I said above is personal. Anything I ever say is just my personal opinon (unless I note otherwise). I KNOW many would sell their mother and children for this car with a 16x, just not me.

I simply want a rotary coupe. What would be cool if this car got the 16x in three years or so, then Mazda dropped a RX9 true sports car with a turbo 16x.

kwescott

And we thought the resale market for used 04-07 RX8's was bad....think about trying to sell one when a new body style is coming out....uggghhh

Jedi54

iTrader: (7)

30 hp to stay competitive?! HAHA!!!! And where exactly are they going to squeeze another 30 hp out of this car??
We were overpowered by most of our competitors the past few years yet who kept winning all these 'head to head' competitions in major car magazines??? Yup... RX-8.

If you want it to be "main stream competitive" in all the stupid categories such as 0-60, total HP, you're driving the wrong car. That's not what really defines cars.

rotarygod

How many times do I need to say this? RX-7's were always underpowered compared to the competition. They were also always slower in a straight line in both acceleration and top speed. Yet they did fantastic in racing and people loved them. The RX-8 is EXACTLY THE SAME!!!!!!!!!

BigRed

3 more times and then you wont need to