Went to the L.A. auto show on Sat. 12-09 and spent a lot of time talking with the Mazda rep (Bob....sorry I forgot his last name) from Detroit. According to him, there will be no Mazda Speed 8 and no increases in horsepower for anyone who is still holding out on buying an RX-8. His main defense was that Mazda has created an excellent handling car that is BELOW $30,000.00. that handles like a much more expensive car and will turn a lot of heads. No turbos, 3 rotor motors, direct injection or increases in displacement are in the works. No plans for the Mazdaspeed 3 motor either. I told him that I was holding out for more horsepower but he told me not to. He did recommend that I test drive the 8 and keep the RPM's up and I would soon forget all about my Mustang GT. So some time after the holidays I will visit my local Mazda dealer. I don't wite many posts here but I am an avid reader of this fine forum. I will post a few pics from the car show later.

 

Plenty of after market FI solutions now.

 

If I were in the market for an 8 I'd go ahead and buy one, if I wanted to save up I'd go with an 05 or even a 04 with good history. Mazda brought out the RX-8 as a finished product...they obviously haven't been upgrading it like Nissan has with the Z. Maybe this is a reason why they haven't bothered advertising it...they'll let the car speak for its own uniqueness. They're only mistake has been making more 8s than demand.

They've also probably done all they've can with the Renesis power-wise within the emission limits...FI and 3 rotors can't do that. Direct injection does seem like something they should have been trying to do with the rotary for a while now.

Now, I'm just waiting for an affordable and reliable SC.

 

I was also told in '04 that white would NEVER come to the US. What happened in '05?

Mazda wants you to buy an RX-8 today, not years down the road. There will be fast rotaries down the road, but they're not about to go talk about it.

 

He is definately telling the truth about test driving one and keeping it in the upper RPM's. I did and completely forgot about my Supercharged Mustang... It is just a FUN car!

 

I know it's not what most people want to hear, but I'm cool with that. I wanted a "handling" car and that's what I got. By the way, this is consistent with Mazda's "philosophy" of what a car should be over the years. True for the Miata, too. Generally, when enthusiasts think of Mazda, balance, handling and overall "feel" come to mind—not power especially.

 

I wanted the rotary engine, because I had followed its development over the years and felt it represented the triumph of a mind - That the car also came with speed, handling, comfort and beauty were unexpected but so appreciated! I wish that the components came signed both by the engineer and the builders -
It is like one of those beautiful old Samuri swords - folded 5000 times.
Perfect? No? but it will ruin you for handling anything less...

 

Nicely put...

 

He said there wasn't going to be an Rx-8 with upgraded power, not that there wasn't going to be another fast rotary.

The representative's way of trying to get him to buy an 8 now was obvious. He didn't mention the redesign in a few years.

 

Anyone ever consider the cultural aspect?

Maybe the Japanese do not want to create another hero. They believe in Legends.

Why destroy the mythical RX-7?

AN RX-8 with more power will destroy their icon.

 

^ I'm pretty sure the japanese believe in profit more...

 

I think they'll intro the mazdaspeed 8 in 2008....just like they saved the mazdaspeed 6 for 2006.

 

ditto, $$ now>great selling car in the past

 

Sorry mate, but a Mazda rep would not know what is down the track, or to come, if he is a retail rep he wants to sell you what he has today, not tomorrow or next year, he just would not know....his knowledge would extend to 2007 model year cars.

Don't know where you got the Mazdaspeed 3 engine in an 8 idea from?...if that's what you mean...Mazda ain't going down that road again like the 70's and 80's, the rotary engine (RX) is for specialist cars (sports) only.

I somehow think that you won't see any major engine change in the RENESIS for MORE horse power, in 2008 there will be more cosmetic change and improvement.

 

^ I agree. I don't think the RENESIS will change for the life of the current gen RX-8. I think they might have a MS RX-8 down the road which may include a supercharger, but will probably introduce an upgraded version of the engine in the next rotary vehicle. The most they will do is fine tune the engine to squeeze a few more hp, if that's possible.

 

^ i agree