Hydrogen FTL, its all about the Ethanol. Rotaries love it.

 

I was bored, and started dreaming of my idea of a new RX car.

The current RX8 is already a greatly crafted piece of art and engineering, as proven in "The Little Things" thread, but here are some thing I would add/update/change on the next RX8.

I personally like the 4 door idea and would like to keep it that way, with the suicide doors. Maybe introduce an R version of the MX5 with a 2 rotor 16x engine, to satisfy the 2 seater sports car purists. Anyway....

The below gets me hot:

Overall:
- Updated styling. Love the original shape, just tighten and sharpen it up to look newer and more like the Furai concept.
- 4 doors (with suicide doors).
- 3 Rotor 16x engine with an electric supercharger.
http://jalopnik.com/5365041/electric...ve-other-ideas
- A tach/speedo HUD like the one in the Lexus LFA concept, with an aluminum or stainless steel look.
http://jalopnik.com/5387089/lexus-lf...-look/gallery/
- Stiff suspension, like in the R3 RX8.
- An bulletproof manual transmission as standard equipment, with rev-matching downshifting that you can turn on and off.
- A dual clutch, paddle shifted optional transmission for the automatic transmission drivers.
- For those cold days, implementing rev-limiting until the engine has warmed up (might already be implemented).
- Stock tires better than the Bridgestone Potenza RE040s.

Exerior/Engine Bay:
- An oil filler spout on the top of the engine that's nearly twice the diameter of the current spout, that functions like a built in funnel.
- A built in LED light illuminating the dipstick when the hood is opened, perhaps with a light sensor in it so it only activates at night.
- An oil level sensor in the engine and an indicator on the dash, to remind the average Joe to top off the oil every few fill-ups. Basically does the job of the dipstick without popping the hood and checking it.
- LED daytime running lights similar to an Audi.
- No silly "smiley face" front end on the exterior, like on the 2010 Mazda 3.
- A engine cover that is easier to open and close, perhaps on a hinge, that also allows it to stay up when you open it.
- LED turn indicators in the side mirrors (might already be implemented).

Interior:
- A glass roof like in the 2009 Mustang with a similar retractable shade, that opens as a tilting sunroof like the current RX8.
http://www.thetorquereport.com/musta...f_03_small.jpg
http://z.about.com/d/cars/1/0/c/R/1/...sroofstang.jpg
- LED lighting throughout interior/exterior. No standard incandescent bulbs.
- A very small gap between the top of the front windshield and the start of the sunroof. Shrink the reading lights by using LEDs, and move the sunglass holder elsewhere.
- Low output LED lights in the footwells, to slightly illuminate them at night (with a light sensor and a standard switch to turn them off).
- Heated seats that get hot and stay hot. The current seats feel good for a minute, then never get hot again.
- A indentation in the bottom back of the front seats to make getting your feet into the rear footwells easier.
- Manual seat tilt release for electric seats (letting you quickly tilt the seat forward instead of waiting for the slow electric motor).
- A rear seat back that tilts forward or up to allow full access to the trunk for transporting larger items.
- A pocket/mount in the trunk specifically for holding a 1 quart oil bottle. The tire repair kit location is ok, but it would be classier to have a specific pocket.
- Figure out a better location for front two cupholders, or use the current cup holder spot for something else. You can't use the front holder at all when trying to shift.
- Auto up/down for both driver and passenger windows switches (might already be implemented).
- Allow the car to automatically open both the sunroof and the windows when you turn the ignition on, or by remote. If by remote you'd hear the car make a fast "beep beep beep" sound to let you know it's opening.
- Door hinges that hold the door open a bit easier. The current doors always seem to miss a groove when I push them open and they close back onto me as I'm trying to get out of the car.
- Oil change indicator for every 3000 miles or every 3 months, somehow resettable without having to go through a dealership.
- Automatic on/off headlights (might already be implemented).

Radio/Navigation:
- A better stereo with better speakers, with a standard single DIN upgradable head-unit.
- Better noise compensation in the radio. I still have to adjust the volume from the road onto the freeway, then back onto the road.
- Pre-wired 30amp 12v power and RCA sub outputs in the trunk, neatly hidden, for easily upgrading to a subwoofer (possibly a make a Bose dealer option).
- Bluetooth music streaming to car stereo via A2DP.
- Have the radio start at a low level every time the car is turned on.
- Infra-red rear view backup camera with the navigation system, even in the manual transmission model.
- Real-time traffic data in the navigation system, as an optional service.

 

I want 1 of those ^

 

Seriously, Mazda Needs to start building up the hype for the Furai.. make some changes to make it more road legal... then set up an order list


why cant they just set up a form to order a Furai and after they have hit a certain number decide to put it into production?

or allow people to special order?
why cant we create a list of people with the capacity and the desire to buy a Furai?

assuming we could judge what the price would be... what $90k?

 

Just read an article on the 'future' RX-7 or RX-8 and discussion with MNAO boss...Jim O', basically he said Nothing other than what has already been said and discussed here, BUT, when asked if "any" new rotary will be a 4 door RX-8 type of 2 door RX- Coupe...he said an announcement would be made in the next 12 months!...

 

Thats pretty damn good news to me.

 

Here is a 3.44 minute Video Interview with Mazda RX-8 Designer (and Mazda 2 Designer) Ikuo Maeda

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Kind of good news. But instead of a bunch of speculation that I wont give a damn about, I'll be anxiously waiting for the true future of the rotary for as long as a year.

 

The same company who left the RX-8 the same for 6 years will probably not have the *****/finance to do a supercar

 

Mazda has never been about supercars and they never will be. Since the original RX-7 and the Miata, Mazda has always been about fun, sporty cars at a price Average Joe can afford. A supercar goes against about 30 years of corporate philosophy to this point.

 

^ concur. Mazda is about bang for the buck, which along with having a rotary engine is what attracted me to the '8 in the first place. Would I rather have a Porsche - sure - but I don't like their premium price tag.