I've seen it in person. I was working with my miata team at the Road & Track invitational races this weekend 4/30-5/2, at Laguna Seca. Mazda had its normal tent setup although they had a lot more cars then normal this time, the 6 wagon, hatch, MS miata, plus they had the Mazdaspeed RX8 for the US market sitting there as well. It was blue with the same body kit as the japanese version it looked like, only fronm the front there is a HUGE I/C taking up the entire front mouth piece of the MS frontend. It was sitting on some 18" Volks that looked pretty sweet and it had a "Turbo" Boost gauge in it, the door was locked so I couldn't pop the hood to see what the actual Forced Induction it was using, although with such a large I/C it would have to be a large S/C, but more likely Turbo or Hydrocharger. I talked to the people at tent and they said it was the R&D car but that they didn't even know what was in it. I was surprised that they would even show it in public, but someone from the Irvine corporate office had brought it up for the weekend because I also saw it at the Embassy Suites Saturday morning. I asked if they knew what the slated date for it was and they weren't sure because the Mazdaspeed 6 was next in line for production. But knowing how Mazda work then that puts the possibility of the RX7 coming back probably a good 4 years out as they would want to rack up as many sales of the RX8 as possible. Hopefully the Road and Track got some pictures of it, the car had left by the time I found a digital camera, I really wanted to post some pics, but maybe next time.

 

Sounds good!!!!!!

 

Been mentioned in other threads...

1) That blue was likely the JDM Mazdaspeed RX-8 blue

2) There's actually some big suspension differences betwen the MS A-spec and B-spec. A-spec uses upgraded dampers, springs and sway bars with stock rims or MS 5 spoke 18". B-spec uses coil-overs and sway bars and 19" new design MS 5 spoke rims.

3) There is a good chance that was US R&D model. Doesn't mean you'll see it in production. As I read about the 7, Mazda is experimenting with various powerplants to get emissions-legal, reliable bang for the buck... no telling what'll come out in the end. but it's 1.5-2 years away though. The new 7 is looking like 07 or 08 launch... hmm... problems for MS 8 it seems... why do you REALLY need both and a MS Mazda 6? Seems more reasonable that they are testing possible 7 powerplants in the 8...

 

This is true, unless its going to be to squeeze a few more models out of the remaining RX8 before the 7 comes out, similar thing that Mazda is doing with the MS Miata. Although even Road & Track has reported that their working on a FI RX8 for production. This car was definitely sitting on 18" Volks, said right on the rim. They said that it was the R&D model out of the Corp office in Irvine, but they couldn't comment any further then that.

I don't see their being room for both in the family, but it could work. If mazda puts the RX7 in the $35-$40k range and give it about 350-400hp to match the Skyline (or whatever they'll call it) There could be a market for it battling base model Corvettes and cars in the range, the problem is that only American cars are sitting in that range and lets face it advertised HP numbers sell, although a 400hp RX7 sounds like an emissions nightmare.

 

woopie..i saw and sat in a real J-SPEC right hand drive back in january...look for the thread...

 

The Skyline is already out in North America, its called the Infiniti G35. The GTR model of the skyline was discontinued in 2002 and will be coming back in 2007 possibly as a 2008 year model most likely with a modified version of the VQ35DE engine, supposedly people have been saying its going to have 380 HP but I don't see why Nissan would do that with Japans 280PS limit. Mazda has already stated they aren't out to match HP, they are out to have a weight advantage. If a new RX-7 did come out, I doubt it would have anymore than 300HP. I think they are more focussed on making sure the Miatas, RX-8's, and Proteges race well and sell cars.

 

My fearless prediction is that they will make a detuned 280ps RX7 for the Japanese market (5psi area) and boost the pressure and come out with ~325hp version for the US running at 10psi.

Emission are going to be a nightmare, but hopefully things they have learned from the RX-8 will help them deal with it better. Tier-II is overly demanding, but would be political suicide for any politician to repeal.

-Mr. Wigggles

 

I thought (a) the 280 hp limit was not real, i.e. its supposedly there but everyone knows the cars routinely exceed it, and (b) cars were now coming out that officially exceeded it?

I've heard both of these things, but I don't live there so...maybe Japan8 can chime in here.

jds

 

I heard that Nissan of Japan was fined for the GTR obivously not making its 280hp limit. The G35 is a 350z, no skyline, and when the skyline comes back, even if it is an infinity, it won't be the G35. All the magazines that have shown the concept car or spoken of it are still talking in the 400hp range, wouldn't be that difficult either considering they put 500 out with much problem in the JGTC 500, and people have already made 700+ hp out of that 3.5. I agree with Mr. Wiggles, if you look at the current trend with Japanese car companies they are finally realizing that Americans can "handle" or that is an actual market for these higher HP cars, just how the STI makes more HP here than in Japan, wouldn't be surprised to see Mazda follow suit, 325hp RX7 would be nice though, does it really matter in the end, people will mod them until they reach their desired hp limit.

 

It is amazing how many people think this and how many times people have to correct them. There is a full model range of Skylines in Japan and it has always been like that. Currenty the range has a 4 door, a 4 door with AWD, and a 2 door all of which are sold in the USA as models of the G35. THE G35 IS THE SKYLINE ITS JUST A DIFFERENT NAME! It just so happens that this generation Skyline is built off of the same platform as the 350Z. And hey guess what....the 350Z is called the Fairlady Z in Japan. Again, same car just different name for a different market.

 

Ok peeps...

To the best of my knowledge there is no real limit on hp. What I understand it as, is a gentlemen's agreement not to PUBLISH hp numbers over 280hp... there is something similar with motorcycles too.

As it is easy to buy BMW's , VW's, Ford, etc. in Japan. IT would be difficult to stop people as foreign cars don' t have a hp or speed limiter problem. Simple "workaround."

What does this all mean? Just because the paper says 280ps, doesn't mean anything.

 

Yeah-the gentlemans agreement is that the cars are published at 280PS which is like 276HP; in actuality the cars are as strong as if not stronger than the US counterparts. The last Supra, 3000GT, and 300ZX Turbo all made the same 320, 320, 300 HP respectively as they did in the US. The last RX7 was rated at 280PS but out put was closer to 300HP--the only way to know is to strap on the Dyno--but the cars were only 280PS on paper. This is all fact not opinion.

 

http://www.batfa.com/new_car_nissan_skyline.htm

Does that look like an Infiniti G35 Coupe to you? Previously nissan has done a restyling of the skyline models about every 5 years, which would put a new Skyline a.k.a. G35 body style due for a redesign the 2008 year model. The skyline is Nissans flagship model in Japan, so I expect the new version of the skyline/G35 and the GTR will be kept under the Infiniti Marque.

Concept cars are a far cry from what becomes actual production cars. Remember the RX Evolve? 280HP, 10,000rpm rev limit, meets LEV emissions requirements, great reliability and gas mileage, sounds a little bit distant from the actual production RX-8.

There are GM ecotec 2.2L 4 cylinders making over 700HP whats your point? A production motor with aftermarket internals making lots of HP is far from the reliability, fuel economy, and production costs of a stock mass produced motor. Sure the VQ35DE is a great engine and can handle lots of HP but there are lots of considerations to make including costs, emissions, fuel economy, etc for the actual production vehicle. A 400HP twin turbo V6 is going to be a long ways off from a comparable HP V8 emissions and fuel economy wise in large part due to having to run a much richer fuel mixture in order to prevent detonation. For Nissan to make a GTR with over 100 more HP than the 280 PS limit for published numbers seems a little dubious, we will just have to wait until the actual announcement of the production car.

I also think an RX-7 is unlikely considering the looming possibility of a high power Mazda 6 and a high power RX-8, a lot of the sales of an RX-7 woulder definitely be lost by people purchasing the other vehicles that have a lot more functionality. Pure sports cars are a soft sell and something I think Mazda would have a tough time justifying significant R&D expenses for not to mention the emissions and reliablity problems of making one with 325+HP.

 

That is exactly why the next 7 should be a reincarnation of the fb -cheap, sporty, and RWD. With the Miata moving upmarket and the MX-6 long dead Mazda no longer has a cheap sports car. The next 7 would sell in large numbers if the car was about $15,000 to $20,000, had about 160hp, and weighed around 2300 lbs. With all of the hot fwd econo-boxes running around Mazda would be wise to sell a rwd sports car in the same price range with similar performance, but in a car that actually looks like a sports car.

 

Errr.. I dun know
but there is a govermental issue about Japanese cars making 280 HP. Cars that are made domestically in Japan are required to have only 280hp. Cars that are produced and sold out of Japan may exceed that limt.

The GTR R34 can make more then 280 horses once you take out the 180kph limiter.

 

A new RX-7 would not be in the $15,000 to $20,000 range, and the 1st gen RX-7s were not on the cheap end of things when they were brand new. The RX-7 has always been a no compromises sports car. Mazdas lineup on the cheap end is already all filled up with the Mazda 3. The Miata is 21,868 for base model and 25,500 for the Mazdaspeed model.

The GTR-34 makes 328HP at the engine stock and was only produced in Japan.

 

Can you quote me exactly which law/subsection this is (likely from the Ministry of Transportation site) so that I can verify your information and translation.

There is no horsepower limiter in Japan. You can believe whatever you want, but you are wrong. There is a 180km/h speed limiter. That has nothing to do with horsepower. You hit 180km/h, it cuts fuel/timing and you slow down. A former co-worker who traded a highly modded FD for a new FD described the races with Mercedes and Porsche (he didn't add a limiter cutter). Until he hits 180 km/h he totall out runs them, but then the limiter kicks in and they all pass him. To accelerate like that means you are dropping significant hp. What's the difference between a government-mandated 180km/h limiter and a manufacturer imposed one like 155mph? Nothing. The car is still making full-power all the way until the limit.

It's the same in motorcycles. The manufacturers have limited the horsepower of Japan models depending on size.... i.e. 400cc = 53ps.... 600cc = 70ps. However in the case of the CBR 600RR, it makes 119hp outside of Japan... although the JDM model can be modded to full-power easily.

Who knows what the GTR will be like. The Skyline is due a facelift in JDM very soon. There is already an AWD system and model. All that is left is the engine, suspension tuning and some exterior work. It looks like Nissan is looking at an electric motor assisted twin turbo V6. I doubt a V8 will fit in that current platform... and it'll definitely be what they are using.

 

Any pics of this MazdaSpeed RX-8?