New article from 4Car
#1
doc RX-8
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New article from 4Car
The UK website 4car has just published a raving article on the RX8. They gave it a five star rating.
I quote: The RX-8 verges on brilliance. No rival comes close to matching the Mazda's combination of eye-catching styling, athleticism, versatility and performance.
They also give the 0 to 60mph in exactly 6 seconds.
Here is the link, enjoy!
I quote: The RX-8 verges on brilliance. No rival comes close to matching the Mazda's combination of eye-catching styling, athleticism, versatility and performance.
They also give the 0 to 60mph in exactly 6 seconds.
Here is the link, enjoy!
#3
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The article mentions that the RX-8 will be used in a "Formula Woman" race series in 2004. For the uninitiated the Miata has had, rightly or wrongly, a reputation as a woman's car for quite some time. Evidently this is a marketing direction that Mazda has found successful and will continue to foster with the 8.
I'm all for it if it helps them sell cars with rotors...
I'm all for it if it helps them sell cars with rotors...
#4
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this:
combined with this:
and this:
and Dan's blurb from rotary news:
leaves me with no doubts about my choice of car.:D :D
The RX-8's unique rotary engine provides the Mazda with some serious go. Breathing through a new exhaust and variable air intake systems to boost low-rev torque, the naturally aspirated 1308cc twin rotor unit develops 240bhp at 8200rpm and 156lb ft at 5500rpm. Mazda has kept a close eye on the RX-8's kerb weight and with only 1300kg to propel, the rotary engine bullets the RX-8 to 60mph in six seconds dead and onto a top speed of 151mph. That's enough to annihilate a BMW 330Ci, a Mercedes C230 Sport Coupé and a Subaru Impreza WRX in a straight line.
It simply begs to be driven hard. The engine is pivotal here - it revs with the kind of zingy enthusiasm usually reserved for electric motors. Blip the throttle at standstill and the twin rotors will spin the crankshaft to 5000rpm with ease. On the go it provides a clean and stepless thrust of acceleration that builds at 3000rpm and peaks at a dizzy 9000rpm when a loud buzzer warns the driver to charge up. So smooth and willing is the rotary unit that often the buzzer's warning comes as a surprise.
its directness means that even through tight twisties the driver merely needs to flex his wrists to have the nose diving off the straight ahead and into corners. The chassis feels delightfully agile and neutral. Turn off the stability and traction control and the RX-8 can be driven neatly and safely on the throttle, the car moving progressively from slight understeer to adjustable oversteer with a quick and determined prod of the throttle. It feels nimble but taut, tracks straight and true and without any slack, rewarding neat and accurate driver inputs. Our test route included some track work, which normally sounds the death knell for the most road cars, but the RX-8 feels nimble and alert, flowing into corners with precision and enthusiasm, and remaining flat and keyed into the road even under provocation. The rifle-bolt six-speed gearbox is a delight to use. Throws through the narrow gate are short and positive, requiring no more than a hand flick to swap cogs. The brakes also deserve special mention - strong and tireless, the all-disc layout effortlessly reigns in the engine's enthusiasm, and the centre pedal offers strong initial bite. Like the handling, the ride quality is overtly sporty. The twin wishbone front and new multi-link rear suspension have been tuned to provide a planted ride. Body movements are kept well in check and there's little roll, pitch and dive.
Know this however, this car has impressed two hard core rotorheads. This is a rotary sports car, while not a replacement for the raw FD3S RX-7, it is a refined, well tuned, predictable car, that it it's soul is a rotary.
Last edited by zoom44; 01-17-2003 at 01:04 PM.
#5
doc RX-8
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Lack of Torque? Fuel consumption?
I Quote:
Despite the engine's inherent lack of torque, the combination of low weight and the short gearing of the six speed manual gearbox successfully masks any mid-range lethargy
Expect the RX-8 to return 24.7mpg on the combined cycle, around 18mpg on the urban run and 29mpg on motorway journeys
Yes zoom44, no doubt at all an RX8 it will be.:D :D :D :D
Despite the engine's inherent lack of torque, the combination of low weight and the short gearing of the six speed manual gearbox successfully masks any mid-range lethargy
Expect the RX-8 to return 24.7mpg on the combined cycle, around 18mpg on the urban run and 29mpg on motorway journeys
Yes zoom44, no doubt at all an RX8 it will be.:D :D :D :D
#6
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... the rotary engine bullets the RX-8 to 60mph in six seconds dead and onto a top speed of 151mph. That's enough to annihilate ... a Subaru Impreza WRX in a straight line.
#8
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Originally posted by koolaid80
I agree, especially since the WRX is turbocharged (read: more torque, which means faster 1/4 mile times)
I agree, especially since the WRX is turbocharged (read: more torque, which means faster 1/4 mile times)
#9
Originally posted by Good Duck
I find that a little hard to believe. Even with the UK WRX making only 218 hp, its awd start will get it under 6 sec (5.9 sec according to Subaru UK website).
I find that a little hard to believe. Even with the UK WRX making only 218 hp, its awd start will get it under 6 sec (5.9 sec according to Subaru UK website).
#10
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I’m happy to read that the Bose sound system received such good reviews (Stereo/NAV = 5 stars)!!!
If the Bose sound system is as good as they say it is, I imagine all of the 350Z owners must be pissed. Better that Bose learned from their mistakes on their car than from ours.
I’m starting to feel better now about the Bose sound system. :D
The nine speaker six-CD player sounds rich and clear with no distortion even when cranked right up. The system has been tuned to the exact interior architecture of the different models and takes into account whether the cabin has leather or fabric seats, or if it’s fitted with a sunroof or not. Another Bose innovation is the Audio Pilot unit that constantly retunes the sound rather than the volume to compensate for changes in road surface, weather conditions or climate control ventilation levels.
I’m starting to feel better now about the Bose sound system. :D
#11
My question is whether this new article and the other 2 from england are a result of testing the 8 at Laguna or not. If it is, we can assume these are the most acurate measurement of weight and 0-60 yet.
#12
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Considering that they say that there is no pricing info available I have to think that this review was done well before Laguna Seca. As for the weight, Mazda's site still lists 3011 lbs so I have to trust that figure over the review's.
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