I guess this will be about 6.5-7.0 sec to 60mph? I could do without the suicide doors. It looks ok from some angles, but just odd from other...the front end is still not for me. This is supposed to be the new look for Mazdas, and if I'm not mistaken the next Miata will look pretty similar.

 

i would say its going to be in the high 5s to 60.

 

If you want more power, like I said throw a turbo on it.

As for the head and cam deal, I wasn't thinking about what the subject(rotary engine) as much as I was thinking N\A motors. So that was a mistake. 250 stock is ho hum for a sports car that's N\A. I don't care how it's made. I'd rather it was 225 to 250 with a turbo and a set of strong boost friendly internals. Now if it came with 325hp, cool. but 250 maybe lame if you can't improve on it.

 

Car is still fugly. =)

lol. What if we have HUGE rotors? lol, 8 rotors twice the size, lol, now that would be fun.

 

why don't they dump that engine and put in the 222HP V6 from the lincon LS that the Mazda 6 will have. Can you imagine how much this engine will cost to repair.

better yet Ford could put in the 280HP 3.9L DOHC V8

 

Mazda knows people are going to want to mod this car so I really wouldtn worry about its upgradablity. There will be plenty of fast ones out soon enough. I'm sure just upgrading the breathing will net you an extra 20-25hp easily. I'm sure through boltons and other light mods you could get to 300hp. Add a turbo and possiblities are endless.

 

I hope this one isn't going to be like the previous RX-7, which is famous for going to 75,000 miles, then being in desperate need of a rebuild.

I am surprised that a rotary engine, which are generally much dirtier in emisions, was approved with the strict US emisions in place.

The back looks good, side looks good, but the front is ugly as ****. It looks like Jar-Jar Binks from Star Wars Episode I.

 

That is true, but it's ALSO true that the rotors spin at 1/3 crank speed, so indexed to crank rpm, 1.3 liters is the more "correct" displacement figure. The REAL difference is that there is a power "stroke" at each rotor for each engine revolution, like a 2-stroke. There is no question that a rotary is FAR superior to 4-stroke piston engines in terms of power per pound, or power per volume occupied. They do get really bad fuel economy, though. I get the same mileage in my '95 Z28 M6 convertible that I got in my VERY slow '90 RX-7 convertible. Oh yeah, that motor blew a couple of apex seals at an autocross, at 102,000 miles Had I not been lazy, I could've gotten a rebuilt from MazdaComp for $1500, though! That's the going rate for racers.

Dan Baldwin
'95 Z28 M6 convertible
'71 240Z 3.1 (my FAST car)

 

For everyone's information, the RX-8 is not intended as a new RX-7. It's a 4-door sport coupe. There are plans for a new RX-7 sports car, and possibly a rotary Miata

 

Looks like a bug.

Gonna be fun stomping those with the Z.

 

The miata news sounds nice. Don't knock the miata if you haven't driven one yet. It's not a rocketship, but it is a fun car to drive. Plus with the turbo kits they have for them make them just that much mor efun to drive. I dare anyone to drive one. They will make you smile. Again I know it's not a HP monster, but it does have it's nice points.

 

I guess my expectations for today's cars are unreasonably high, because I don't just want "fun" or "fast", I want great-looking too. Way back when, we used to have cars that matched all 3 criteria. RX-8 is a grand failure in the looks dept. I honestly don't see how someone can have more passion for an RX-8 than they do for a Dodge minivan.

 

The Wankel Rotary is a great idea that was almost impossible to perfect. Mazda conquered the rotor tip wear problems long ago, but the poor fuel economy prevents the rotary from being an option in everyday cars.

I'm glad to see the RX8 coming out, but I can't imagine buying one. I can only hope that the rotary engine finally finds the right home. How about the Miata?

 

I'll say this about it, it does have a really nice interior. Odd, but nice.

 

I actually like the front and back, but the side looks hiedous! yuck,

kinda looks like a 350z stretched out, god that side is hiedous, kinda lke a bigger z3 stretched! yucky!