yellowrx8inoz
11-13-2006, 05:06 AM
Just got December’s MOTOR magazine. It’s unusually interesting (!), for a few reasons:
P26 has an article about Takao Kijima (described as the chassis guru behind the MX-5) in which he says that the NC MX-5 and RX-8 share the same production line and the same dies are used for both cars (although ‘obviously’ shortened for the MX-5). This enables the MX-5 to be made quite cheaply, giving them room in the budget to use more expensive lightweight components… I wonder if that means the RX-8’s future is going to be closely linked to the MX-5’s, and whether that’s good or bad for us….?
P30 has a very biased article by Bill Tuckey about rotary engines (leading into news that the hydrogen-burning RX-8 is being leased to Japanese companies and government departments). After dragging up the old urban myth about NSU Wankel drivers greeting each other by raising one, two or three fingers from the steering wheel to signify how many engine changes they’d had, he goes on to describe the rotary engine as a ‘complex’ power plant. I thought its main claim to fame was its simplicity relative to a piston engine!! Far fewer moving parts, etc. The whole flavour of the article is anti-rotary (eg describing Mazda as ‘having spent zillions on solving the rotary’s problems’). If anyone wants to join me in writing corrective protest letters to MOTOR we’ll see how many they publish!
Finally there’s a little booklet glued to the cover, presented by Mazda and MOTOR, called ‘The Ultimate Glovebox Guide to Performance Driving’ that I found very useful, as well as promoting Mazda performance cars (including the RX-8 of course) it contains some useful tips for people like me who are learning about track driving. Mind you I hope it doesn’t encourage P-platers to try handbrake turns or throttle steers in their cul-de-sacs. (or is that culs de sac?)
Will
P26 has an article about Takao Kijima (described as the chassis guru behind the MX-5) in which he says that the NC MX-5 and RX-8 share the same production line and the same dies are used for both cars (although ‘obviously’ shortened for the MX-5). This enables the MX-5 to be made quite cheaply, giving them room in the budget to use more expensive lightweight components… I wonder if that means the RX-8’s future is going to be closely linked to the MX-5’s, and whether that’s good or bad for us….?
P30 has a very biased article by Bill Tuckey about rotary engines (leading into news that the hydrogen-burning RX-8 is being leased to Japanese companies and government departments). After dragging up the old urban myth about NSU Wankel drivers greeting each other by raising one, two or three fingers from the steering wheel to signify how many engine changes they’d had, he goes on to describe the rotary engine as a ‘complex’ power plant. I thought its main claim to fame was its simplicity relative to a piston engine!! Far fewer moving parts, etc. The whole flavour of the article is anti-rotary (eg describing Mazda as ‘having spent zillions on solving the rotary’s problems’). If anyone wants to join me in writing corrective protest letters to MOTOR we’ll see how many they publish!
Finally there’s a little booklet glued to the cover, presented by Mazda and MOTOR, called ‘The Ultimate Glovebox Guide to Performance Driving’ that I found very useful, as well as promoting Mazda performance cars (including the RX-8 of course) it contains some useful tips for people like me who are learning about track driving. Mind you I hope it doesn’t encourage P-platers to try handbrake turns or throttle steers in their cul-de-sacs. (or is that culs de sac?)
Will