Found this old picture of the Evolv, but the engine size says it all!

 

No wonder Mazda's covering it with plastic, it's kind of embarrassing to show off. :D

 

Not that bigger is better, but half of it is still covered up by that plastic crap, and it's mounted way back in the engine back. All you are seeing there is the darn alternator and part of the intake path.

---jps

 

Good point

 

Is it just me or does it look like they change the way the hood opens?

On previous pictures, the hinges were toward the rear and now we have hinges on the front with a second engine shroud with hinges in the rear.


Interesting.....this is the same car right?

 

This is a picture of the very first show car "Evolv." This feature was gone by the time the first "RX-8" showed up. Sure looked cool. It probably wasn't very parctical.

 

yup, this is a different car... the Evolv had a double clamshell type-o-dealy, with a rear mounted shroud, and a front hinged hood...

actually, in that latest article on the 8, they said that the engine is about 2/3 the volume of a "comparable" (whatever the hell that's suppost to mean... those guys are morons, but never mind) 4 banger... just think of the FC's 13B... i've only seen stripped race versions, but for those who haven't, they are a marvel of engineering beauty...

 

I wouldn't be embarrassing in showing off a motor that size and then telling them that it makes 250 HP and is NA and that is totally stock. The look on their face would be priceless.

 

Bleh if I end up getting one all that plastic is going out the door...

As an FD owner I'm paranoid enough about heat and rotaries... wtf was mazda thinking... plastic?

Overheard at mazda: "Gee, I don't think the engine bay is hot enough... I know, lets add insulation!!!! Cheap plastic thats bound to crack should do the trick!"

 

My brother has a Lincoln MarkVIII. It has a 4.7 liter V-8 and has plastic all around it. His cooling fan even went out and check-engine light came on and all that plastic was fine.