I heard somewhere (don't remember where, don't have a source, can't back this up with anything) that certain US tuners will get pre-production or early production RX-8 for R&D. Obviously, these will be the most respected rotary tuners in the business. Probably tuners like Rotary Performance, PFS, Pettit, M2, etc...

Has anyone heard similar rumors? Know of specific tuners that will be getting RX-8's before the rest of the public? Tuners that are already working on mods for the RX-8?

Well not really sure but I did ask Pettit if they are gonna support the Rx-8 like the 7 and the answer was YES :D

That is certainly believable, it has been done before. And it will be even more prevelent in the future. The biggest talk about the SEMA show this year was how much factory participation was involved.

PFS did receive very early 3rd gen RX-7's (if not pre-production models) several months before they were sold in the showrooms. Not that I'm a supporter of PFS. The man knows rotaries, but he has a terrible reputation amoung customers, ex-employees, and other businesses he deals with.