zoom44
01-06-2003, 07:21 PM
i was just doing a search for some stuff in the forum and came across these comments from bwob from many months ago. interesting stuf from someone who's opinion can be trusted:
I like the RX-8 Future. Quite a lot, in fact. I have every suspicion the RX-8 will be as much a 'category killer' as the Miata was. Hell, within five years of the RX-8's launch, I wouldn't be surprised to see one, if not two similar 'four-door sportscars' arriving in the marketplace.
In the metal, the car is pretty spectacular, though it's a smidgen overdone in one or two of the details for my own personal taste. Nothing which spoils the package, mind you.
The sub-doors are what really 'make' the car, since they're the reason the rear seat is actually useable by adults. Mazda's original business case allocates something like 31,000 RX-8s a year to North America. I have a feeling that may be on the conservative side.
Now I need to start saving for one...
bwob
and this with a hint at the fe rx7:
Mazda has only shown the REnesis engine in normally-aspirated form, with nary a turbocharger to be seen anywhere. Rumor from the supplier network in Japan indicates that the project was approved with the proviso the engine be normally-aspirated. The board of directors didn't want a recurrence of the warranty costs the FD RX-7's twin-scroll turbo 13B encountered.
Also, remember that the display engines with their 280hp figures are JIS numbers and that 280hp JIS is in the 250-260hp DIN range when all is said and done. The reference to the 250hp engine (which has only been in relation to the export version) may indeed be Japan's 280hp unit.
Presupposing things stay on track and all the approvals are granted on schedule, the FE RX-7 is likely to appear publicly before the NC Miata. However the FE program is quite fluid, and in addition to no final 'go' yet being given, the car is still 'under study' for North America. Odds are it will get an OK for North America if the program is approved - assuming the US importer will be able to move the metal at the rate Hiroshima wants, that is.
In any event, some interesting times (and product) lie ahead.
bwob
__________________
I like the RX-8 Future. Quite a lot, in fact. I have every suspicion the RX-8 will be as much a 'category killer' as the Miata was. Hell, within five years of the RX-8's launch, I wouldn't be surprised to see one, if not two similar 'four-door sportscars' arriving in the marketplace.
In the metal, the car is pretty spectacular, though it's a smidgen overdone in one or two of the details for my own personal taste. Nothing which spoils the package, mind you.
The sub-doors are what really 'make' the car, since they're the reason the rear seat is actually useable by adults. Mazda's original business case allocates something like 31,000 RX-8s a year to North America. I have a feeling that may be on the conservative side.
Now I need to start saving for one...
bwob
and this with a hint at the fe rx7:
Mazda has only shown the REnesis engine in normally-aspirated form, with nary a turbocharger to be seen anywhere. Rumor from the supplier network in Japan indicates that the project was approved with the proviso the engine be normally-aspirated. The board of directors didn't want a recurrence of the warranty costs the FD RX-7's twin-scroll turbo 13B encountered.
Also, remember that the display engines with their 280hp figures are JIS numbers and that 280hp JIS is in the 250-260hp DIN range when all is said and done. The reference to the 250hp engine (which has only been in relation to the export version) may indeed be Japan's 280hp unit.
Presupposing things stay on track and all the approvals are granted on schedule, the FE RX-7 is likely to appear publicly before the NC Miata. However the FE program is quite fluid, and in addition to no final 'go' yet being given, the car is still 'under study' for North America. Odds are it will get an OK for North America if the program is approved - assuming the US importer will be able to move the metal at the rate Hiroshima wants, that is.
In any event, some interesting times (and product) lie ahead.
bwob
__________________