Just got mine in the mail......they rated the RX-8 the best when comparing the G35 Coupe & the Mustang SVT Cobra.

Some of their figures were less than I expected, such as 8 cu. ft of trunk space, EPA Hwy @ 23 mpg.

But did like to hear the RX-8 tested 0 - 60 at 5.9 sec, .91g skidpad, room in the back seat for 6 footers, and a 'fun to drive' factor a perfect 10 !

YAY

I'm gonna go take a shower and run and get the mag :)

How many pages?
I can order it here but it costs $8....

Is it worth it?

// magnus

Magnus,

Save the $8 and wait until the article is posted on the magazines web site. Posting will probably take a few weeks but you will probably have to wait a few weeks to have the magazine delivered anyways.

I bet Hercules is now scanning the article and we can read it in a few minutes.:)

23mpg hwy EPA? Is that a final Mazda number or C&D observed? Can you clarify?

I was under the impression that the RX8 go 20-40% better fuel consumption than the RX-7, which got ~18/24 mpg or so yahoo tells me.

I can't find it in stores yet :(

If somebody can email me the scanned pics (whatever size, just use separate emails if it's >1 meg) at shayaanf@mazdaworld.org, I'll post them up here for us all to drool about ::)

I don't have scanning capabilities :(

But I will share some more info from the article in the meantime.....
C & D rated the rear seat accomodations:
Mustang Cobra G35 RX-8
Comfort 5 6 8
Space 4 6 9

Also these other comparisons:
Engine 10 8 8
Man. Trans. 8 7 10
Brakes 8 9 10
Handling 8 9 10
Ride 8 9 8
Driver Comfort 8 9 9
Value 9 7 9
Amenities 4 10 5
Fit & Finish 7 9 8
Fun to Drive 8 8 10

Other particulars about the RX-8 from their 3 days of comparison testing:

1/4 mile -- 14.5 sec @ 96 mph
0 - 100 mph -- 15.8 sec
EPA City -- 18 mpg EPA Highway -- 23 mpg
C/D 500 mile Trip -- 15 mpg
Curb Weight -- 2940 lbs !!
Weight Distribution -- 52.4% Front 47.6% Rear
15.9 Gallon Fuel Tank

This is the short list on their # 1 pick:
Highs -- Responsive & Capable Chassis, excellent Package, light weight, great Value

Lows -- No Mid-Range Grunt, Tiny Trunk Opening, Bulbous Profile

The Verdict -- A Genuine Sports Car that hold 4 Adults.

Originally posted by rxeightr
1/4 mile -- 14.5 sec @ 96 mph
0 - 100 mph -- 15.8 sec
Curb Weight -- 2940 lbs !!I'm a tad disturbed that it takes an extra 1.3 seconds to wind on another 4mph between 96 and 100. Hopefully there was an extra gearshift in there.

The kerb weight is also good to know, but would mean more if we knew what trim level they tested. Rxeightr, can you provide that detail?

Actually I am very pleased with the score of 8 on the fit and finish; remember they were evaluating a preproduction prototype and the fit and finish always improves once it goes into production.

I am not sure what is scored for the amenities, can someone please elaborate.

The kerb weight is also good to know, but would mean more if we knew what trim level they tested. Rxeightr, can you provide that detail?

It was a Velocity Red tested, and the pictures do not include a Moonroof. It was a 6 speed, as they loved the way it shifted. Much smoother than the others.



I am not sure what is scored for the amenities, can someone please elaborate.

They actually called it Features & Amenities. When they rated the G35 a 10, they said "it had the most luxurious appointments, emplying richer looking materials than the other two." It appears they are talking about the refinement of the interior.

damn it i just went to barnes and nobles and they only had the march issue

Originally posted by Hercules
I'm gonna go take a shower and run and get the mag :)
Apparently Hercules got really excited at this news... :p

LOL!

Originally posted by m477
Apparently Hercules got really excited at this news... :p
Hope it was cold shower.

Lows -- ...Bulbous Profile??Bulbous
The more I look at this the more I think the designers got it right. It does have an athletic tone, waiting and eager to pounce. I really like the profile shot in that bad-song Aussie video.

thank you for posting some of the results! it sounds like a great review to me:D anyone care to take a guess as to what happend with the weight distribution? who the hell are they calling bulbous any way? as morganrogers will tell you those are sexy curves!! . and what about that fuel economy? they got what? 15mpg on a road trip? something must be wrong because that's less than the rx-7 not more like mazda is saying:confused: i bet they could do a bit better in the 1/4 mile too.

can't wait to get the mag now(i wonder what the ford boys will think about the rx-8 beating the cobra:o :p ):D :D :D :D

Originally posted by rxeightr
Lows -- No Mid-Range Grunt,

i wonder if they mean at like 3000-3500 rpm which would which would be mid range for a piston instead of 4500rpm which would be the mid for the Renisis!

Perhaps the fuel economy numbers were just EPA estimates, rather than actual tested figures....

I must say that 23 highway is just more than slightly disappointing. Not awful, but I would expect more than the RX-7 got based on Mazda's claimed advances.

Which is why I wonder if maybe these are guesses on fuel economy....

Those are what C&D observed in their usage of the car. You can bet they flogged the shit out of the thing ;). I'm sure that if the car was driven even half-way responsibly it would garner better mileage results.

if your worried about trunk space..go take a look at the trunk of a FD