Look at the August issue of Road and Track, just hitting the newsstands!!! Their cover story is the new corvette, with exclusive drawings. IT IS IDENTICAL TO THE RX-8 IN ALMOST EVERY WAY. THIS COULD BE HORRIBLE. Many know that the current corvette ripped off the 3rd gen RX-7 in styling, especially on the side panels. This is even MORE of a rip off. The car basically looks like an RX-8 with Chevy badging. The rear is slightly different, but not much. I hope that since the RX-8 is cheaper, people will buy it over the vette, but if they are similar in pricing, the RX is screwed, as Americans are VERY loyal to the vette. Go to your newsstand if you don't believe me, the vette even has those black openings behind the front wheels like the RX has. And this vette and the last generation were both designed by the same guy, who must have a love affair (copy affair) with Mazda. He must be killed!

can you post some pics of the vette? R&T doesn't have that issue up on their site yet.

i agree sincerely... that guy's a dick...

one thing though, i don't think that becuase GM is uninspired (well, unoriginal) that it will hurt the RX-8... maybe the 'Vette could rub off on some people looking to buy a sedan...

and besides, there will always be an ENOURMOUS difference between the two: the RX-8 is a (super cool) four dour, four seater and the corvette a (clumsily executed) excuse for an american supercar (only two seats, no truck space, and handling similar to a dairy cow)...

okay okay... it's not that bad (the handling), but it's still nothing like a real sports car (elan, rx-7, nsx, etc.) with that horrific balance and whale-like mass...

anyhoo, because their markets are so different, and those ignorant to the technological supremecy that is the rotary engine will probably pass over Mazda unless that "Zoom Zoom Kid" gets his ass in gear and starts screaming, the corvette doesn't pose any threat to the RX-8's market... which leads me to a post i'm gonna make in a second here... the REAL competitors for the RX-8 (maybe not who you expect...)

How funny!

First the C5 Corvette is a very nice car. Shame on the flamming. That's not nice. I do agree that the styling cues are very similar to the 3rd gen RX-7. That is probably why the C5 is the only Corvette I have ever thought looked good.

Second, (this is the fun part!) GM acually had two prototype Corvettes that where rotary powered! The first was a 2.2-liter 2 rotor.
http://www.caranddriver.com/image_cache/DATA/Caranddriver/images/2002/July/0207_vettetoc_deadend_73_tworotor.jpg
The second was a 4.4-liter 4 rotor! (They just put 2 2.2 liter 2 rotors together.)
http://www.caranddriver.com/image_cache/DATA/Caranddriver/images/2002/July/0207_vettetoc_deadend_73_fourrotor.jpg
Of course this is GM we are talking about so they never went any further then the concept, but its funny that you slam the Corvette when it could have been a rotary too.

Here is a link to a C&D article about the two vetts. (http://www.caranddriver.com/xp/Caranddriver/features/2002/july/200207_feature_vette_deadend.xml?&page=2)

alright, sorry corvette afficianados...

the corvette IS fast, it should, considering the displacement it's got...
but it's still just a kinda sporty muscle car, like the viper... they're not going to win any slalom tests against real sports cars...

are they cool?? hell ya!! are they fast?? sure!! but they're not sports cars... that's all i'm saying... on top of that, the corvette ("being the upper-middle-class-man's super car") isn't really well built, and the technology in the engine (IMHO) is substandard for the price tag attached... same (but more so) with Dodge's v10... but that's just not their style...

cool info on GM's rotary program!! i knew that they were trying to get something happening and quit when 'lil old Mazda beat the world to the punch with the Cosmo... but the corvette?? that'd probably have american muscle car fans moaning and groaning about somthing with such a small displacement!! :D
what year are those pics from?? or better, when was GM R&Ding these things?? they don't look like the same spec car... was the second the evolution?? (similar to the stingray...) how close were they to production... and many other questions... how much to you know about GM's rotary program??

Read the article, it has all the info.

Click here to read the Car & Driver article (http://www.caranddriver.com/xp/Caranddriver/features/2002/july/200207_feature_vette_deadend.xml?&page=2)

Click here to read an in depth article from Monito.com (Lots of rotary info!) (http://www.monito.com/wankel/corvette.html)

Might I remind that the corvette already ripped from the NSX in styling...Now the RX8?

--jax

wicked links styjan, thanx!!

Found the pics!!!!
http://forums.corvetteforum.com/zerothread?id=333603


Prepare to be horrified!!!!

Thanks for the link!

I put together a side-by-side of the two with similar persective.
http://home.attbi.com/~w.vark/C6vRX8.jpg

It is close. It looks part RX-8, part Corvette, and part 350z.

Thanks a lot for that. Jeep sued GM recently for making their Hummer H2 with a too similar grill to their Jeep trucks. That case was thrown out. But this has got to go. I think Mazda really has a case here for patent infringement. If they made the patent...

hm.. maybe I'm in the minority here, but I don't think that particularly looks like the RX-8. mostly it just looks ugly... a leaner looking vette would be kinda nice, but that design's just weak. makes the choice even easier I guess ;)

Looks like a cross between the RX8 and the 350Z.

the similarities are obvious, but the front of the vette looks like it's on some happy sh@t

oh, that is truely an ugly beast...
but, to me it does look more like a 350Z than the RX-8... the rooflines sure, but the side glass, no, and the rear glass just isn't Mazda (i mean on the corvette)...
but THOSE HEADLIGHTS!! OH GOD NO!! they (from my hazy memory) seem to look FRICKIN' IDENTICAL to the gawd-ugly lenses on the new NSX... the only thing on that car that is remotely corvette (or american for that matter) are the tail lights... but, that's a given, right??

wow, it's upsetting to see how clueless and uninformed most of you here are.

The C5 Vette (especially the Z06) is one of the BEST handling cars out! The C4 and older vette's were not great handlers, no... But the C5 is a WHOLE new beast. It pulls over 1.00g on the skidpad, and it's slalom is up there with any BMW M series and NSX's and RX-7's

Some of you guys really need to actually look things up before you go off bashing things, because it really makes you look like clueless 18 year-olds (unless that's what you are)

That wasn't the point of my thread. The point is the car looks the same as the RX-8, which is illegal.

yeah, I know...I wasn't talking to you.

You are right, though, they do look frighteningly similar.

There is definately a strong similarity. But the RX-8 it a much better execution.

I doubt the next gen covervette will look very similar to that concept car though.

I read about another car that pontiac is creating to compete against the Nissan 350Z.

Though both cars seem similar, I think they attract totally different markets. Just by comparing the amount of gas each car uses is enough to seperate the buyers. If Mazda was really concerned, I'd bet they would raise some issues; especially since Ford has partial ownership.

I read an article in my local paper that the GTO, GMC's replacement for the camaro (from what i understand, the camaro has been discontinued), is suppose to compete against the Nissan 350Z, WRX and I think it was the Audi S4 and some other cars. But I dont see it happening.... I couldn't find the exact article where i got the above info, but i found this in the LA times.

http://www.latimes.com/classified/autos/highway1/la-hy-showroom3jul03.story?coll=la%2Dclass%2Dautos%2Dhig hway1

The C6 corvette does look a lot like the RX-8, but even if they were almost identical, don't they have completely different audiences that don't really crossover? I'm planning to purchase a sports car spring 2003 and no matter what the Vette looks like, it's not the image I want (which is a big part of spending cash on a car with ltd utility). I think the majority of RX-8 purchasers are like me and the majority of Vette purchasers would never consider a Mazda, even it were the clearly superior car. Just my thoughts on this not being a problem for Mazda.

It looks more like a 350Z because it's built for a 2-seater. Anyway, the pic is not the finalized version obviously... there aren't any turn signal lights (front and rear) and there's no reverse light.

I agree with JGard18. The C5 Corvette is truly a great car. My neighbor has a Z06 which is an incredible machine.

That said, I would never own one. Mazdas are more my style and quite honestly if Chevy wants to design their $40+ marquee car after a Mazda that is fine with me. :)

So what if the Vette looks like the RX8....Mazda should be flatter...besides the Japaneze have be coping and improving America products and designs for ages...ever heard something called Karma...hows taste of their own medicine eh.

Granted the RX8 is the sexier beast....but the Vette although wacky looking sorta makes the RX8 look a little tame.

~Nanda
92' Miata 195k smiles

Mazda should not be flattered, it should be horrified. Mazda has very little brand recognition outside of people who know about cars. The Miata is no longer the only little roadster being made, now we have the Toyota MR2, and even the S2000. The Tribute is the same as the Escape, no one drives a Millenia, or a 626. Basically if people see the vette and the RX-8, they're going to be convinced Mazda copied them. Everyone knows the Japanese tend to copy ideas, and rarely come up with an idea on their own, but when they do implement something, they do it perfectly. I'm not saying people should think this, I'm saying the car buying public will think this, and wrongly. Mazda should nip this in the bud and sue them. They have a good case considering if they patented the design of their vehicle.

I think the RX8 will only be slightly more popular then the RX7...another niche car in its own right....maybe double the sales volume of the 7 (I hope I am wrong by a huge margin.) Those that never knew or heard of an RX7 will only be midly entertained by the RX8. Sadly sport car entusiast only make up a tiny wedge of the SUV, and boring car buying pie. The only problem is to make the RX8 cheap enough that the majority of people who desire one can actually get one in their garage. Otherwise it could quickly become an overpriced boutique car, and would miss the lesson in its own history. Hopefully they even make a Sport/stripper model club racer varient...bare bones track demon...lets go Mazdaspeed.

I doubt that this early concept sketch of the Vette will make it to production in its current guise. It looks way to f****d up to appeal to jocks and middle ages mid life crisis folks... maybe only a hair better looking then the 350z. Mazda is already making the right moves....the Protege5 kicks arse, smaller, and more nimble then the competition in its price range, the new Mazda 6 has everything it needs to take on the next round of Accord, current Camry and Ultima, and the RX8 will answer everyones wishes that did get to sample a 7, people like myself...thinking of having kids but not ready to buy a Matrix or a MiniVan. I've read Mazda invisions itself as the Japanese BMW, at least from an atheletic handling stand point. Honestly I feel lucky we are even looking at images on the web and in magazines of the RX8....glad FORD didn't burry this bueaty in the hunt for the next great segment buster.
~Nanda
92' Miata 195k smiles

Mazda considers themselves the Japanese BMW?

dude, thats funny

Mazda makes good cars man, but not great. For every model Mazda produces, I can give you atleast 10 other cars that are better. Sure their new line will compete, they said that about the millenia.. (ive seen like two). Personally, I've never given Mazda second looks. I'm only here because of one car, and one car only. I'm not here to make Mazda feel happy about their other models, personally I could careless. I want my RX-8 (cause indeed, it is truly a unique car). When I have that car, I'm not going to love mazda or anything and tell everyone they make hype cars.

Immi - I'll take you up on this challenge from above "Mazda makes good cars man, but not great. For every model Mazda produces, I can give you at least 10 other cars that are better. "
I'm not baiting, but you did seem to make a definitive statement of fact, so I'll try to refute it (or rather, make you confirm it). So, for every model that Mazda produces, name 10 cars that are better. And lets be realistic - Yes, a 3 series BMW is better than a Protege, but they aren't really competing for the same consumer. So here goes:

1) Miata - I don't think there are even 10 cars competing with the Miata. And let's be reasonable - a Ferrari 550 Spyder is not a competing model.

2) Protege5 - This car did just win a comparo in Car and Driver against the likes of Focus, Matrix, Vibe and PT Cruiser. I can't name 10 better cars than this Mazda model. I'd have a hard time naming 2.

3) Protege - This market segment is very competitive. Civic, corolla, sentra, lancer, neon, focus, cavalier, sunfire, golf, and a few others from Kia and Hyundai. The Civic has long been the benchmark for this segment, so I'll give you that one. The newest corolla is a good car as well (although some don't like the styling). The Focus is a terrific handling car, but the quality is far from acceptable. Most test drivers hated the seats and how they felt when in them. You'll be hard pressed to find 10 better cars in this segment.

4) Tribute - This is another crowded market with a lot of pretty good vehicles. Those that may be better - CRV, Rav4, Xterra. It's essentially a twin of the Ford Escape; so are there 7 other small SUV's better than the Tribute? good luck finding them.

5) 626 - you might actually have an argument here for 10 better cars, but I won't fully concede there are 10 better. Let's list some that one could argue to be better: camry, accord, altima, jetta are probably locks. The galant, taurus, malibu/impala, intrepid are on par. There are only 3 cars in this segement that offer a v6 and a manual transmission (626, Altima, and Dodge intrepid). There are some other pretty sorry cars the 626 competes against. I know there is a replacement coming soon, and I'll reserve judgement on it until it gets here. But it should gain some ground.

6) Millennia - I'll concede this one to you. That market has a lot of excellent cars right now, and the Millennia is not up to snuff.

I know there are other Mazda products to list. And I am not a huge Mazda fanboy. But they make great cars with style, function, and reliability.

Now just because you own or will own a Mazda product doesn't obligate you to praise every thing they make, but don't be so quick to discount some of the other cars thay make.

Mazda makes good cars man, but not great.

I do remember saying that. I do like the miata though. But the mr2 and for some extra money the s2000, z3 offer easy competition.

You have to realize that a companies income (and other stuff) reflect how much money they can actually invest in a car... Mazda hasn't shown (or has - but very little) profit. I do however see a better future for this company, that new CEO seems to know how to attract people.

Either way, to take gain a good take in the tough Japanese market will be literally impossible, Honda and Toyota have created themselves a sound foundation. Even if Mazda were to produce an excellent car it doesn't have the Honda/Toyota/Nissan tag behind - and mazda will probably get the short end of things again?!?

Also, I'll state again - I'm here for the Mazda RX8 - not any other models.