This may have already been discussed. If so, post a link and you have my apologies.

I went to the Mazda Build an RX-8 site today and had two surprises. First no Shinka. But more importantly, it shows the AT as being 212 HP for a 1.3l 4-port rotary engine.

How did they get 212 HP out of the 4-port engine?

 

prolly a mistake

 

The Shinka is now an option package, not a special model.

 

Thanks!

Yeah, I just found that myself while doing some more playing. You have to pick the right exterior color to get a Shinka (isn't that obvious).

However, it didn't seem reasonable that they would drop the Shinka.

 

actually, every color can now get the shinka package (just pick the alacantra leather option), its just that the copper red is only available with the shinka package.

 

no only 4 colors can have the shinka package

 

oops. my bad.

copper red, brillant black, snowflake white, and galaxy grey get the shinka option.

phantom blue, winning blue, sunlight silver, and velocity red do not.

 

Yes, only Copper Red, White, Black and Galaxy Gray. Now why didn't I think of that!

 

what i want to know, why isn't the nav available with the shinka package?

 

I'm not so sure the spec sheet is wrong on the 4 port thing. That's a pretty hard thing to overlook. Now, given a company that tends to screw up horsepower numbers, I could very well be wrong . I e-mailed MNAO and asked, but every time I ask them any type of technical question, I either get a big fat "dunno" or some canned response. You'd think someone there would know something about their products . Guess I'll wait and see.

 

How do you know?

 

because zoom has seen it and touched the 6 port personally

 

you know this is already the third time they have put up the 2006 info? they have put most of it up twice before only to take it down because it didnt all work right.

 

since when has mazda not exaggerated hp numbers?

 

That just reinforces my skepticism of the 6port motor. They missed it 3 times??

Just because the pre production display model had a 6 port, doesn't mean the final version will get one. There's significant benefit in keeping the 4 port around, as I see it. Particularly if there are future rotary cars in the lineup.

 

Still think the should change the name of Brilliant Black to Swirley Black. Or Orange Peel Black.

 

The AT "4-port" is probably a slip of the webpage. The SELECT TRIM page says the MT has a "232-hp 1.3L 6-port Rotary Engine" while the SUMMARY page says "238-hp 1.3L Rotary Engine". The RX-8 brochure and spec sheet on the site are still 2005.

Looks like they haven't done the full web site update yet ... sorry to have bothered everyone.

 

what pictures?

only pictures i've seen are the pre-production show cars. and that doesn't necessarily ensure that the car will come with the 6 port.

The auto originally was rated for 210hp, then ended up with the knee-jerk detune as it went to market. So the power is in there. The question is, is the power available legally, emissions wise.

The car may very well come with a 6 port, and the power peaking at 7500rpm leans that way, but Mazda has never been very forthcoming (or particularly accurate) with any info about upcoming models. Plus I have a 4port, so deep down inside I would really like the car to keep it (it's a better engine for the rpm range anyway), so I'm just hoping.

 

yeah my friend went in for an oil change, and he talked to one of the sales rep's. The guy confirmed that it's the new 2006 8 in AT with 212 HP and it's definitely a 4 Port.... So sorry for you people who wanted to buy the new 2006 AT.. it's still a 4 port, but it does have more HP on a plus side.

 

I don't know. One could compile an impressive list of contrafactual things that sales reps have said.

 

Yes, salesmen are not the most reliable source of technical information, but who knows ...

Why do you feel "sorry" for the potential buyers if it's still a 4-port? Why is a 212-hp 6-port better than a 212-hp 4-port?

 

Sales reps are an awful source of information. The things I've heard out of their mouths...

I'm thinking 6-port based on the new specs. Power is up significantly, with the peak only 300 RPM higher. Torque peak and RPM also same as MT engine, just capped at 7,500.

Anyone know where the redline is with the new AT engine? 7,500 perhaps?

 

Mazda has posted a 2006 spec sheet on its website and it specifically says "212 hp 1.3-liter RENESIS 2-rotor, 4-intake-port, rotary engine". Check out:

http://www.mazdausa.com/MusaWeb/pdf/..._specs_RX8.pdf

Now, with that said, why would an engine that is rev-limited to 7500 RPM need a third port that only opens at 6500 RPM? My thinking is that the 212-hp RENESIS is identical to the high-power MT engine except for two things: special PCM firmware to enforce the 7500 RPM limit and no 3rd port hardware (because it is not used).

[Edit: Brain fart --- yes 7500 is greater than 6500, not smaller. I need to get more sleep. So the question changes to a less obvious "Is the 3rd port that critical for power in the 6500-7500 RPM range?"]

 

1st of all--I'd be more apt to believe the pics versus that pdf. The pic is of a 6-port A/T.
2nd of all--isn't Mazda still selling the 4-port elswhere in the world with the 5spd manual? Or is the 5spd manual being dropped?

 

Yes, Mazda sold the low power engine with a manual transmission in other markets. My understanding was that was the same engine they delivered in US AT models.

BTW, hasn't Mazda already been selling the 212-hp AT in other markets. Have we heard of anyone actually buying one? If so he/she can just look under the hood.