This just in:

Just got a phone call from budaman, who had just got off a conference call with MNAO. Apparently they are revising the RX-8 horsepower figures: the Manual is being revised down 3.6% to 238hp, and the Auto down 4.5% to 197hp.

Anyone who has already purchased an RX-8 will be receiving a letter from Mazda offering two alternatives:

Mazda will buy back the car. (He didn't have the full details - they'll be in the letter.)

Mazda will provide free scheduled servicing for the duration of the standard warranty plus a $500 debit card.

Basically the same deal that they offered after the 2001 Miata was found to be down on power too. Owners will have 30 days to decide.

Personally, I'm amazed that they repeated such a basic blunder, but I know which of the options I'll be taking (and it ain't "return the car" ).

I found this thread on the us forum , just wondering whether the AUSTRALIAN rx8 are also effected and what the real kw figures are for our cars
ITS hard to believe that mazda has stuffed up on the power output figures once again .

As Maestro sid in another thread

238hp = 177.47kW

So, does that mean the US are the same as AUS, or are we down ?

Since here in OZ we have already been downgraded from original
184 KW AND 216NM TO the now 177KW AND 211NM I am hoping we stay with those figures .

MAZDA THAT USED TO OPERATE THEIR BUSSINESS BY WAY OF BUSHIDO (HONOUR CODE OF JAPANESE WARRIOR ) KNOW SEEMS TO BE OPERATING THEIR BUSSINES (BY WAY OF DECEPTION )

Its dissapointing that it takes the consumer to get mazda to wrigth their wrongs.

Dont regulatorie bodies check on engine power outputs , its hard to believe that mazda has once again mistakenly gave the comsumers wrong figures.

You would think that it could not have won ENGINE OF THE YEAR AWARDS WHITOUT THE ENGINES BEING PROPERLY TESTED.

I will contact mazda OZ on monday and see what they say about the rx8 in OZ I hope we dont get downgraded once again.

I hope the power rating doesn't go any lower. I thought 177Kw was already low enough.

Any get their RACV Royal Auto mag? It compares the RX-8 to the 350Z Track. They only managed 8.1sec for the 0-100km/hr dash in their RX-8.

They gave a win to the RX-8 over the Nissan.

Donald