Does the RX-8 owe anything to the S2000?

BlueAdept · 10-05-2002, 05:46 PM

You decide:-

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Sputnik · 10-05-2002, 06:06 PM

You'd have to stretch your imagination far enough that you could say that about a bunch of cars.

BTW, didn't we see "holey" pedals in the RX7?

---jps

BlueAdept · 10-05-2002, 06:10 PM

Yeah...

There's a limit to what a sportscar can look like... to put that arguement, the S2000 owes a lot to the AC Cobra...

I was just trying to stimulate some debate... LOL.

wakeech · 10-05-2002, 07:12 PM

maybe the tstyling wasn't copied (no two lines are the same), but this could be the trend in which japanese sports cars will be styled inside for the next 5-10 years?? well, okay, except of course for stogmobiles like the Toyota, who have their own brand of styling ("outside the box") for their exciting cars, eh??

BlueAdept · 10-05-2002, 07:24 PM

The more I look at those two pictures... the more I am convinced that the RX-8 looks much nicer than the S2000... but it's a personal taste thing I guess...

I think the front "fenders" do grow on you as well... especially seeing the photoshop job of them removed.

Elara · 10-05-2002, 10:12 PM

In addition, why don't you post a yellow mustang next to them as well- it also slightly resembles them both.

I don't think it's just Japanese sports cars- there seems to be a trend towards more rounded lines- look at the updated Audis, the new BMWs, the new Beetle...even the 350Z- instead of the fluid lines of the cars of the 90s, like the RX7s and old celicas, for example, there seem to be more circles and defined cutoffs going on. Even the new Ferrari Enzo is more defined and less fluid.

But, I could be imagining things...

Hercules · 10-06-2002, 12:55 AM

I don't care who anybody steals from, as long as they come away with a good looking and solid car. The 350Z borrows from the Audi TT and the Lexus GS, but does it poorly. The front end of the 350Z looks fine to me, nice and agressive, but its profile is really bad, and its rear end even worse. Head on though, very nice car.

The RX-8 might have borrowed from a bunch of cars but in the end, it's the only one with two rotors spinning to 10,000RPMs, with suicide doors, and a great overall interior to boot.

So I really don't care

Not like I can substitute the S2000 in for a car that has rear seats :P

BlueAdept · 10-06-2002, 08:15 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by Elara
I don't think it's just Japanese sports cars- there seems to be a trend towards more rounded lines- look at the updated Audis, the new BMWs, the new Beetle...even the 350Z- instead of the fluid lines of the cars of the 90s, like the RX7s and old celicas, for example, there seem to be more circles and defined cutoffs going on. Even the new Ferrari Enzo is more defined and less fluid.

I wonder if it's for the same reason that the new stealth aircraft are now more rounded... Computer power!

Basically the more shapes you have the harder it is to simulate the aerodynamics... so now we have more advanced computers, perhaps manufacturers are more free to express themselves in the design confident that they can make it aerodynamic.

pelucidor · 10-06-2002, 10:41 AM

Sounds like Cadillac needs a better computer pronto.

pelucidor · 10-06-2002, 10:51 AM

I love the way the S2000 looks. There is some resemblance with the RX-8 (especially with both in yellow) but that's true of many nice looking cars (both before and after the S2000 came about). Perhaps that's why I like the 8 so much. If this is future Japanese sports car styling I am all for it, but sadly the 'new Supra' spy shots look very different (and ugly).

When you try to be too radically different from what is within the norm of good looks you end up with a Bangle creation like the Z4 - an offense to the visible light portion of the spectrum.

BlueAdept · 10-06-2002, 11:11 AM

Perhaps it was designed by someone who's eyes respond to a different wavelength...

wakeech · 10-06-2002, 12:11 PM

precisely what i meant: Toyota's exciting cars have their own "identity"...

but i think that my origional comment about the trend in japanese autos is correct, as if one looks at german sports cars of late, they have been evolving into more and more streamlined shapes (ie 911, BMW 5, any Audi), whereas the Japanese sports cars are becoming more and more edgy, and quirky (and i don't mean in the fugly Ford sense)...

as for the aero simulation, they don't need to use the computers (too damned expensive!!), 'cause even in F1 circles, there's no replacement (yet) for a good windtunnel... and also, production car exteriors place esthetics above functionality (as far as drag and aero go)... they just try and cut wind noise as much as they can with the ultra luxomobiles, but for any other car, it's pretty easy to see that a windsheild with a lower rake will have less drag than a near vertical one...

Donny Boy · 10-06-2002, 12:45 PM

The Honda is not the only car that looks similar to the car from Mazda. All cars today have the "cat eye" headlights, but not enough to say cars are similar in design.

BlueAdept · 10-06-2002, 01:37 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by wakeech

as for the aero simulation, they don't need to use the computers (too damned expensive!!), 'cause even in F1 circles, there's no replacement (yet) for a good windtunnel... and also, production car exteriors place esthetics above functionality (as far as drag and aero go)... they just try and cut wind noise as much as they can with the ultra luxomobiles, but for any other car, it's pretty easy to see that a windsheild with a lower rake will have less drag than a near vertical one...

Indeed, nothing has or for a while will REPLACE the wind tunnel... but I'm sure that a lot of simulation does happen in the early stages before a find tunnel model is made.

Mind you, with these fast prototype 3d printer machines available now, it should be less work to do a simple wind tunnel test.

boowana · 10-06-2002, 04:48 PM

BlueAdept;

I twas interesting that you compared the two and yes, one can see similarities between the two, but..............................
who said the yellow RX-8 that you used in your comarison is anything like the final version of the RX-8?
I think everyone will be "pleasantly surpirsed". The final is going to blow the shorts off the competition. Just wait until Detroit.
:p

BlueAdept · 10-06-2002, 05:10 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by boowana

Who said the yellow RX-8 that you used in your comarison is anything like the final version of the RX-8?

Not I... I posted the picture (For which I do not take credit)... because I hoped to stimulate some debate on the subject... and infact because the RX-8 stopped me in my tracks when I would infact have an S2000 by now without it's imminent arrival!

Once I started doing some more serious research into the Mazda RX series, I have become facinated and if Mazda announced that the RX-8 was to be canceled (God forbid) or delayed I would have an FD ASAP, instead.

The 4 seats are not important to me, being single... but more of a convenience... although the hardtop is a must as a convertable is a liability here more of the time than it is an advantage.

rxtreme · 10-06-2002, 05:42 PM

Quote:

who said the yellow RX-8 that you used in your comarison is anything like the final version of the RX-8?

Boowana, you had better stop teasing us with your insider info unless you want to start posting pictures!

Grimace · 10-06-2002, 06:47 PM

Simultaneous thread going on at S2000 forum: http://www.s2ki.com/forums/showthrea...threadid=76098
You can read my thoughts there.

BryanH · 10-06-2002, 11:31 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by boowana
I think everyone will be "pleasantly surpirsed". The final is going to blow the shorts off the competition. Just wait until Detroit.
:p

Uh oh... personally I don't see how the 'current' yellow RX-8 look could be improved upon much. I hope to be pleasantly surprised as you suggest, but I'm not holding my breath... at this point I'm afraid of change.

rxtreme · 10-07-2002, 08:37 PM

Quote:

I think everyone will be "pleasantly surpirsed". The final is going to blow the shorts off the competition. Just wait until Detroit.

Boowana, you're actually starting to get me a little worried. I like the looks of the current RX-8. What is being changed? Subtle? Drastic? What?

Elara · 10-07-2002, 09:50 PM

Well, whatever's changed, boowana's comments were enough to get me off my butt and buy plane tickets and make hotel reservations for January.

And for anyone else going to Detroit, I learned something interesting- the Downtown Ramada in Detroit apparently is not the place to stay. It is actually used for public housing, and I have now been warned by reviews I found online and an actual person in Detroit. So beware! I can't speak from experience, but from the info I'm finding, don't want to....

InBlackPlease · 10-15-2002, 06:28 AM

Does anyone remember the "Future" Corvette on the cover of R&T a few months ago? If I remember correctly it was just one month or two after the RX-8 adorned the cover.

In fact here is the earlier thread discussing this very thing:

http://www.rx8forum.com/showthread.php?s=&threadid=318

There will always be some similarities in different manufacturers. The most important thing is what each manufacturer does with the car as a whole. This is where the 8 will make it's mark, especially with the new rotary under the hood. I just hope that enough people see what an amazing car this is to give Mazda (and Ford) the confidence to keep building this type of car.

D C · 10-15-2002, 10:25 AM

I guess I kind of see that, but the most heinous theft going on is everyone stealing Toyota's tail lights and spoilers.