Nalrac

Hey everyone, I have done some pics of my interpretation of a Convertible and MazdaSpeed Convertible RX-8 in the pictures section. Look for the tread called "Convertible RX-8 #1". I would love to see this happen so check it out and let me know what you think. Comments are greatly appreciated. Thanks, Adam

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Strider

I would love to see the design of a targa for the '8. I would like to have the openess of the convertable, but with the ridgedness of a hard top. Seeing as how the now dead Camaro and 'bird are gone w/ the T-top, it's about time that somebody comes in w/ an open top car w/o the convertable. Just my 2cents though.

Turbosmoke

i was not to fond of the rx7 vert but the rx8 might look good in a vert

cgorham

I hope they do both, it wouldn't be hard because theres no B-pillar keeping up the rigidity of the chassis, its all in the floor. I would definately go for the t-top all the way across the roof.

Z-FORCE

lets see those designs it sounds like a sweet idea

D C

most excellent. targa tops reek of awesomeness.

WankelWannabe

I think a Targa would look fantastic!
I hope they have plans for atleast a sunroof.

GoRacer

I love Targa Tops! Porsche, Corvette, Supra, they all look awsome. Although, Toyota had problems with frame flexing on the Supra. I don't like convertables.

I think the next RX-7 should be a Supercharged Targa top!!! :p

ZoomZoom

Give me a ragtop or a hard top; I never cared much for Targa Tops.

danger

gotta love me some rag top or hard top... no targa really....

however i dunno what the convertible will do to the structural integrity of the car. The rx8 has suicide doors correct? And without the support of both the floor and the roof the accident reliability would be comprimised.. So really i don't think its gonna happen...

Toadman

Ask yourself this...do you want a performance rotary handling package, or touchy-feely(i.e. heavy) conveniences? Trade-off's must be made and decided by the buyer.

ZoomZoom

Unfortunately I think that you are right about the structural integrity of the car.

danger

ye darn straight im probabaly right! like how i tried to sound smart in that post? But yea... if we really think about it, the lack of the pillar will greatly compromise the structural integrity...

BUT, if you look at other sport car convertibles or targas, there really is no centar pillar to protect the passengers right? So there could be some sort of t-top, targa, or convertible model in the future. But it will probably depend on the success of the rx-8. If anything a moonroof or sunroof will be available.

wakeech

hmm... becuase of the extensive bracing that runs through the roof of the car (not JUST the floor, i'm certain), it'd be very difficult to arrage even a t-top setup for this vehicle, never mind even a moon roof!!
a convertable version??? hmmm.... i'm not sure, but i really wouldn't count on it... ( i mean, look at the 3 series convertable... :p YIKES!!)

zoom44

what extensive bracing running thru the roof? as far as i know there is just the beam running over the doors to lock them into and maybe a cross support betwenn them. that could easily be placed to allow for a moon/sunroof.

Nalrac

Here guys....this is a previous post that I made on another thread titled RX-8 convertible in the Pictures section....it should clear this up a little.

As for the structural rigidity of the chasis. From what I have heard from Mazda (through e-mails and phone conversations) about the way that the car was designed, the chasis is almost structurally rigid enough as is. I was curious about the the stiffness of the chasis and what they had done to compensate for the loss of a B-pillar. I presumed that because the back doors had support bars running up the outter edge that had some advantage over handling. Mazda says no. They said that the only use for the in-door support beam is for side impact collisions. It played no large part in the rigidity of the chasis. So what, i asked, is the handling going to be like. Well, they said "We're working on that, but refer to the Road & Track website for further info and updates next month." So that's what I did, and this is what R&T say's (I appologise in advance if you've aready read it);

"Amazingly, around Mazda proving ground's tricky assortment of corners, the RX-8 chassis exhibited rock-solid rigidity, with no sign of flex whatsoever. And the harder I drove, the more solid the car felt. 'I'll let you in on something,' one of the engineers told me after my drive. 'We made the body of this thing stiffer than that of the RX-7.'

Their secret, I was later told, was in the numerous structural reinforcements that branch out from the RX-8's backbone chassis. With so much of its support located on or near the floor, one can only assume a convertible version is on the way. There's even talk that the next Miata will be built on this platform."

I e-mailed to confirm these allegations and they said, "We cannot release any information about future trim levels for the RX-8 until a release date has been set." So I replied and asked, "So, I can take that as a 'Yes we are planning to have a convertible but we don't know when'." And they said, "We're working on it." So, I did the pics so we could be the first to see it.

Sorry this thread was so lengthy but I thought that was cool information.

It personnally makes me happy to know that Mazda is finally going to have a convertible worth owning again. And if the Miata is built on the RX-8 platform then then they might have TWO worth owning.

wakeech

oh, i see... i was under the impression (from some other person's post... NOT trying to pass blame!! ) that there was some sort of chassis stiffening and cross bracing throughout the roof of the car.
:D apologies.

Lock & Load

I HAVE TRIED TO CREATE A TARGA TOP FROM MY SCALE MODEL RX8 ???

CREATIVE/CONSTRUCTIVE COMMENTS WELCOMED .

CHEERS

MICHAEL