PotatoSoup

Hey all,

I was wondering if anyone has any good info one way or the other about the RX-8 continuing in the US as a model year 2011 vehicle?

In recent years at least it seems the "next" model year's RX-8 would start production around March/April of the current year (for example, MY2010 RX-8s went into production in March 2009).

I was honestly worried when the MY2010s came out. They dropped the Touring trim (sweet spot) in the lineup and severely limited color choices, which made me think they were winding down the RX-8 in the US and would discontinue it here altogether after MY2010.

My original goal was to order a Series II in January '09, but that's when my previous employer told me they would be eliminating their US operations and that I would be laid off. So that threw a wrench in the works. However, I am absolutely determined to buy a new car this year (late summer/early fall), and I still have eyes for the RX-8.

So I hope there will be a MY2011, and I REALLY hope that they will offer more choices than just red, black, and silver (make Aurora Blue available on all trims, and for all that is holy, bring back white!!!!).

kthxbai

nsu

I expect MY2011 will be the last MY for the 8. If not, you can always pick up a new leftover MY2010 at a substantial discount given it's been sitting on the lot unsold for so long.

RX8pwnage

iTrader: (1)

Aurora Blue is fine right where it is, on the R3 only!

Razz1

Just ask a dealer.....

They still make money so why not make it until the 16x comes out.

nsu

Not sure about making money because many dealers don't stock the 8.

ezrider55

I went to dealer to replace my totaled RX 8 and was told that when they shut down production it will be a year or more before they start production on replacement. Talked to the owner and he said they would not tell him what the replacement will be but it will Magical.

Go48

Remember, dealerships are in the business of selling cars. Their goal is to sell you a car today. So most will tell you whatever they think will accomplish that goal. So take whatever they say with the proverbial grain of salt.

It is likely that the dealerships either have no idea about the future of the RX-8 or the 16X engine, or the information they have been provided by Mazda corporate has been limited to a very few high-level officals and has been embargoed. It is also very possible that Mazda corporate has yet to make any decisions at all about the future of their rotary-engined cars.

IMO, with the position that the rotary engine has in the history and persona of the Mazda brand, that there will be a rotary-engined vehicle in their line-up for decades to come.

Huey52

iTrader: (2)

Given the recent flurry of hybrid announcements from other brands (Porsche, Lotus and of course upcoming Chevy Volt), I wonder if a one-rotor as an electrical range extender might be in the offing.

mike1161

Just saw this at a site called Mazdapic.com:

Several reports have surfaced over the past day indicating that Mazda is prepping a thoroughly redesigned RX-8 for display at the Frankfurt Motor Show this September. However, according to Mazda USA’s director of communications, Jeremy Barnes, the next rotary-powered coupe won’t debut for at least a few more years. Since Mazda just released the facelifted RX-8 last year, a full-scale overhaul seems a bit hasty, particularly considering the four-door coupe’s niche status. If something does arrive in Frankfurt, it’s likely a region-specific model, packing some additional features (new Recaro seats and infotainment package, say) akin to the recently released R3.
As for the next RX-series from Mazda, the automaker is hard at work on the all-new 16X rotary engine, and in that case, a revised Wankel rotary is expected to power the updated model, which is not expected until around 2011 or 2012.

Snrub

Audi recently produced an A1 concept with this exact concept. Rotaries make good generators.

fyrstormer

I think a hybrid rotary would be a dream come true. What do rotaries suck at? Efficiency and torque. What do electric motors excel at? Efficiency and torque.

Huey52

iTrader: (2)

^ Yep. A single rotor as a generator, with its small footprint but relatively high output, coupled with an innately high torque electric would be ideal.

Baghli

iTrader: (1)

A hybrid sports car doesnt seem likely... Theres just very little to no appeal there... Just my opinion of course, it could happen I guess.

Huey52

iTrader: (2)

^ Porsche, Lotus and Audi are all planning hybrid-electric sportscars.

The Tesla is a pure electric sportscar already on the market. There's also a limited production Atom.

Electric's have 100% torque sitting still. You can't get better than that!

I'd buy one, when the prices come down as they achieve greater mass production.

Baghli

iTrader: (1)

torque is nice but what about hp? weight to power ratio?

Huey52

iTrader: (2)

^ Electric's have plenty of horsepower (kW actually) and are very power/weight efficient. Consider all the 'support systems' (oil, coolant, etc.) an electric motor doesn't need compared with a gas. True it does need a relatively heavy battery pack, but somewhat offset by gas tank, etc.

Baghli

iTrader: (1)

1hp=.746kW pretty much. We were talking hybrid which means all the gas components r still there plus the heavy batteries.

rxat2012

iTrader: (1)

i think a boosted 16x will be all the torque i need....

Huey52

iTrader: (2)

^ Or even an unboosted 16X, but will we ever see it?

danatkins8605

yea but man that extra mpg would be nice but idk if i could part with my 8 for a hybrid only had him a month and the monster is just to awesome

AuroraGT

I think that the current RENESIS engined RX-8 will survive until the end of March 2011.

The reason for this is that from 1-January-2011 the Euro-5 emissions standard becomes mandatory, and I simply do not see Mazda MoCo continuing with the unchanged RX-8 until early 2012 - so my guess is the RX-8 will be made for another 10-12 months as is while they gear-up for the new model manufacture, the new model will be possibly launched later this year, or early next year as a MY 2012 model and the saga continues.

If they cannot make 16X Euro-5 compliant then the currently named R3(USA and EU),Type-RS(Japan),GT(Australia) - (and other lesser models) is the last of the rotary powered Mazda's for good.