race1

just picked up the january issue of automobile, they have some "new" pics of the interior. Want to know what the two switches are on the backbone frame just aft of the shifter! Anybody?

Quick_lude

Yes! Gimmie details! :D

Hercules

You know we all want to know you tease

I'd guess they are heat seaters though.

Elara

I read the article too- and while I don't remember the part about the switches you're talking about (I don't have it sitting in front of me), they did have the new pictures of the red car- it's got the turn signals on the fender in all the pictures, and they didn't seem to like the car much. The article seemed to imply that it was kind of a mushy, easy driver, and not very exciting. They also didn't seem very impressed with the interior. I'm going to hope that it was just the writer speaking, and not the true feel of the car.

fritts

I hope they didn't put heated seats in the 8. My thought is that they are for traction control option.

Grimace

If it is the red car that they are basing those opinions on, then yes, it is more softly suspended than the silver car that was at that same press day.
I'm thinking Mazda wasn't very clear on telling the reviewers this. Perhaps some didn't even drive the silver car?
Why the heck did they even have the red car there for testing if it so vastly different?
Anyway, World of Wheels did a test exclusively on the silver car and fell in love, but they are actually respecting the request by Mazda to not publish driving impressions or other results until Jan.

Hercules

Did they publish the World of Wheels article online yet? I'd love to take a look at it. I'm in the states so we don't get the magazine here

zoom44

yes they did herc and you can find it here scanned and posted by 73JPS

race1

just a thought, but could the rear pop-outs be electric- like they were on the old mazda 626 turbo coupes? maybe the switches are for those?

Sputnik

If the pop-outs are motorized, the controls for those would normally be co-located with the main window controls.

---jps

9000RPMan

Did anyone else notice that in the Automobile Magazine article, and the World of Wheels article the RX-8 now has fog/driving lights?

tallguylehigh

Just read the Automobile article- it was weird, although they were told that they had not seen the end of the RX-7, they continually referred to the RX-8 as the sucessor to the RX-7.

Also, they didn't seem that blown away by the car, this also may be due to the fact they didnt get the superior silver model.

Sounds like the interior is totally unique, I look forward to seeing it and sitting in it, i just hope the headroom is ok. (I'm 6'4")

One thing that didnt make sense, it said the auto version will start at 27K while the stick would start at 32K, why would any base car, let alone a aports car, have an automatic in it? That didnt make sense at all. Eh, due to the fact that the article told me what I wasn't expecting or wanting, I shall dismiss it. :D

1.3 liter

I read the article, but mostly I noticed the pics. of the silver car. Am I correct in seeing headlamp washers? When I had my '83 RX-7 GS, I learned that the Japanese versions came equiped with washers and I wanted some too as a matter of fact, I saw a RHD 1st gen. with washers in a parking lot in the middle 80's. I think that we won't get the washers in the States, maybe Canada, Europe, and certainly Japan. Bummer. Just like the states isn't getting the rear fog light, but Europe is. Geez Audi provides a rear fog light on the cars they sell in the states. MAZDA ARE U LISTENING? I'm getting screwed on the mini-disc player also. Dang, but I LOVE this car, and I still plan on getting one. A lot of the bruthas in this forum talk about performance and stuff, and that's cool, I like performance too, but I also like aesthetics in addition to athletics.

roachman

My guess is that these switches are for the windows. I have seen some cars with the window switches in the middle and not on the door....

Roachman

Buger

Here is a better picture of the switches:

We've already seen pictures of the window switches on the doors. Can these be for the windows also? Sunroof? Power seat controls? Dynamic Stability Controls?

Brian

pmacwill

me thinks... they could be nav controls??? please! oh please!

pmacwill

and the ones in back are obviously butt warmers :D

Hercules

Just proved my initial assertion that those switches were for heated seats

Puppy1

Excellent pix.

Notice the yellow/orange square on the bottom side of the switch. Reminds me of a rear defroster button. Its now clear that they are SEAT HEATERS swiches that light up when they are turned on.

zoom44

definetly butt warmer switches. but what is the joystick thing and its buttons and where is buger finding these pics?!

confucious

My first guess was controls for rear view mirrors.
But guessing from the buttons, maybe it's control for a navigation system?

pmacwill

I see these buttons

-Menu
-POS(?)
-Ret (Return)
-T**R (maybe Tour?)
-***ance (possibly distance?)
and a joystick

if this doesn't scream nav, I don't know what does. Also, it makes sense for the controls to be there by the shifter, if they were up on the dash where the retractable screen is presumed to be, it would be a safety hazzard.

Everything is falling into place...

Puppy1

POS - That's the button you push to log your "kills" on Piece Of Sh*t cars.

No really, I'd say its for POSITION.

Hercules

Those have to be navigation controls

Quick_lude

Nice pic.. Love that shifter! :D