chenpin

I was doing a search and found this:

http://www.sportscartesting.com/news/mazda/id530/pg2668

The article states RX-8 will come out in Feb!!! I'm guessing this is wrong but one can always dream :D

Hercules

That article is blatantly wrong, and to top it off is full of grammar and spelling errors

Hercules

Click here... and you will see "Coming Summer 2003".

It's Mazda's announcement.

jbebernes

Sounds wacky...but a 192 hp 5 speed manual with, hopefully a little more torque, cloth seats, 17 or 18 inch aftermarket alloys, and a true $26k US price? Sounds like alot of cheap(er) fun. I'll take one...

bbertha37

I really hope it comes out in May. I turn 17 in March, and I really don't feel like waiting till August to get my car.

boowana

If you read the article carefully, it states that the RX-8 will "launch" in February, not "come out" in February. With that said, it is still wrong because the RX-8 World Launch is in detroit the week of January 5th.:p

maikeru

"The car was targeted to pump out 250 HP, actually it comes in two versions: The 192 HP version and the 240 HP rocket."

Where have all the ponies gone??

Sputnik

Off to the "Media" section with this...

---jps

chenpin

Maybe Mazda took off so much weight that 250 was not needed. :D

bulkhead

The January edition of CAR magazine (UK), which is out now, says something about the Hi-power version having 240bhp in the UK, and that being 10bhp down on (I think) the US/Japan version. Probably to do with european emission regs.

Hercules

They've been quoting 240 for Europe for some time as I recall... 250 is for us horsepower crazy Americans :P

babylou

Can't be because Euro emmissions regs are less stringent than US regs.

Hercules

Not in California :p

m477

Yes, but for $26k you could also get a 350Z with 287hp, 274tq and a 6-speed.

Not that power is everything, but it's gonna be a tough sell for Mazda if they intend to offer 100 less horsepower for the same price.

But I thought that the 192hp 5-speed wasn't going to be released in the US (according to boowana at least). A 250hp base model for 26k is much more realistic if they really want the RX-8 to succeed.

m477

Oh wait, I figured out the mistake the article made:

The 192hp, 5-speed is the AUTOMATIC version! Remember, the manual is a 6-speed, and the auto has 5 gears. It all makes sense now.

jbebernes

Good point...

I really don't think that there is a 192 hp 5sp in the works, however. I thought I had read that this lower output motor would only be used for an automatic.

Buger

Hi Babylou,

The new Euro stage IV emissions standards look to be a bit tougher than their stage III standards. See below:

http://www.inrets.fr/infos/cost319/M22.pdf
2005 Euro stage IV standards (directive 98/69/EC)
HC .10 g/km * 1.609 = 0.161 g/mile
CO 1.0 g/km * 1.609 = 1.609 g/mile
NOx .08 g/km * 1.609 = 0.129 g/mile

Comparing this with the new US tier 2 standards (starting 2004?)

......................... HC .... CO ..... NOx
US Tier 2 .......... .125 .... 1.8 .... .16
Euro stage IV .... .161 ... 1.61 .... .13

Please correct me if I am wrong? The rx-8 was engineered to pass these upcoming standards.

Brian

boowana

m477

Sorry M477. That was not my message. The lwoer powered vehicle has an automatic transmissions. The power is lower because the RPM is lower. That's because the automatic aavailable now can't spin up high enough. There will be a new sequential automatic at a future date. My guess is that it might be launched with the Mazdaspeed version of the 8 when it comes out and following that, it would most likely replace the current automatic in a later version of the standard car. That's my theory an I'm stickin' with it!

Naturally, the higher horsepower version uses a standard transmission and can easily spin up to the 9000 RPM limit.

Now that I'm in guessing mode, I would expect the Mazdaspeed version will get the 10mm wider rotor and higher RPM at at least 10,000 RPM. That should generate I woyuld guess around 300 HP and will be naturally asperated.

:p

tallguylehigh

Hey boo,

Sicne we're getting close to the release of the production version, do you know if Mazda's claim of having the 250-hp at 26K is still feasible. I am kind of getting worried with the car mags saying that the hi-power motor, the 250-hp one is more likely to tap the 32K barrier. I thought that if anything the automatic would be the most expensive trim level at initial release. I am so confused, and worried

Gokart

Seems like 26K for such a car is too good to be true. I bet it ends up closer to 30K
Even at 30K I'll be tempted

Hercules

I doubt it, because the 350Z is priced at 26k base, and Mazda needs to compete with that.