summaries of articles from car and top gear
12-09-2002, 04:32 PM
#1
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summaries of articles from car and top gear
i found these post on mazdarotaryclub.com. i havent seen the articles myself yet.
Car
"That latter figure (240bhp) gets commendably close to the old twin-turbo 13B's 265bhp, though torque is a different story. So's the power delivery, with the Renesis feeling not at all lik ethe explosive, electric 13B. Indeed, it delivers such strong, stepless acceleration as to feel almost unremarkable.
Had Mazda neede to eclipse the old turbo 13B, it could quite simply have increased the normally aspirated engine's capacity with 10mm wider rotor chambers, as it did to transform the 12A into the 13 B. Which is exactly what we'd expect Mazda to do in a short wheelbase, two-seat version of this car to carry on the RX-7 badge...
Designer Maeda throws his hands in the air at the hint of a true RX-7 replacement. 'Ahh, it's really hard to tell! I'm not the person to say anything, but we really want to.'"
"The RX-8 doesn't set out to be an extreme, smack-you-up sports car. It hasn't grown fat, it has grown efficient."
"In terms of chassis response, the chassis is just as good as the RX-7's, but it is more linear, and I think in terms of absolute chassis capability there's more grip and a more balanced feel to it."
"Weight distibution is bang on 50/50 front to rear."
"It all bodes well for the RX-8 and whatever might follow; Mazda says this all new platform will underpin its next generation of sports cars."
"...'I think we've been able to get the agility we wanted, so I think we've got a good combination of agility and stability' Bakaj says.
So it proved, in too few laps of the Global Road circuit at Mazda's Miyoshi proving ground. Emulating everything from German autobahn to Belgian cobbled streets and French mountain roads, the circuit serves up a 2.1 mile loop of quick crests, odd cambers and uneven surfaces. They must still be pulling old RX-7 mules out of the trees.
The RX-8, though, is a product of this environment: poised, planted, plenty in reserve. "
"Mazda issued no preformance figures and Miyoshi gave no opportunity to get them, but the point is that a guesstimate would very probably understate the RX-8s accelerative abilities. We'd peg it nearer a 330Ci than an M3- but where those in-line sixes surge and spit and humker down with each new cog, the Mazda gathers momentum more like a Hot Wheels car down a ramp."
"Anyway uo slice it, this chassis is a sweetheart, and especially so on the grippier, optional sports suspension with 18 inch hoops. First thing you notice is the steering- pleasantly quick and reassuringly weighted, all of this artificially enhanced through a new, electric system that operates directly onto the steering rack.
Overwhelmingly, however, the RX-8 is about neutrality. Tipped into a corner, there's more than a strictly sporting degree of body roll, but excellent grip and confident body control to go with it. When that runs out, lazy and controllably, the chassis maintains its neutrality, aided by one of those rare DSC systems that acknowledges options other than 'more understeer'.
With the stabiliy control off, the RX-8 still imparts the confidence of a wheelbase longer than it actually is. Understeer on corner entry turns quickly but comfortably into oversteer, all of it again telegraphed through the progressive slip of the BRidgestones. Where an RX-7 would have flicked you off the road, the RX-8 is tapping you on the shoulder.
Indeed , the RX-8's advances become most apparent over Miyoshi's more mixed surfaces. Its tracking over bumps and swoops, and its directional stability under braking on unsympathetic cambers, have very nearly the resolve of a much heavier sports saloon.
Just as, conceptually, the RX-8 sits between sports coupe and sports saloon, so it proves dynamically. Those with fond (or even fearful) memories of the twin-turbo RX-7 will possibly be disappointed by the RX-8's understated competence. But that's the way with these things: you won't stop missing the one that broke your *****, but the RX-8 is the one you'll marry."
Top Gear:
"This certainly sound like no other powerplant. The subtly menacing whirring noise it produces is in fact closer to the motors ropelling the Shinkansen Bullet Train that's sped us here..."
" the power delivery is progressive, instantly accesible and builds rapidly in intensity. A snappy 6 speed manual gearbox and the fact that the rev counter's needle zips so swiftly round the dial means that a relative lack of torque, with just 156 lbft available at 5500rpm, rarely intrudes."
"It's agile but never edgy. A succesion of pot holes that look imported from the average British back road do little to shimmy the car wide of my chosen line, the sophisticated double wishbone front and multilink rear suspension remaining impressively composed."
"Although there's some body movement, the broad tyres sitting on heft 18 inch wheels show strong resistance t olessening their grip. There's scarcely any understeer while a shove of the drive-by-wire throttle mid-corner does little to loosen the rear end either, just a sudden lift off of the power with the suspension loading up proving to threaten to send the tail stepping readily out of shape."
"On a lengthy stretch like this the RX-8 could glue itself to the tailgate of a Subaru Impreza STi, even if it's initial surge isn't so brutal...the brakes are feelsome and aggresive at dispatching all that speed."
"the RX-8 is set to be one of next years freshest, sharpest cars."
Car
"That latter figure (240bhp) gets commendably close to the old twin-turbo 13B's 265bhp, though torque is a different story. So's the power delivery, with the Renesis feeling not at all lik ethe explosive, electric 13B. Indeed, it delivers such strong, stepless acceleration as to feel almost unremarkable.
Had Mazda neede to eclipse the old turbo 13B, it could quite simply have increased the normally aspirated engine's capacity with 10mm wider rotor chambers, as it did to transform the 12A into the 13 B. Which is exactly what we'd expect Mazda to do in a short wheelbase, two-seat version of this car to carry on the RX-7 badge...
Designer Maeda throws his hands in the air at the hint of a true RX-7 replacement. 'Ahh, it's really hard to tell! I'm not the person to say anything, but we really want to.'"
"The RX-8 doesn't set out to be an extreme, smack-you-up sports car. It hasn't grown fat, it has grown efficient."
"In terms of chassis response, the chassis is just as good as the RX-7's, but it is more linear, and I think in terms of absolute chassis capability there's more grip and a more balanced feel to it."
"Weight distibution is bang on 50/50 front to rear."
"It all bodes well for the RX-8 and whatever might follow; Mazda says this all new platform will underpin its next generation of sports cars."
"...'I think we've been able to get the agility we wanted, so I think we've got a good combination of agility and stability' Bakaj says.
So it proved, in too few laps of the Global Road circuit at Mazda's Miyoshi proving ground. Emulating everything from German autobahn to Belgian cobbled streets and French mountain roads, the circuit serves up a 2.1 mile loop of quick crests, odd cambers and uneven surfaces. They must still be pulling old RX-7 mules out of the trees.
The RX-8, though, is a product of this environment: poised, planted, plenty in reserve. "
"Mazda issued no preformance figures and Miyoshi gave no opportunity to get them, but the point is that a guesstimate would very probably understate the RX-8s accelerative abilities. We'd peg it nearer a 330Ci than an M3- but where those in-line sixes surge and spit and humker down with each new cog, the Mazda gathers momentum more like a Hot Wheels car down a ramp."
"Anyway uo slice it, this chassis is a sweetheart, and especially so on the grippier, optional sports suspension with 18 inch hoops. First thing you notice is the steering- pleasantly quick and reassuringly weighted, all of this artificially enhanced through a new, electric system that operates directly onto the steering rack.
Overwhelmingly, however, the RX-8 is about neutrality. Tipped into a corner, there's more than a strictly sporting degree of body roll, but excellent grip and confident body control to go with it. When that runs out, lazy and controllably, the chassis maintains its neutrality, aided by one of those rare DSC systems that acknowledges options other than 'more understeer'.
With the stabiliy control off, the RX-8 still imparts the confidence of a wheelbase longer than it actually is. Understeer on corner entry turns quickly but comfortably into oversteer, all of it again telegraphed through the progressive slip of the BRidgestones. Where an RX-7 would have flicked you off the road, the RX-8 is tapping you on the shoulder.
Indeed , the RX-8's advances become most apparent over Miyoshi's more mixed surfaces. Its tracking over bumps and swoops, and its directional stability under braking on unsympathetic cambers, have very nearly the resolve of a much heavier sports saloon.
Just as, conceptually, the RX-8 sits between sports coupe and sports saloon, so it proves dynamically. Those with fond (or even fearful) memories of the twin-turbo RX-7 will possibly be disappointed by the RX-8's understated competence. But that's the way with these things: you won't stop missing the one that broke your *****, but the RX-8 is the one you'll marry."
Top Gear:
"This certainly sound like no other powerplant. The subtly menacing whirring noise it produces is in fact closer to the motors ropelling the Shinkansen Bullet Train that's sped us here..."
" the power delivery is progressive, instantly accesible and builds rapidly in intensity. A snappy 6 speed manual gearbox and the fact that the rev counter's needle zips so swiftly round the dial means that a relative lack of torque, with just 156 lbft available at 5500rpm, rarely intrudes."
"It's agile but never edgy. A succesion of pot holes that look imported from the average British back road do little to shimmy the car wide of my chosen line, the sophisticated double wishbone front and multilink rear suspension remaining impressively composed."
"Although there's some body movement, the broad tyres sitting on heft 18 inch wheels show strong resistance t olessening their grip. There's scarcely any understeer while a shove of the drive-by-wire throttle mid-corner does little to loosen the rear end either, just a sudden lift off of the power with the suspension loading up proving to threaten to send the tail stepping readily out of shape."
"On a lengthy stretch like this the RX-8 could glue itself to the tailgate of a Subaru Impreza STi, even if it's initial surge isn't so brutal...the brakes are feelsome and aggresive at dispatching all that speed."
"the RX-8 is set to be one of next years freshest, sharpest cars."
12-09-2002, 06:23 PM
#3
Originally posted by Donny Boy
Overall, very good takes on what the RX-8 is all about. Not much on the acceleration or cornering grip measurements. Though with what we know of Mazda, it should have it all.
Overall, very good takes on what the RX-8 is all about. Not much on the acceleration or cornering grip measurements. Though with what we know of Mazda, it should have it all.
12-09-2002, 06:34 PM
#4
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i noticed that the top gear article says "drive by wire throttle" has anyone else heard that the rx8 had this type of throttle? i wonder what that feels like, not having the mechanical feed back?
12-15-2002, 10:30 AM
#6
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Star Mazda RENESIS
The new StarMazda cars with the RENESIS are drive by wire. I think they placed the two sets of butterflies away from each other (maybe for the "dynamic thottle" effect)
Anyhow, there should still be mechaincal feel... when you press down on the petal, all you really feel is the spring that closes the butterflies. I don't really know of there being a difference in petal pressure on the FD due to anything else but the spring. (if that makes sence)
Anyhow, there should still be mechaincal feel... when you press down on the petal, all you really feel is the spring that closes the butterflies. I don't really know of there being a difference in petal pressure on the FD due to anything else but the spring. (if that makes sence)
Originally posted by zoom44
i noticed that the top gear article says "drive by wire throttle" has anyone else heard that the rx8 had this type of throttle? i wonder what that feels like, not having the mechanical feed back?
i noticed that the top gear article says "drive by wire throttle" has anyone else heard that the rx8 had this type of throttle? i wonder what that feels like, not having the mechanical feed back?
12-15-2002, 01:19 PM
#7
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