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Anyone out there in Mazda Land know if the RX-8 will have traction/stability control at least as an option. This is needed for us northeasteners. Actually, I dont plan to put my RX in the snow, or even ICE even.
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I've no doubt it will come with something of the sort, a DSC system has been rumored at... But I think 90% of the time I'll get in the car and just turn it off :P Unless it's snowing.
I'll be using my car year round, as it will be my primary mode of transport.
(optional) traction control...great idea. i think mazda should definetly look into this as an option. perferably one of those nice free ones that car makers should offer more of. if the goal of mazda is to make the RX8 a car with every day utility then for customers in harsher climates, this has to be given some real consideration. is this the kind of thing that adds a whole lot of weight?
I doubt it adds much weight at all. All these systems simply use the ABS which will undoubtedly be there anyway. DSC might add some sensors to detect yaw and such, but I would guess they are very very small.
anyplace that gets snow makes traction control neccessary in the winters in a RWD car. It would be a mistake to overlook the need for traction control. People in california dont need to worry about this, but i do.
There are several levels of traction control. There are the types that you find, say, on most mid-level GM cars, which basically utilize alot of the ABS devices, and even some of it's basic programming. The thing about these systems is that they are basically limited to wheel-spin detection, and only have one "on" setting, which is normally rather severe as far as how much they hold back the engine, and how long it takes to "give it back" to the driver.
Then there are the traction control systems like in higher-model cars, which incorporate all sorts of yaw, pitch, roll, speed, steering wheel angle, throttle angle, brake application, etc. etc. etc. inputs. These take alot more development than simply slapping on some yaw detectors to the ABS, alot more processing, and alot more devices, which significantly add to the price of a car.
Now, I know the basic wheel-spin control technology will improve as the years go on, just like the ABS technology has. But right now, the basic wheel-spin control stuff is worthless for capable drivers. Even on icy Dallas days, I turned off the basic traction control on my GM car. This was not because I could do as well/better performance wise as the TCS, but because the TCS did nothing to help, and everything to interfere with driving. If the TCS senses even the slightest of spin, it will basically shut the engine down for a few seconds, before it decides it will allow you control again. A few seconds is a lifetime when you're trying NOT to be a sittin' duck in the middle of traffic that can't stop too well on icy surfaces.
My point is, I personally don't want a high-end traction control system (worthless cost to me), and I had better be able to defeat any basic wheel-spin control system on the car. 'Cause if I don't get a switch, I will find the appropriate wires/controls, just like I did with some of the ABS systems in the early '90s.
---jps
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"The truth is faster than fiction."
Traction control adds virtually no weight, and very few extra parts, hence it is a very attractive alternative to AWD. It simply make better use of what is available and shifts all the work to the computer, not a clunky AWD drivetrain. The Corvette has an excellent traction control system that borders on the abusive when used at autoX and track events.
I wouldn't mind seeing traction control as an option, but I wouldn't check off that option box, especially if it were expensive. I've driven several winters in rear-wheel drive vehicles with no traction control (or ABS), and did fine. The trick is you have got to pretend that there are two ming vases under the gas and brake pedals...
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