rotary-convert

Still and always will be a honda. Can't wait to see these ones with oversize wings and coffee can tailpipes. Will it run on Uncle Ben's or Minute rice?

Reactionary

Thanks for the face. The fact is I should be doing that face to you. I think you really do get the point but you're pretending you don't get the point.

The rotary exists because it was designed and marketed in comparison to the piston engine. Thanks.

therm8

Funny thing is...

NA horsepower on 'low displacement' rotary engines have gone up too (quite a bit)

Take a look at previous NA 2-rotors.

Hydrogen would be sweet, I've read that they (Mazda) have a couple working prototypes that have been "loaned" out for long term testing. But infrastructure to support it is a ways off.

gas-electric hybrids are a waste in my opinion. A regular old Honda Civic HX gets pretty darn good gas mileage with low emissions and doesn't cost a ridiculous amount of money. A freakin' hybrid will take you 6 or 7 years use just to make up for the extra money spent.

Reactionary

So you're saying that the present situation of a rotary that is somewhat underpowered (despite the fact it is the most powerful NA rotary ever on the market) compared to all kinds of other cars in its class and related classes yet gets horrendous gas mileage isn't harmful to the survivability of the rotary even during a continuining gas price increase?

A Civic HX gets amazing NA gas mileage. What does that have to do with the rotary? If Mazda has the technology to increase the rotary mileage to 26 and then to 28 MPG hwy in the current engine with the current HP in the next few years and can increase NA HP to around 280 in the next several years while getting 26 MPG hwy, then great. But it doesn't seem they can, and they need to be able to do it now. Gas-electric hybrid is the only alternative. This is why all rotary enthusiasts should be thankful for the Honda Accord hybrid and Lexus RX hybrid and the precedent they're setting for increased mileage AND performance/HP. Without their precedent, the rotary would be as good as gone by 2007.

QBallz

Looks like another boring econo box to me...
If I wanted fast and boring I would have gotten an SRT or WRX...
But instead I got a sleek and sexy RX8.

Kel Rx8

problem with that car is like my crx that everyone and there mother will try to steal it
and now that they use the ivtec motor in earlier 5g(94-96) civic's it can only be worst
I must say i worry about my crx all the time
i mean it looks like **** i made the car look as stock as possible but word gets around
and people know.

VikingDJ

The problem is that in this world, people want both power and fuel economy. This forces the hybrid to not be as fuel efficient. They are capable of very high mpg like the earlier models, but no one will buy a 60hp hybrid, so I agree, at this point it is a waste. The old Civic HX, is just so slow in today's generation of cars, but it did get damn good gas mileage. It reminds me of my first car, an 86 VW golf Diesel. It got 50mpg, but man, that thing took forever just to hit 60mph, and if I tried driving that thing in today's world, it would not be very pleasant. It's gonna take time, but the hybrid will eventually be cheaper, and actually save people money, along with plenty of power to get you around in today's mad rush of speedy traffic. Just my.02.

therm8

Geez you're confrontational. You brought up hybrids, I said they were a waste, and gave the HX as a better alternative. Not once in my post did I mention the survivability of the rotary engine. I just provided counter-argument to your I4 engines are making leaps and bounds in the horsepower department, while the rotary doesn't change. The rotary will never have the gas mileage of an I4 of similar power output, as it is only about 70% as efficient.

An Accord hybrid stickers for about $3400 more than the gasoline version. However if it is anything like the current selection of hybrids you can add about $4-5000 to that. Still not worth it in my opinion. The research money would be better spent on alternative-fuel engine development.

Even 220 hp (i don't buy 238) in a 3000lb car doesn't make it completely underpowered. I guess the Lotus Elise is underpowered as well . The 8 shines where it belongs, on the track. And it's damn fun on the road. All while being very good looking, very comfortable, easy to drive at the limit, and practical. Something that can't be said for all of it's more powerful "competitors." And just to keep this post on topic :D a better looking, more powerful Civic Si, means nothing to me. I wouldn't want a 2 door, fwd car with excessive insurance premiums due to the demographic that will purchase it (or have it purchased for them... :p )

Reactionary

No, I'm not confrontational. Other people are confrontational. I make solid points and I expect them not to be misinterpreted. I never said or suggested the rotary doesn't change. I said larger piston engines are getting HP farther and farther away from the rotary and smaller piston engines used in cheaper cars are getting closer and closer to the rotary in HP. I also never said it is completely underpowered; I said it is somewhat underpowered compared to cars in its class and in other related classes. My point was that for the HP it produces, the mileage is not acceptable for most consumers. And this matters. And I'll bet if HP or mileage or both don't go up, the rotary and the RX8 will be done by 2007.

The new Lexus GS300 has a 3 liter V6 that makes 245 HP and gets 30 MPG hwy. The new Lexus GS400 has a 4.3 liter V8 that makes 300 HP and gets 25 MPG hwy.

boss_clad

are they releasing it over here? i thought it was only japan.

yushinrt

i think that car is ugly fullstop i mean the performan price sounds great but the look let down every thing down

therm8

Well I apologize for misinterpretting you (since I hate that as well). 300 hp and 25 hwy is nothing all too impressive, heck my old camaro would do that when it was just over 330hp (5.7L) and that car was 5 years old at the time. My 2.3L I5 turbo Volvo got 29 hwy at around 290-300 hp (240ish stock).

I do however understand your point about the rotary's fuel consumption. In today's world of exhorbitant demand and rising gasoline prices, 15-22 mpg isn't going to cut it. I truly don't see much future for the rotary, based on that alone.

I'm done here, and I apologize for offtopic hijacking or co-hijacking :p