Bart!

What do you guys think we'll see in the MS8?

I'm hoping for a turbo/super charger and thats probably about it rofl

Bart!

adrian-1

Repost.
Check this thread for info on the "Mazdakit RX8". No FI in site! Glad I went with my $3k greddy turbo kit back in Feb '05, finally got all the bugs fixed and enjoying the POWER.

mikeb

yeah
the ms8 seems like a DIY project at this point

m477

I think there will be a Mazdaspeed RX-8 eventually. Probably not for a couple of more years though, as the next Mazdaspeed model to come out will be the 3. Also, Mazda is probably really taking their time with the MS RX-8 to make sure they don't repeat the problems they had with the FD.

So my guess is that we'll see it around 2008. It will have more power, either through FI or more displacement. The suspension will be lower and tighter. The front and rear bumpers will be more aggressive. It will have unique wheels and interior trim.

In other words, pretty much the same changes as every other Mazdaspeed model. Is there any reason to expect anything less?

Steiner

I'm beginning to wonder if it will ever happen. I'm just thinking out loud so nobody freak out, but from a business perspective I think you gotta look at a few things and how they played out. It seems perfectly reasonable that the executive bean counters within Mazda reluctantly agreed to release a new rotary model (enter the RX-8), at the request of the long time rotary purists and engineers still within the company. I think it's also safe to assume they set some conditions before hand. I'm sure an improved "true" cost of ownership was one of them. The Wenkel rotary also needed to prove itself more reliable than previous versions. If all those criteria were met then the execs probably agreed to fund the R&D neccesary for the turbocharged version that I'm sure the engineers intially wanted to release. You be the judge.

Look at it from the other side. Say you worked at Mazda corporate and, even prior to the RX-8's release, were somewhat reluctant to the idea of bringing back a rotary to the USDM. Based on what you knew of the RX-7's run in the USDM, you saw it as an unneccesary financial risk. However as a compromise to the engineers and designers you and your fellow execs shot down the turbocharged version, but didn't rule out a future FI release if the naturally aspirated Wenkel proved to be as reliable and efficient as the engineers claimed it would be. Three years later how would the report card look? Has the Wenkel earned itself a turbocharged or supercharged production release?

Mugatu

iTrader: (1)

a mazdaspeed 8? there hasn't been any talk about the mazdaspeed 8 on this forum, has there?

Sephiroth

Nobody is asking for the ulta-complicated Sequential-Turbo system here. A somewhat conservative single-turbo setup with a well ventilated engine bay and sufficient oil coolers and a motor built for F/I is what we need. Stock numbers can be at 300hp, 300tq and those who want more should be able to mod the car comfortably and mazda can void their warranty.

mikeb

exactly^^^^^^^^

cleoent

drool.

300whp 300 torque and all of the rx8 haters would come around real quick. Sadly, i dont see it happening.

Steiner

300hp/300tq would be a pretty damn healthy power increase. I wouldn't exactly consider an almost 50% bump in power to be "conservative".

cleoent

100% increase in torque is what i drool over

Sephiroth

I was thinking more along the lines of 300 at the crank, not wheels. Considering Mazda didn't hesitate to give the MS6 a hefty 270ish hp, 300 would be just right for this sporty car(afterall, with an MS8 there is no chance of another RX-7). Subtract 20 for overrating, and it turns out quite conservative in my opinion.

DARKMAZ8

All I have to say is, if a new ms mx-5 comes out then I wouldn't expect an ms-8. I really don't think that reliability is the problem. It is more about pricing IMO. A turbo 8 with all the goodies would definately be an expensive car and probably out of the price range for the norm.

Adamrotor

Yea since all these rumors are going left and right we dont know what is true until what is to come out. No production line of the Rx8 in 2006? Mazdaspeed when? Turbo or Supercharged? maybe never? Maybe Rx8 is just an Rx8 to reintroduce the rotary and maybe in the future will see a rotary producing 300 to 400hp but with a different name I dont know but thats what I hear. What will be will be.

Raptor2k

Emissions, emissions.

Japan8

^^ that's what I worry about with a turbo. Hard enough getting the car to pass emissions NA.

mike1324a

I say screw emissions. There is more than enough "clean cars" to make up for the few thousand bad *** turbo 8s(or any rotaries). If a few whales die in the process then so be it. I dont want to sound like an *** (too late) but here is what bothers me. There are those POS, falling appart, hunks of junk driving around, where the owner is driving around trying to squeeze every mile out of them (and i know we all have seen them), honestly that is a good idea and i dont blame them but they pollute the world way more than our new turbo rotaries would. Why dont we inforce rules on them, they pollute exponentially more than we would. the fact is we cant make them do anything about it, they dont even have to deal with emissions. I know that emissions are a good thing for the enviornment and I know cars pollute the air but if each owner of those turbo rotaries planted a few good size trees then thats a good enough trade IMO.

Sephiroth

I remember reading somewhere that the RX8 produces 10-30% of the emissions that the FD did depending on rpm. Isn't that good enough to clear emissions by a good margin?

Raptor2k

LOL, well said

280RX-8

That rolling emissions exemption has been challenged more than the width of Paris Hilton's mouth. I think it needs to be changed as well.

Xyntax

You'll see more "pretty" edition RX-8's before an MS would come out. We're currently seeing the second edition to that bunch. Wait for the 20th pretty edition, then maybe (just maybe) they will release an MS 8 with more power. How pathetic...

mike1324a

True but mazdaspeed is atleast starting to produce small power mods with the new intake and exhaust units.

DOMINION

This part very true. I think they did this with the OUT CRY from the MX-5 owners as well. All things in there time right. Its just that I cant wait 2-5 yeas for a MS-8!

Skunk

Well, I don't know if it will happen.

To avoid the problems the FD had wouldn't be that difficult. Ball-bearing twin-scroll single turbo, decent intercooler, upgraded oil passageways/oil coolers, and as someone else said good underhood venting. Check and recheck to make sure they have a damn good, reliable fuel system, solid apex seals, throw a Mazdaspeed suspension on there and call it a day. Oh yeah, and durable *freaking* vacuum lines, Mazda.

The only thing I'd be concerned about is that there is only one rotary production line. So I don't envision them building a FI-ready RENESIS on the same line. The new design would probably require bigger, stronger apex seals and larger coolant/oil passageway at a minimum. I imagine if they do ever produce such a powerplant, it'll be on either a completely redesigned RX-8/RX-9 or a RX-7 successor after the RX-8 is done.

I'm more worried about them simply eliminating the need in their lineup for a MS8. They are apparently working on a Mazdaspeed 3 already, which if the power numbers prove to be even close to the MS6 (same engine, yes?), is going to put that car in Evo/STi performance territory. Also on the horizon is the new MS MX-5. The current car already has as much power as the NB MS version naturally-aspirated. To compete with the upcoming Solstice GXP / Sky Redline, a 250hp MS MX-5 is probably on the horizon. If you do the math, a 250-hp MX-5 ought to have no problem crushing a 280hp RX-8 at the track. So with 2 ***-hauling AWD sedans, and an ***-hauling roadster in the line-up, who's going to pay the conservatively $35K+ for a MS8 when the MS3 can outperform it and carry 4 people and more cargo for probably less money?