rotary crazy

I belive their budget was something like 11 million dollars in car development money thats nothing.

TODreamer

You know... at first I said a MSP 8 would materiealize soon but now that I think about it.. you're right it may not happen at all... from a business stand point it may not be a smart move for the 8

I actually see Mazda dropping the rotary in North America once again..... unfortunately

rotary crazy

nope, there will be another mazdaspeed rx-8, the cuestions are will it be turbo? and come to the us?

TODreamer

Well if it doesnt come to us thats as good as there being No Mazdaspeed... unless you are prepared to drop mass amounts of cash to import a JDM MSP 8

Sephiroth

They are already working on the 2nd gen 8. The MS8 will come when they are ready for the 2nd gen 8.

neit_jnf

Mazda has never stopped producing Rotaries, the 3rd generation RX-7 was sold in Japan, Australia and New Zealand until 2002 then production was stopped to start selling the RX-8 as a 2003 model.

BRealistic

Selling the same car with minor upgardes is not continuous development (In that case, the Cavalier must have been an amazing work of engineering). Remember- the 3rd gen FD RX-7 could not be sold in North America due to emission issues. Mazda would have loved to keep it in the North American lineup if it was able to pass emission requirements, and there was no money for R&D to make it pass.

It is true that some Mazda engineers worked on the Renesis on their own time when Ford told them to stop working on the engine (on company time). At some point, a Ford manager saw the work and saw promise, and then convinced Ford to allow the engine developement to be brought back into the company. But Mazda was forced to make a four seater 'sedan' for the Renesis, because Ford wanted the engine to be proven and the market to accept it before Mazda sold it in a more serious sports car. I also beleive Ford wanted the RX-8 to be more of a niche vehicle, and not pose any serious sales threat to the Mustang. A lighter two seater RX_ would be a much better competitor to the new Mustang.

Deslock

I never wrote that Mazda stopped producing rotaries, just that Ford decided to kill it off in 1995 (and I'm not referring to it being pulled it from North America).

Just to add to what BRealistic wrote, the 4-door design hadn't been conceived at that point, though they had already developed the RX-01 concept: an inexpensive, lightweight 4-seater with a normally aspirated multi-sideport rotary engine that used a dry sump lubrication system (allowing the engine to be mounted lower). The RX-01 also had the engine and fuel tank within the wheelbase to reduce polar moment of inertia.

Bart!

Just because its a 4 door doesn't mean its a family car.

neit_jnf

It was pulled from the NA market due to low demand and high price (only 500 were sold in 1995) rather than due to emission problems. Converting to OBDII system for 1996 was not worth the expense since it was already too expensive and not enough sold.

And they did continuously develop the 13B-REW engine with upgraded OMP system, twin turbo system, vaccum line black box, ECU, intake, exhaust, etc. Not mentioning the upgrades to the chassis, suspension, brakes and interior.

The Type R Bathrust and the Spirit R were the pinnacle of RX-7's being the lightest, fastest and best handling ever.

I agree to this part

JeRKy 8 Owner

Still no updates from the major magazines on the car's true performance figures.

crossbow

http://www.glue.umd.edu/~greghess/6review/

C&D
0-60 in 5.4 seconds
400m(1/4) in 14.0 seconds @ 99 mph
.87g skidpad
5-60 in 6.9 seconds

R&T gave it a
0-60 in 6.0 seconds
400m (1/4) in 14.2 seconds @ unknown.

Ambient temp for C&D was most likely in the 40-50F (Nov/Dec in ohio), unknown for R&T.

Btw unless you want to get really mad at C&D, don't read what place the MPS 6 is in, you'll just get pissed off and want to send hate mail.

ZoomZoomH

iTrader: (1)

oooh pwned, 4th place

zoom44

but it got top points in 1/4 mile acceleration and performance and 9 out of 10 in handling. tied for 2nd in fun to drive and got beat in ammenities.

Tirminyl

Oh noes, no leather, no sunroof? WGAF?

playdoh43

whao, "low rent interior"

Ike

Great, so why buy the car... If it's performance you're after first and foremost you're not going to buy it, if it's amenities you're after you're not going to buy it either. The only people that buy it are going to be people that are already loyal to Mazda and want a sportier sedan than the Mazda 6S. Also, C&D really likes the Mazda 6 so I'm a bit shocked at its 4th place showing.

JeRKy 8 Owner

Wow. I can't believe how many of these sedans can do 0-60 in less than 6 seconds these days. And now the V6 Accord does it too? What the hell is the point of even buying a sports car anymore?

Ike

What do you mean now... It's been doing it for a while and was faster than the RX-8 in the 1/4 mile and ran the same ET when the RX-8 was released. In fact even in ET I'd put my money on the Accord since many owners are in the 14s with their MTs.

JeRKy 8 Owner

I never really paid any attention to the sedan market but I guess I should now. There are also plenty in the low 6s...like the GTP and Cobalt SS. Damn. I never thought those cars would be a close call against ours.

Oh well...at least we still have the handling and good looks, right?

Ike

My 95 Maxima ran low 6s 0-60 and was capable of high 14s in the 1/4, this is nothing new... It's also a big part of the reason why you hear people say the RX-8 is underpowered.

crossbow

Just for ***** n giggles...

Stock 6s MTX's are also running in the high 14's. Fastest stock time was around 14.75 @ 95 mph. Seems the engines are a bit on the weak side for the first thousand miles or so...dyno's at 15k+ are upwards of 10-15 whp higher then those below 5,000 on the odo.

zoom44

this is just in the context of this comparo- against the Jetta and the Acura and Accord. which all should be quite a bit better in amenities when compared to the Mazda. Secondly this is a short production run special edition they dont have to sell as many of them as VW and Honda do of those cars. the 6 wont be anything like this for 2007. Put it in a different comparo and see where it places. this one shouldnt bother any one.

Dinhx8

I agree, the Accords and Maximas have been pretty fast for a while-

I think the funny thing is that when comparing cars as quick as the rx8, the rx8 is called underpowered. I.e., your 95 Maxima wasn't underpowered- its quick. But people seem to leave with the impression with these comparisons that the rx8 is slow. The Accord v6 isn't underpowered its well powered. So the fact that it gets times close to the 8 doesn't bother me. It should. I.e., when making the comparisons to cars with similar times, there seems to be an impression that the 8 is slow. Its not that its slow, there are just some other cars just as quick....

I guess it has to do with a lot of peoples expectations that the car should be faster. which is fine by me, and understandable.

But at the end of the day, in my opinion, anything in the 6 or high fives and 14s is still quick. Do i wish it was quicker? sure and yes its annoying when cars like the cobalt are coming close and my Moms v6 accord, but instead of worrying about that and feeling the rx8 slow, i just view those cars as just as quick.

JeRKy 8 Owner

The problem is that the RX-8's exterior just gives everyone the impression that it LOOKS like it is extremely fast and threatening... when it is only, as you put it, quick. It has the looks of a car that could keep up with a Viper, but isn't even close. That's why people say its all show and no go.