Red Devil

I'll believe in a 450Z when I see an official PR from Nissan. And if it were AWD and with a 4.5 liter, what would this weigh? The standard Z is ~3250 curb weight, this would be what ~3550?

snizzle

Good point. Mazda doesn't need to crack the ECU. So what are they waiting on then? Is it possible they have the car ready and just waiting on a strategic time to release it?

rx8wannahave

AMEN to that...and, not just in a straight line...also on a track like the Z06 can do.

Red Devil

I would guess it is in the works, but Mazda has their resources elsewhere. Like the Mazdaspeed3 and development of the CX-7.

As for the White prototype SC'd 8. I hadn't heard it put 276 to the wheels, I thought that was BHP. It makes me wonder why Pettit only talks about ~230whp with their SC, if even Mazda could come-up with more. Usually it's the factory that has the low numbers. But I guess until Pettit actually releases their kit it is all still up in the air.

m477

What's the point? The most expensive Z coupe, the Anniversary Edition, is already dangerously close to 'Vette price levels with a MSRP of $37,200. A V-8 version would be smack dab in the middle of the Corvette price range.

Also, the portly 350Z already weighs more than a Corvette. Once you put in a much larger heavier engine and add the extra bracing to the chassis and beef up other assorted parts to handle the power, this thing is going to be seriously heavy. Add AWD and we've basically got a 2-seater SUV. :p

Moostafa29

Are you sure that was at the wheels and not the crank. I have no idea myself, but those are some good numbers.

Columbus

Isn't the Z due for a facelift anyway? Seems odd they would just shoehorn a V8 into the current body to maintain interest in an aging platform.

TALAN7

The white SC RX8 put only 275 at the crank. With a 0-60 time of 5.5 sec and a 1/4 mile of 14 sec it wasn't putting 275 at the wheels. 275 at the wheels would perform much better than that.

Ajax

You know, honestly, I don't remember.
Ask Rotarygod. He was there at Racing Beat when we saw all of that.
Now that I think of it, it was prolly at the crank since RB has an engine dyno.

Either way, they were all tuned by MNAO and assembled by RB. The turbo and the SC were both incredibly small. I think that turbo may have been smaller than the greddy T618Z. I have pictures of it at home.

What's stopping mazda? I don't really know. I think they're running into a few problems with the stock motor let alone a boosted motor.

therm8

So an engine that doesn't meet worldwide emissions standards and currently outputs 315hp is going to be able to be tuned to 400hp and meet those same standards? That's a longshot in my book. BTW DOHC V-8s are heavy. The AWD gearbox may also be for balancing the weight distribution a little better. Seems to me, the curb weight is going to be approaching that of the GTO's, and Z06 performance is a pipe dream. They'll be lucky to gain a fraction of a second in the 1/4mile over the current Z.

Nemesis8

iTrader: (3)

I thought the SC hit 290+ at the crank at RB? Something like 292 with an axial flow SC, right?

Ajax

The numbers I gave earlier (276 and 304) are correct. The Axial flow was never dynoed because it blew up on the first run. Richard was apparently far too greedy with the tolerances on the first one he built.

Ajax

So we dont go further off topic, here's the pics from Racing Beat of the stuff I mentioned above and loose explanations. Please go ahead and use that thread to talk about it.
https://www.rx8club.com/rx-8-multimedia-photo-gallery-6/some-pics-racing-beat-some-may-not-have-seen-77517/

brillo

those #'s are correct.

White MS RX8 4port supercharged ~276 Crank HP
Blue MS RX8 6port turbo (shown at Sevenstock 7) ~315 Crank HP

Japan8

Probably bogus. Several JDM magazines have been talking about the "super" Z... it ain't gonna have a V8. They've all said 3.7L V6 for 330-350hp EASY. Looks like the new GT-R engine minus the turbos. Still RWD... no AWD. Honestly it makes absolutely no sense to build the GT-R and then have a 400hp AWD Z. The only differences would come down to styling and number of seats. I wouldn't hold my breath...

m477

Huh? That makes no sense. Why would a 0.2L increase yield 50hp?

Also, the GT-R engine without the turbos would probably make LESS hp than the regular 350Z engine due to the lower compression ratio.

mikeb

bring me the gtr

snizzle

Right, most of us have heard that as well.... hence my earlier comments. I don't think boosting is a cake walk with the Renesis which would explain the extremely conservative units we've seen thus far.... to make them reliable (especially from a warrantied production car standpoint.... *cough* FD *cough*) Mspd versions have always been more conservative than aftermarket cars. I'm waiting on something impressive from the aftermarket and we're almost into the '06 model year. At least we know Mazda has got 'em in R&D.

Curious that we're getting a Mspd 3 first isn't it.....

rx8wannahave

So, maybe Nissan should just cut 150 pounds off the car and use their current engine making about 330HP...of course, then they should also make it look better fo increase sales.

Putting in a V8 would be sweet, but not in the current car. Maybe the next Z will be a V8 version with better balance and a pretty butt...lol.

Again I say it...Mazda, give us a 3-Rotor NA...forget all the FI stuff, it gives the Rotary too much trouble. OR...for the love of GOD, come out with some SUPER strong seals to keep it all together.

DO SOMETHING!!!! LOL

If a Mazdaspeed 3 comes first, I'll be angry with Mazda! The 6 came out first, before the 8...so fine...but the 3 came out after so don't BS us Mazda.

Ajax

The Mazdaspeed 3 is faster than the FD.
How bout that? Does that **** you off?

Lol.

snizzle

Can they do a 3-Rotor while still satisfying emissions requirements? Furthermore, i'd love to see the EPA ratings on a 3-Rotor rotary... haha

The ms3 will come first. There are already plenty of spyshots of the prototype with a hoodscoop for the intercooler.

Ajax

Uhhh..... I guess I didnt post those pictures from 7stock8 either...
hrmm...

*wanders off*

KYLiquid

carbon would really raise the price, and while fiberglass is cheaper, its also heavery than aluminium. If they were to make quality bodypanles out of fiberglass for a street car (like the corvette) they would save half the weight on the body just stamping them out of aluminium.

SHOWOFF

The Z is VERY overpriced in my opinion. This anniversary edition car for $38,000 is ABSURD. I love the Z but why would I shell out $38k for a V-6 car with no true luxury amenities and cheap feeling plasticy interior bits when I could get my hands on a well equipped G35 for the same money and feel like I had something?

However a 400 horse V-8 for upper $30k range is not such a bad idea. Just as long as they include all available options at that point.

rx8wannahave

I heard...a long time ago, here on the site that someone in England had made a 3-rotor and his got 27mpg in the highway...OR, something like that.

With a 3-rotor (with more power) we would have better gearing so fuel economy might not take the hit that you think it would. The main reason our 8 gets such low fuel economy numbers is because of the gearing.

I understand Mazda had to compromise (acceleration vs fuel economy), but with a 3-rotor making more power we also would have better (fuel economy friendly) gearing.

Maybe...just maybe, we could keep our 18/24 with a little bit smaller rotor (1L) and better gearing. BUT...what do I know, I'm a rotary newb.

One thing I'm pretty sure about, if (considering two 8 members here have hit high 20's with the Renesis and low highway speed) my 8 had a lower rpm in 6th gear at 75mph I would be getting much better fuel economy.

MS3 before MS8….that’s disappointing…