Here's the story: http://www.thecarconnection.com/index.asp?article=7156

What do ya'll think?

 

haha
thats a mx5!!!

 

That's like so yesterday. :D

j/k...I've been dying to say that.

 

that is the worst ps i've ever seen

 

https://www.rx8club.com/showthread.p...highlight=mule

 

Go ahead, read the thread that PaulieWalnuts linked, and then come back and admit that you're wrong.

Yeah, that wouldn't be either an RX-8 convertible OR a rotary Miata. It's either an RX-7 convertible or, more likely, the next generation (NC) Miata in a test mule disguise. The final car will look absolutely nothing like the mule in those pics - the car is for testing mechanical and drivetrain components, and the patched-on body panels (mix of RX-8 and NB Miata) are just to hide the mechanical components from the elements.

Regards,
Gordon

 

definately not an RX-8 convt. as it says on Mazdausa site there are no plans for one

 

From what Bob Hall says on Miata.net, there will never be a rotary miata. That's not what he wanted the car to be. He wanted it to be a piston.

As for a convertable RX-8, isn't there a ton of structure around the doors that holds the car together? If you take that all out, you'll have to put a bunch in down low.. more weight. No thanks

 

STUPID!!!

 

actually....

if you look close you will see the gas cap at the RX8 location, RX8 5 lug wheels rather then the Miata's 4 lug, and a dual soot blowing exhaust that looks kinda familiar...

 

look again thats the prototype (concept) rx8 front end, the actual rx8 front end changed style by the time it hit production...just an easy piece to use from the parts bin, one that wont ever see daylight

 

umm those pics were taken during the day:p :D

 

well im saying that unless they put it on the mule car, it would never have seen daylight hehe

 

LOL! You did good :D So '80s, yet... sassy! That's why I lub you! :D

I think they take the new build of the Miata, but place some 'disguises' on it. Gotta' watch out for our prying eyes!

 

RX8 front, old Miata back???

 

Back

 

well think about that wheelbase length... and that exhaust system looks just like it came off of a series 4 or 5 13B (that's on the FC RX-7). i can't really see the big bulge of the RX-8's muffler under there... but two tips are clearly there.

it looks like the interior of that car is NC miata too. i thought for a second the doors were FD RX-7, but no they're certainly maita as well.

my only point of interest is the wheelbase length and obvious track width of this vehicle.

Miataphiles: what is the length and track width of the NC Miata?? *prays for an RX-7 chassis underneath all of those body panels*

 

I question why they put the larger RX-8 front end on it. The original RX-8/Renesis mule was a miata that they hacked and stretched the back to accomodate the longer wheelbase. I wonder if that bigger front is hiding a bigger rotary such as a 1.6L ???

 

hmm maybe the Mazdaspeed will be a 20B renesis (three rotor). Now that would be a fast car...anyone have any idea how much heavier the 20B is than the 13B?

 

A lot. From what I recall a 20B is over 700 lbs with manifolds, etc. Not sure what the Renesis weighs but maybe around 300 lbs (?). Which is why I'm thinking a 1.6 or 1.8 two rotor at 300 - 350 hp is more probable. Also, I think the new Renesis side ports would be an issue in 3 rotor form.

 

according to the sales literature the renesis weighs 90lbs less than a popular V6 from a rival sports car (the silhouette was a 350Z, and that must be fairly heavy)

 

Wow, wouldn't that be cool! I'd never convince my wife that it's a family car, though.

 

It's the new Miata. Mazda said it would be based on the RX-8 chassis. It may even be the new bodywork on the front end. It follows the design philosophy used in the RX-8, the six, and the three.

As for whether it would ever get a rotary engine, we'll have to wait and see. I believe a Mazda exec. has said all current rotary engine production is tied up in RX-8 production (due to consumer response). i.e. the RX-8 is successful.

It is NOT the replacement for the RX-7. That would have too much power for a convertable.

There may be a replacement for the RX-7 in 2006 or 2007. A Mazda exec. said it might happen if the RX-8 was successful.

Another possibility is they may just put a turbo in the RX-8 and that would fill the requirements for the RX-7 replacement. It would save them a lot of money. The limited production electric assist turbo coming out in Japan may be the precursor of that idea.

 

I thought it was already established that the next-gen Miata was going to share the RX-8 platform...so if that's true, this could simply be an early test mule for a convertible 8 OR a Miata. The car seems a bit long to be a Miata though, I assume the wheelbase on the Miata would be shortened to be a 2-seater...

 

There's no such thing as "too much power."