since the '06 RX-8 only has 6port engines (with the Auto detuned) my guess is it was more cost effective to have one engine...so the 4-port option may be gone

Any lightweight RWD concept is exciting, rotary or not
 

Best case piston scenario is the 2.0L from the MX5. Like most of us, I'd rather pay a bit more for gas and get 230+ hp instead of 170... I was looking forward to something like the RX-01 making it into production and I'm disappointed that they chose to go with a piston engine.

Having written that, if I didn't need four doors, I'd choose a sub-2500 pound, sub-$22k, 170 hp, short-wheel-base, RWD, four-seater over the RX8 (assuming it had the RX8's weight distribution, balance, low yaw moment, excellent brakes, tight steering, and smooth 6-speed).

More RWD cars are certainly needed! That and manual transmissions... just too few of them out in the market today.

so mazda let me get this straight, the miata, a legend is now selling as much as an rx-8 a new model that does not come close in name to the mx-5 miata, and you are planing to sell what basically is a miata coupe? or should you be selling and rx-8 coupe/convertible?

dont get me wrong a piston/rotary mx-3/rx-3 is a great idea, but introduce them at the same time, give the rotary a fair chance, we now the piston engine version will sell more but the rotary will sell well too.

look at it this way 2 birds with one stone a rx-8 coupe and a miata coupe 2+2 everyones happy :rock:

well heres more. basically confirmation of what has been said here.
http://www.thecarconnection.com/Auto...173.A9566.html

I need to find Franz von Holzhausen's phone number and have a Rotary heart to heart on the phone :wink2:

Unfortunately, that article states it's a two-seater. Assuming it's cheaper, lighter, and stiffer, this could supplant the MX5 for many competition events. But while it might become the autocrosser of choice, without rear seats *or* a convertible, it's less of a mainstream vehicle. That makes their decision to forego using the rotary even more puzzling.

Looking forward to getting the details in January.

Could it be the retractable hardtop Miata?
 

According to Autoweek Mazda will be releasing a retractable hardtop Miata this spring.

Kinda like how porsche put in the cayman in between the 911 and the boxter.

^^ but Porsche has name value, higher prices and frankly they are a lower volume manufacturer.

A two seater sports coupe that isn't going to compete in the $40k+ range is pointless.

Yeah i know, i was just saying it might fit into their car line like the cayman did in the porsche line

I think the car line should be like this: base rx-8 ( 5 speed, four port engine like in japan ,mazda wants large sales # right?) rx-8, RX-8 coupe 2 doors( lither faster than normal rx-8), and comvertible, miata and miata coupe ( more power than convertible).

If you allready got a good product you must exploit it to the fullest not introduce a new model, but as I said you can have the two with this car a miata coupe and a rx-8 2 door.

I keep trying to figure out how the financial eggheads at Mazda made a business case for all this (I'm a financial egghead also, so I can say that), as I still don't understand how you can have 3+ sports cars for such a small company. (understand, I'm not complaining, but I can't help looking at the situation from a purely financial basis).

The hypothesis that I am forming is that Mazda must have really gotten the platform sharing side of things down with the Miata/RX8.

The ability to make an RX8, Miata, Miata hardtop covertible, and the new MX/RX3 car must come from there ability to really leverage the platform that underpins the car, so all they are really changing is the outer body panels and some interior bits (yes I'm grossly oversimplfing here, but you get the point). I think Mazda is worried that some of the newer offerings in their segments (think Solstice, other 2+2 coupes) will eat at there market share, thus they have to offer some unqiue products to help sell the platform. Mazda did state that the RX8/Miata platform should last about 10 years, and given its light weight and stiffness I'm willing to believe that.

What I can't quantify is the cost of the marketing, safety testing, training, manuals, spare parts, and other logistics of slightly changing a car and rolling it out as another model. I have to think these costs are not insignificant.

I guess we'll find out just how good Mazda really is at platform sharing and leveraging the RX8. This should be fun.

Ummm...so this is basically a coupe version of the Miata?

<sarcasm> How exciting! </sarcasm>

True dat.

actually, i believe this MX/RX3 is supose to be a 2+2 2-door coupe, I had heard rumors of a Miata coupe also.

So its more than just a miata with a hard top, I guess its a stretched miata or shortened RX8, depending on how you want to look at it.

^ I'm not sure where you read 2+2, but this article says it's a 2-seater:

http://www.thecarconnection.com/Auto...173.A9566.html

I just hope its not going to be another Precidia MX-3!

Yah, it's a 2 seater.

this isnt a sports car per se- its an entry level coupe to battle against the scion tcs an ion redlines and cobalts etc. it kicks those things butts just by being RWD alone. a sexy skin and decent performance is just icing.

but a 2 seater its not competition for any of this cars theyr all 2+2 and 4 seaters, this is a miata coupe with another skin, the only way around it is if it was rotary or a 2+2

Either way, Mazda needs a low price coupe. Being RWD kicks ass!. Even if it is a reskinned mx-5 (no hard top bs, straight coupe) I would hit it like a fat chick in Krispy Kremes.

MS3 should take care of cobalts, etc. Mazda needs to quit playin around and get to work on the 7/MS8 for NA NOW!

^^ difference in the number of doors and I wonder about price...

^ The MS Protegé was a great car, the MS3 would be a nice replacement provided it is turbocharged. Does mazda have any plans to make a MS3 currently?