Read this :

http://www.enginepsd.com/techpages/tp0301_en.doc

IKN

 

Wow! That's the first time since I got my new car that I have seen any logical, defined reasons why EU and US Hp/torque numbers are different.

Bottom line (if I've read right) might roughly be we all have the same RX-8 engine! How enlightened!!

Excellent find. I'd don thin yu kno nothng!

 

Concerning the RX8, it's reasonable to say the hardware is common for all countries. Catalysts might however be different. And the engine management system is defintely different, especially the calibration (= mapping).

It's not always the case as it appears that US cars must have an extra feature (still true today??) than EU cars : they must be free revving (i.e. engine can rotate with broken drive belt without the valves hitting the piston).
An example of different engines for US and EU for the same model : Ford Focus 2.0L 16V Zetec.

 

Time to revive this thread!

I should 've chosen a much catchier title I guess, like : "I found where all your power loss is!" or : "Why the RX8 does not make 250hp"...