What's special about California cars?
 

OK, the California Air Resource Board (CARB) requires cleaner emissions than the other states. Does that mean that California cars have less power?

I ask because a nationwide search for the car I want only found California cars.

Should I care if the car I drive in Florida was intended to meet California smog rules?

-Yes, in some car makes and models there is a small power decrease, compared to other states. As for your other question, it should fine seeing as how california has the most stringent smog laws. Two cats are required in cars here I believe.

All 2004 RX-8's came with 50 state emission tune. Same exact specifications and performance for all RX-8 sold in all states. Dont know about 2005 models though.

Problem isthat Mazda NA is based inCalifornia so thats why theyare more concerned about emissions thanmost manufacturers.

i don't think they would detune cars to control emissions, they impose more rules and regular smog checks. I think there is also a smog test lotto here too.

Zoom49,

Thanks for the feedback.

If what you say is true, then why is there a CE3 option for California emissions (for CA, MA, ME, NY, and VT)?

All manufacturers are very concerned about emissions. I think the RX-8 met stringent ULEV (ultra low emissions vehicle)standards. Also quite a few manufacturers have major offices in California including, Jaguar, Ford, Land Rover, Nissan, Toyota.

A rotary meeting ULEV???

The RX-7 wasn't sold in the US after 1995 because it was too dirty. The Renesis was a forthright effort to clean up the rotary (via more controlled exhaust/intake overlap, etc) to enable its reentry in the US market.

Is it THAT clean???

It meets US LEV-II standards which is very clean. It reduced emissions somthing like over 95% over the 13B-REW.

The problem with the 3rd gen RX-7s was more poor yen to U.S. dollar conversion rates making for a greatly inflated price, $38,000 was the MSRP back in 1993, considering that the RX-8 is much less than that do the math. There were a few other reasons including emissions but I think the poor sales was the major reason.

I paid $29,900 for my 1993 CYM R1. The prices were approximately $32,000 base, $33,000 R1, and $34,000 Touring. Very few options were available outside the packages. The performance competition (C4 Vette, 300ZTT, 3000GT VR4 - the Supra TT wasn't out until the next year) was selling in the $40,000 to $45,000 range.

Mazda's plan, apparently, was to bring the FD in at a reduced price to drive up interest and prove the performance, then price it correctly in the second year. By 1994, the price for a Touring hit $42,000 while the price of the competition stayed relatively steady (so much for the exchange rate theory).

The reaction? "Why would I pay $42,000 for a car that is only worth $34,000?" The marketing backfired. The value was set in the mind of the consumers and adjusting the discounted price to the appropriate value was perceived as an adjustment from the appropriate value to a "whatever we can get" price.

Or so my contacts with Mazda NA insiders said.

What I know is that in late 1994, a Touring could be had for $30,000 and they were still selling 1994's until April or May of 1995. Obviously, the 1995's had to come over slowly.

Mazda JP had allowed Mazda NA to market here. After that, Mazda JP allowed Mazda NA to be even more Ford controlled. I thought the rotary was doomed here after that. Glad I was wrong.

Glad the emissions of the Renisis are so greatly improved.

I had no idea.

My sticker/invoice/something said "This car is NOT 50 state emissions legal." My dealer said both NY and CA had additional equipment that reduced power a few more hp and brought it to those states' emissions requirements.

Easy answer - all the people above are focusing on entirely the wrong issue:

California cars are special because they contain California Girls.

Stew

All I know is that my California car had a sticker on it saying it had a 238 horsepower Renesis motor.

Stew said it best!! I must agree.