I was in the new Mazda dealership in AZ to pick up a key for my Miata and while there I got into a nice conversation with the sales manager about the 06 RX8's coming out in Sept. He had some interesting info if it is to be belived.

1. Nordic green is going to be phased out.
2. They are working on getting the AT HP equal with the MT.
3. The color used on the Shinka will become a regular color with normal interior color choices.
4. The dark blue in Japan will be available here as well.

He also mentioned some minor option changes but wasn't specific about any details. Overall he was a nice guy and seemed to be enthusistic about Mazdas even though he knew I wasn't going to buy anything. If the dark blue is truley coming out this fall, I think I have lost my last reservation about an buying a RX8.

Anyone know anything about CardinaleWay dealerships? This is their first Revolutions dealer in AZ. I gather they have several dealershiops in CA.

Anyway I thought I'd pass on the info.

 

strato blue is coming!??!?!?!?!?!?

god DAMN $^#&*%^#$!&*$^*I&*#*(&!(@$#$BBQ!!!!!111

you better be wrong or i will be losing quite a bit $$$$ trading my titanium '04 in for a strato blue one

 

LOL, if is it true I may be first in line in AZ to get one.

 

I hope this is all true
but I really doubt it

 

my wife called the dealership and they told her that late this year a mazdaspeed 8 will be out and it will be turbocharged.

 

Strato Blue? Not sure I've seen that color... Anyone happen to have a pic handy?

 

Hahaha, stupid Dealership...

 

 

OHH, I like!

 

 

Nice colour, but it is close to black... I wonder how hard it will be to keep clean...

 

I'd like to see that color in natural light, but it is very impressive.

I am suprised there isn't more comment about the shinka color becoming common.

 

http://www.rx8france.com/forum/carte...tes_visite.htm

A nifty little link for you to compare the strato blue RX-8 to the rest! :D

 

most people don't like the shinka color...so they are ignoring that part :p

Strato blue...love the color as we all saw on the MS v2 edition last summer

As for more hp on the Auto...

 

Love the blue! Very dreamy.

 

Damn that blue is nice!!! I don't know if I could give up my red, but it is VERY tempting!!!

 

I've seen that blue on some 6's and 3's, can't say I like it. Not really a blue, looks more purple in most light. Just like my fountain pen inks, I prefer a bright, true blue to that purplish blue.

 

The 6 doesn't have Strato Blue, it has Lapis Blue which is quite a bit different. It is on the Mazda3 (it's the color of my Mazda3s) though, and yes, it does appear Purple in most lights. When my wife was in an accident, the accident report even listed it as Purple.

 

i love the purplish-blueish dual tone color of the strato blue, shows up differently in different angles

did i mention it's got mica flakes (goldish) in there too?!?!?! it's a really nice color.

 

I like the Strato Blue, but I am one of the few, I guess, that like the Dark Cherry of the Shinka. I think it is really sharp. If Mazda does ever release a turbocharged 8, would we earlier model owners be able to purchase the turbocharger and install it, or would it be incompatible with the previous models?

 

I would be curious to see how closely the color resmebles the Starlight Mica of my 96 M Edition Miata. The way you are describing the color, it sounds very similar to it. The bluish/purple is a great color in the sunlight.

The blue on the 6 is the same as the exsisting blue on the 8 I believe. I have the 6 in the blue and it is very similar, but I have never had the two side by side.

 

I hope they don't release a hi power automatic RX-8 in 2006 just so we can have a perfect reason to point at Gordon and laugh. :D

If they do release it, some of you who currently have the lo power automatic who are considering swapping to the hi power are going to **** a brick when you discover that it's going to cost more to swap from your automatic to the hi power automatic than it would cost you to swap to the manual (the only reason why the current automatic RX-8s costs less than manual is obviously because it had a less powerful engine, otherwise automatic transmissions always cost more).

Also, if the hi power automatic is released in 2006 without any horsepower upgrades, it'll be a clone of the current 6 speed manual - except without launch capability. And without the ability to launch from 7000 - 8000 RPM, you're looking at an engine that reaches 60 in the high 6 - low 7 second range + the additional weight of the automatic transmission.

But we really should put an end to the speculations, especially when all the facts will be released in 3 - 4 weeks. June is right around the corner. Mazda's going to announce all their 2006 model plans in less than 20 days.

So....repent. The end is near.

 

I want strato blue with mazdaspeed body.....

 

I just wish the '04s could have the sirius option. It will be nice for the AT 8's to have similar power as the MTs...but they will still be panzy cars...lol! Automatics...

 

That is beautiful!