2005 rx-8 SMG and when?
 

Any details rumors on the 2005 RX-8 and if it will have SMG? If it has SMG then I'm sold 8,15,20 mpg who cares...!

I thought the Sequential Manual Gearbox was only for BMW's? maybe other companys have other names for it..but i dont think mazda has a version of this gearbox out.

They had one in the first rotary "RX-8 to be" show car. It got cut out due to high cost. For the life of me, I just can't remember the car's name!

It was cool though. Three position stick - Forward, reverse, and automatic. Electrically operated clutch (always automatic when you shift), and shift paddles on the steering wheel. They were used for the current automatic cars.
Best part of all, the shift "gate" on the stick was rotor shaped! So the three positions were at the apexi (I guess neutral was in the middle, so four position - but I'm really not sure how the thing worked).

smg is bmws name for their sequential gearbox, but almost all higher end manufacturers have it. bmw and ferrari seem to have the best, go figure...

the new m5 is going to have a seven speed smgII gearbox, which is rediculous and a waste imo

so i guess no "sequential gear box" type automatic for 2005 rx8 then?

Very doubtful for 2005. I think i did read somewhere it is possibly for 2006.

Sissy-Man Gearbox? :D

No, not sissy-man. Do you think race car drivers are sissys? ;) It's just a better design - faster shifting. I'm not sure it's necessary, though. For a street car the current manual is just fine although could be a little stronger. An automatic "manual" transmission is really just unnecessary additional expense (they are still very expensive). I suspect that is why Mazda took it out of the RX-8 design.

Just ask "would I pay an additional $3000 to have this feature?".
That should answer the question for most people.

Maybe I am wrong but why do yall really think that they are going to put big changes in the 8 only after it has been on the market for one year.....

Would the name be 'RX-Evolv'?

For SMG & 2005 info see:
https://www.rx8club.com/showthread.p...l&pagenumber=2

Yup, like I said in that thread: An SMG will be an option for the 2006 model year, as will a 5 speed auto trans that can handle the 9K redline and higher power of the current high-power (manual trans) engine.

Regards,
Gordon

I'm going to play the devil's advocate here.

What is the source of your 2006 model info? Mazda has not released the 2005 specs yet.

bowman you're the man! That's the name. Thanks. It's been bugging me for a couple of months now that I couldn't remember it. Old age I guess.

The RX-Evolve styling cause quite a bit of controversy on the RX-7 list. Some liked it, lots hated it for various reasons. Most of them like the RX-8. Many are probably owners by now!

I loved the SMG in the M3. Shifts in 1/8 of a second... very strong too. Oh and the shift speed is adjustable so that you can shift it more comfortably. When I was going to get the M3 I was going to order it with the SMGII. But I have a manual RX-8 and spent $30k less :) .

Yup, in a heartbeat.

A source deep within Mazda's Japan engineering department. I'm not allowed to disclose anything more detailed - but the info isn't a rumour from a magazine or anything like that. It's solid! (Of course, the same source had told me about the RX-7 concept that was supposed to be shown at last fall's Tokyo Motor Show, but it wasn't his fault that Mazda senior management pulled the car from the show list only a week ahead of the show!)

Regards,
Gordon

Here is another thread on the 2005 models:
https://www.rx8club.com/rx-8-discussion-3/2005-model-changes-rx-8-a-27507/