3 generations of RX8?
 

According to Japan, (rx-7 magazine) there are 3 generations of RX8. They say that 2004 to 2006 is the first gen. Then in 07 they mention that the 6speed auto came out for the j-spec cars which they list as 2nd gen. Then 3rd gen is the 09's.

I'll post the pic of the page in the magazine tomorrow.

Ben

You could look at it like that... the only thing that really changed was the auto though. I personally wouldnt call it a new generation. I wouldn't really call this news or anything. Just a way of looking at it.

i would only call the 09s a new generation. they have a new tranny, new interior, new exterior, new rear diff, new rims.

i think call the 06+ 2nd gen simply because they have the 6 speed auto is kind of eh.. not quite cutting it.

maybe the 05 is the 2nd gen because they got the new key? lol...

Why post this in two places?

Just posting what I saw in a Japanese magazine.

Japan just says there is 3 gen's. It is not me, as far as I'm concerned there is still only one gen RX8 still.

The RX7's has substantial changes, the have 3 real generations.

The first gen had a 12a and then the 13b, but they are still the 1st gen.

The 2nd gen were different from 86/87 and 88/91, but still second gen.

The 3rd gen got upgraded turbos, and different bumpers and interior in 99, but it's still a third gen.

There have not been any big enough changes to call it a 2nd gen car. Re-vamped oil system and different tranny, bumpers.. It's still the same chasis.

There is really only still the 1st gen rx8 untill they make it look like a completely different car and still call it an rx8.

Thats what I think, and I agree with MazdaManiac.

P.S. I fixed my re-post with this thread, the other post is changed. Bad habbit.

Maybe there's a translation mixup between "series" and "generation." There were actually 8 different series of RX-7. From wikipedia:

1st Gen:
Series 1 (1979–1980) is commonly referred to as the "SA22C" from the first alphanumerics of the vehicle identification number.

Series 2 (1981–1983) had integrated plastic-covered bumpers, wide black rubber body side moldings, wraparound taillights and updated engine control components. Known as the "FB" in North America.

Series 3 (1984–1985) featured an updated lower front fascia.

2nd Gen:
Series 4 (1986–1988) was available with a naturally aspirated, fuel-injected 13B-VDEI producing 146 hp (108 kW). An optional turbocharged model, known as the Turbo II in the American market, had 189 hp.

Series 5 (1989–1992) featured updated styling and better engine management. The naturally aspirated Series 5 FC made 160 hp, while the Series 5 Turbo made 200 hp.

3rd Gen:
Series 6 (1992–1995) was exported throughout the world and had the highest sales. In Japan, Mazda sold the RX-7 through its Efini brand as the Efini RX-7. Only the 1993–1995 model years were sold in the U.S. and Canada. Series 6 came with 255 hp.

Series 7 (1996–1998) included minor changes to the car. Updates included a simplified vacuum routing manifold and a 16-bit ECU allowing for increased boost which netted an extra 10 hp.

Series 8 (January 1999– August 2002) was the final series, and was only available in the Japanese market. More efficient turbochargers were installed, while improved intercooling and radiator cooling was made possible by a revised frontal area. Power was 276 hp.

Wikipedia doesn't mention anything about "series" in the RX-8 article, but I would guess that is what the article was talking about. A "generation" would be a fully redesigned car.

see, those are horsepower increases that are logical...

mazda should have kept it up.

QFT.

RX-8 has not seen a 2nd Generation yet, only 3 different series'

Since we don't have a "me too" emoticon for posts like that, this will have to do.
:repost:

Anyone else want to restate the obvious?

Well in that case the 350Z had 3 generations.

03-06 - 287hp

07-08 - 306 hp / Minor cosmetic differences

Then the obvious 370Z Change

I wouldnt consider the minor revisions to the RX8 in 06 a 'next gen' , it was the same gen with an improvement.

The 370z, that is way different chasis, not even close to the 350z. I bet it does have a different chasis code and it is in another generation.

I just hope there is not a "4th series" RX8, I wanna see the next RX car already.

Yeah at the most the 09's are 2nd gen but i don't even think i would call it that usualy switching generations have a drastic exterior change like the early supra's to the 93-98's that everyone loves the most!