RX-Hachi

Something to do with the petrol grade in Europe? Funny, I always thought the US had crappy fuel compared to EU. So why was it that the Euro RX-8 was originally advertised at 240 ps and then later down graded to 228 hp?

I wonder if our US gas also degrades performance, and hence the poor dyno results. Mazda claims 0-62 in 6.4 secs for the Euro model, that would be about 6.2 secs for 0-60, not that far off the 5.9 secs some car mags got. Perhaps the US model is really only around 230 hp. I hope not, I want my 250 ps! I'm not buying mine until this mystery is resolved.

P00Man

that is strange


though i still dont think that anything is amiss
________
Macumba Forum

BOOSTD 7

Gas isn't the problem on a N/A rotary ... all the GTU guys back in the 80's ran 87 octane with no problem and made tons of power. No, the problem here goes much deeper than a simple explination I'm afraid.

Sneakyracer

You are probably correct. The USA RX8 "high power" is probably around 228 hp crank instead of the claimed 250. A couple of my friends have Honda S2000, both dynoed with about 600-1000 miles on the ODO, both cars dynoed 192 and 194 hp to the wheels on a Dynojet. About a 20% loss from crank to wheel hp, about right for a RWD, front engine car with low torque. (similar to trhe RX8 case). Using that %loss applied to a RX8 with 228 hp at the crank would result in a 182-184 hp to the wheels #, coincidently thats exactly what most people here have dynoed.

MAZDA, shame on you. Thats false advertisement in anyones book.

Even with 228hp the RX8 looks like a good package, just not that good a deal. HP costs money. People pay for it.

Its like McD's selling an 1/8th LB Quarterpounder.

Lensman

The UK car is down on power for emissions reasons. Well that's according to Mazda anyway...

Elak

The european specs I can find quote between 231ps and 240ps, but measured at a lower RPM than in the US (8200 vs. 8500).

Insurance or taxation reasons to limit power by lowering red line?

/Elak

Lensman

They haven't lowered the redline they've just tuned the engine so that the peak power occurs in a different place. The torque is slightly better than the US engine to compensate. As I said: it's for emissions reasons, we have letters from Mazda stating this.

RX-Hachi

Thanks Lensman. Things still don't add up. The Euro cars that I'm familiar with usually make the same or MORE horsepower vs. their US versions. Take the E46 M3 for example, which only makes 333 hp in the US due to emissions, but 343 bhp in Euro form.

I think the RX-8 with 228 hp is still a sweet package. But I really want to believe that Mazda can't be that bad and false advertise 247 hp. Heck, the Renesis even won the International Engine of the Year award. How terrible for Mazda if they have to give the award back. Please say it ain't so!

rpm_pwr

as I've said in other posts - Europe goes to Euro 4/5 in 2005, so to save having to re-engineer the car 12 months down the track, the complied the car to the future spec. Australia goes to Euro 3 (current euro standard) in 2005 so we get the fuel maps they WERE going to get.

-pete

RX-Hachi

OK, that makes sense. I'll cross out the Euro engine theory from my mind's list.

morganrogers

Already been several threads on this in the Europe forum.

What is surprising (or maybe not , you decide) is the sheer number of people who are interested in getting the missing horses back again.

Current theory is that it will not be a physical restriction , but an engine mapping issue.
Is this proves to be the case , expect many many UK RX8s to start running US/JAP ecu units ! ! !

Like you , we want the full 247BHP , believe me !