i'm hearing rumors that the rx8 will come first only in automanual transmission? that would be uncool of mazda, but i dont see where people are reading this because mazda still hasnt released anything official.

connie

 

99.9% chance of being false, Mazda has said repeatedly that there will be a Manual, all the protos have a clutch that i have seen, and an auto. Then again, stranger things have been done.

 

dood. who is telling these stories?? where'd u get this info from?

 

first of all, i doubt we will ever see "automatic" option for RX-8, we might see F1 style shift in RX-8, but thats more expensive to make so it will prolly be introduced as an option later on... I do wish they could make something as cool as SMGII in M3, for ppl who have to drive a lot in traffic but I definetly preffer 6 speed stick

 

I thought I read somewhere that there will be a automatic offered but the engine will be detuned to only 215 HP and come with smaller wheels

 

that would be F1 style shift with paddles... some of those systems dont have automatic mode at all, just no clutch (like Alpha's selespeed)... big diff between that and US style Automatic ;-)

 

i would also prefer a manual, but i think that there will be an option for an auto, because if they did not offer it, mazda wuold be missing out on alot of pottential customers that want as automatic. Plus the 350z will have an auto option....and also, remember that the 2nd and 3rd gens, both sold automatics as an option as well. not sure about the 1st gen thou

 

Auto is an option on the RX8 and apparantly it will come with 16" wheels and the Manual will have more aggressive 18" wheels.

 

and 215HP right now right? (apperantly Auto can still not handle high rpm's of Renesis)... does anyone know if Mazda is actually developing auto or is it from Ford's part bin? (Jag/AstM)

 

As far as auto's go, yeah I think there is a problem with high engine revs and an auto tranny. Look at Honda for instance. There is probably a reason you can't get any of their cars that redline over 7000K rpm with an auto. I believe even the NSX auto has a lowered redline.

As far as the tranny. Mazda has been working for quite awhile on a new CVT transmission, and I couldn't think of a better application for new technology than a flagship sports car. Hopefully if they do use it, they will at least make a sport mode with actual "gears" so the revs don't just sit at a given rpm all the time.....how un-sporty.

If that is not ready, I would guess it will be a Ford sourced 5 speed automatic, probably with a manual mode, like tiptonic or something.

Bwob probably knows more about this than anyone.....hopefully he'll stick his nose in here