The future of the RX-8
 

I know no one here has a concrete answer to this question, but I thought maybe some may have good guesses on what the future of the RX-8 will be.

Has Mazda made any announcement that they will redesign the RX-8? Maybe bring it to the US with the Hydrogen engine?

I know a lot of people would like the return of the RX-7 but I wish Mazda will not let go of the RX-8 2+2 seating.

I'd be curious to see how Mazda responds to all this RWD revival going on with the BMW 1. Now both Lexus and Infinity will be coming out with smaller RWD (hopefully cheaper also) cars.

ANy news.

Zilch..nada...zero news...IMO Mazda's caught in a conundrum (oh no!). Even w/moderating gas prices, another new or even just updated rotary car is unlikely to win sales, regardless of it's merits in this green economy. That is, unless they pull an economical rotary out of the hat somehow.

They have the MX-5, a long term roadster success, but it's really a non-starter in the increasing field of RWD competition you speak of. Even to be competitive in the roadster game, they need to add some omph by using the new 2.5L 4 cyl @170hp IMO w/FI on the roadmap somewhere down the road.

Perhaps their answer could be a modified RX-8 platform as the MX-9 (or whatever) with their new 3.7L @272hp. That would kick butt and potenially be one awesome sports car!

I think they will try and combine the Rx8 and Rx7.

Something is coming, all the magazines in Japan report that Mazda plans a new sports coupe by 2010.

The 16X purports to be a [more] economical rotary.

They better do something, at less than 4,000 RX-8's a year the future is not good for niche cars. http://media.ford.com/mazda/article_...ticle_id=28782

ya, with sales barely exceeding the B-Series truck(!), and way below the Tribute for crying out loud, that's some pretty sad YTD sales.

Interesting that the Tribute (aka Ford Escape) only sold 6k. SUV's and niche cars.....

On the plus side, RX-8 rarity.

But at least not every idiot on the street will have one. So that's nice.

What is this 3.7L @272hp you mentioned?

See for a little while I was under the impression that MaZda was hinting at a 4-banger RWD coupe coming out, possibly with styling cues from the Kabura.. And even this month's Winding Road Auto magazine says that could happen, although they admit that there is no word from Mazda about this.

Now I have driven a recent MX-5 and I have to say it is a blast to drive, but a little underpowered.

Although they did discontinued the rx-7 in the 90's for a little bit, I can't imagine Mazda not selling an RX after the RX-8.

Another thing too, there is no way we will see a new RX-8 next year as both the new MAzda 3 and new facelift Mazda MX-5 are coming out. But maybe they will release something new during the Auto shows int he Fall of 2009, in line for a 2010 release?

I am hoping they do come out with an economical/Green rx-8...

Sports cars aren't really about high-volume sales, though, they are more of a brand prestige thing.

The 8 isn't around to make Mazda money through sales, it's around to promote the brand. The MX-5 is more of a money maker than any rotary sports car will ever be, but Mazda will not let the rotary sports car go because it is a big part of what makes Mazda Mazda.

The next big thing will be whatever turns up with the 16x in it. They could call it an RX-7, RX-8, RX-9, whatever, it will be the new rotary sports car. The 8 as we know it will likely go away to make room for this car which will most likely be more like the RX-7...I would prefer that Mazda keep the practical 2+2 design as well as offer a 7-style 2-seater, but it would be hard for a company as small as Mazda to justify three different sports cars.

In any case, I hope that the 16x turns out to be as good as Mazda claims it will be. With the promise of more power and better fuel economy, it's pretty much exactly what is needed to keep the rotary engine in the game. If they put FI on it it could be a real monster. When it comes out there should be some really good deals on used 8s.

Be careful what you wish for. A Renesis running on hydrogen makes about 100hp. Kinda ruins the car.

The future is they will eventually make something lighter, and faster, and newer. No car lasts forever. And when they do (probably in 2012), my 8 will still be running, unwrecked, and with the original engine. Then as the years progress and rotaries overtake the automotive world; the value of my rx8 will continue to climb. Then, 30 years from now, I will bring my car to a car show and get offered $60,000 for my 2004 OMFG RX8 with an ORIGINAL ENGINE AND LOW MILES!!! Then Ill take the money and invest it into our improved market to become a multi billionaire. Then Ill call all my friends and family that made fun of me for being upside down an laugh in their face.


Thats my plan.

From the customer's perspective, that's a plus.

From Mazda's perspective? Not so much of a plus.


Also, regarding the RX series' future, even if they do come out with a next generation sports car, there's no guarantee that they will sell it anywhere outside of Japan.

They'll sell it in the US as long as they can meet emissions and fuel economy standards, and that shouldn't be a problem for the 16x.

personally i dotn think mazda is not worried if the rx8 sales are low. they have Mazda 3, Mazda 2 (outside of US) making up those sales. In japan, small cars dominate the streets. its your sport cars that are the minority.

Halo cars IMO are not meant to have high sales.

RX is what makes Mazda Mazda. It's their "party piece"... But in any case, would you say realisticly nothing until 2011?

id like to see at least a 16g sized turbo pushing at least 12psi factory

I think it will be the RX-10 and it will be out in the spring as a 2010 model with the 16X engine.

i dont want there to be a future for the 8...for the rotary yeah, but i want my car to be RARE...one of kind, and im glad they already came out with the 2nd gen, 1st gens are gonna be classic imo

The future of the 8 is that it will disappear in the next few years completely. Hopefully we'll see parts support for a long time- I plan on keeping mine for as long as I can keep it roadworthy.

But even the rotary-powered sucessors to the amazing RX-7 and RX-8 won't be around for long, relatively speaking.

People in their 30's now, will live to see the day when the only fossil-fuel burning cars are antique collectables, probably requiring a very expensive permit to keep licensed and on the road. The internal combustion engine as an automotive powerplant will be itself a fossil by 2040 or 2050.

I feel pretty lucky to be alive and driving right now. We are fast approaching the pinnacle of Otto cycle development in the automotive industry. We are going to get to drive the best, most powerful, most efficient, least polluting engines, before they all disappear into the history books.

Whatever we see in rotary engine powered sportscars in the next few years will itself be fleeting.

Enjoy it while it lasts! The Electric Revolution is beginning!

Ours are sexier tooo.

I want to be buried in my 8. Just waxed the old coffin this weekend. Looks new and still gives me all the kicks I want outside of a woman.

That's going to be one helluva funeral procession, PPB! Make sure you leave instructions for the driver to take the long way to the cemetery! ;)

BEHOLD THE FUTURE!!!!
http://i274.photobucket.com/albums/j...ozer32/40b.jpg