First of all I would like to say hello to all loyal followers of RX-8 on this forum! I would've never had so much info on this amazing car if it were not for all you guys here!

My question: The mazda rx8 website shows the HP and Torque figures as "Provisional". Why is that? I think the production has already started by now and I wonder why they're giving 'provisional' numbers. Do you think there's any chance these numbers may change in the actual prod cars coming this summer???

 

for better or worse, the numbers may very well change.

 

Perhaps it will be provisional until production on the US model actually begins. Get that first one off the line and find out what it will do.

Just thought of another possibilty. My dealer told me the emissions gear is added at the US port. Although they know what they think they need to comply with US law, it can change. The MPV or Tibute (I forget which one he said) showed up at the port and the emissions package did not meet rqmts. So there was a delay while different parts were brought to the port(s).

It tends to make sense the more I think about it that you can't know what the numbers are until you run the numbers with the (stiffling) emission controls in place.

 

But shouldn't we have the true HP on Japanese vehicles by now? And the weight too with different options.

 

I would expcet so, but they still couldn't post those as the final specs on an American site selling cars. You know us freakin' Americans (Californians especially). If they put the Japanese specs on the site and the HP for the US version after the emissions equipment was 247 HP instead of 249, sombody would be filing a false advertisement suit.....

 

When i purchased my 2001 Miata the specs were 142HP. After i had the car 2months. I got a letter from Mazda telling me they made a mistake with the HP numbers and it was 135hp or something. They gave me two options. 1. turn in the car for a complete refund. 2. give me a check for 500.00 and sign a release from future lawsuits. I loved the car soo I took the 500. This could be a reson why they are doing this. They are covering their ***.

 

Maybe Mazda hasn't updated the website yet. It happens. But then again. Its more likely Mazda is covering their *****.

 

The Mazda website has just been updated -- the word 'provisional' has been removed. The stated ratings are:

250 HP @ 8500 rpm
159 ft lb torque @ 5500 rpm
This is for the high-power 6 speed version