BlueAdept

Don't know about the 240 or 250 BHP... but god I hope they do a 3 rotor version of that engine... perhaps for a new RX-7...

I expect they'll do a turbo though, which I think is a mistake... look what happened last time!

Sputnik

That's what I was thinking too. And the bottom picture is the closest, but it's still a little darker in person.

I saw Navi, didn't I? I used to think heated seats weren't worth my time, but then I bought a car that happened to have them anyway, and now I put seat heaters in every car I own (yes, my Miata has aftermarket heated seats).

---jps

P.S. If I do have to have the Bose stereo with the Navigation system, I will hold a Bose smashing party shortly after I get an RX8.

Grimace

From http://hot.ee/bmw6series/converter.htm

192 PS = 189.4 HP
240 PS = 236.7 HP

KayakDaddy

Is that chart pretty new? It may be on the sheet and I just can't read it. Is it official?

I certainly hope that we do get the 250 HP that we have all be hoping for. It just sounds better than 240. Why does the power keep going down? I seem to remember them quoting 280 HP when they were first showing the RX Evolve.

I'm glad the sunroof will be available, but I'm hoping the price of the upscale edition is closer to $30K on this side of the pond.

Quick_lude

I'm dissapointed that the "base" doesn't come with the same engine/transmission. Just because of that, the base model is off limits for me.. not enough power for the money.
What currency is that? Swiss Franc? Assuming those are real, could someone convert that to US prices perhaps using the ratio of same Mazda models sold in Switzerland and in the US?
Would this be MSRP, manufacturer cost or dealer cost?

Lets say this is MSRP, 40K Swiss Francs converts to 26,800 US. That is almost $3K more than an Acura TypeS. In my dissappointed opinion, unless Mazda lowers the US price, the base model is overpriced for the performance it will offer. 190hp/5spd.
The WRX is $24K, Accord 240 hp V6 stick is about $24K.. Unless Mazda thinks this car should compete with Saab, Lexus, Mercedes and BMW then it will be a bargain. Personally I don't see this car or Mazdas image up with the big boys. Time will tell..

jmanolov

Mazda didn't annouce any less powerful RX-8 variation for USA at Sevenstock.
First the tech guy said that everyone had to know that most the things posted so far in the forums are bullshit and what he was going to announce was the only real and true data.
He said 250hp, 18 inch wheels and that's it. He called on everyone to listen carefully what he is saying and when everyone gets home to change their false online web announcements and web posts with the numbers he just had said. These were almost his exact words and he was pissed from what had been posted online so far

Quick_lude

That's what I wanted to hear! Come to think of it, Europe only might get the detuned version due perhaps to their fuel economy concerns. I don't care that much about the 18" wheels, I want the 250hp/6speeds!

Buger

We have all heard that the automatic transmission will come with 192 hp and 16" wheels right? It would appear that the "5-speed" that is being mentioned may mean that the auto transmission has 5 speeds?

If the automatic version is $26,700 (converted?), the base version would most likely be less expensive correct? Whatever the case, at least we are getting some new info to talk about huh?

Brian

fuz

Hmm, if we **** him off some more can he tell us more?

Rich

Sputnik, you have heated seats in Dallas? I had them in a car when I lived in Milwaukee, and never turned them on.
*shrug*

As for the tech guy being pissed about what's been speculated about on the online boards, that's b.s. If they build a car that gets people excited enough that they spend time trying to search and serch for information, that's a good thing! If they don't release any information for 6 months (or however long it's been since the R&T article), they should expect that we'll be speculating, and speculation yeilds incorrect information. Those of you that have been on this board for a while may remember that I was one of the few people who stood up for Mazda when people were getting pissed about the lack of information. However, if they're going to do that they have no right whatsoever to get pissed at the people that are spreading the word for them, supporting their car from unfair attacks on other message boards, and will be among the first and most enthusiastic owners. We are the base of the enthusiast community for the RX-8 on the web. I don't expect any thanks from Mazda for doing that stuff, I'm doing it because I'm excited about the car, the rotary, and Mazda. However, we are the last people they should be "pissed" at. If anyone from Mazda reads this board, get that tech guy to stick a sock in it (if the quotes are true). If you don't want incorrect information on this board, give us the correct facts! At least send an official spokesperson (verified by the moderators/administrators) to correct the errors, even if they can't offer the real information yet.

hmm...upon proofreading that it sounds very self-riteous. I'm not sure how to change it to remove that perception, so I'll just add that I don't mean it to overstate our importance here. I can't see a way to change it and still get my point across, however.

Sputnik

You betcha! A toasty tush makes for driving around with the top down in 50-60 degree weather fun. On the days that it gets in the 40s-50s, it's a little more comfortable to get in the car with a light jacket and have a seat that warms up immediately in the morning, than having to wait for the heater to get the whole car warm. For my none-convertibles, I still like to drive around with the windows down, and heated seats allow me to do that more often too.

Now, on the few days that don't get over freezing, you're wearing a coat that is thick enough that the heated seats don't do much, to be honest. So I can see why you wouldn't use it much in a Milwaukee winter (I grew up in N. Illinois, I am familar with THAT winter too), but in Spring/Fall...

There ya go. Start a rumour about the rear windows being plastic .

I can see how a person would simply be annoyed at the fact that people listen, spread, and argue rumors as they were gospel. You get that with other forums where people just make stuff up, and then argue all day as if it had been handed to them on a stone tablet with nine other rumors. But I'm not going to start speculating on what's making him "pissed", or even if he's "pissed" at these forums. For all we know, he could be reading this thread right now, shaking his head, wondering why we're talking about hiim being "pissed" at the forum, when all he wanted to do is help us out by putting us on track about the HP rating and wheel sizes.

---jps

Rich

Interesting, I love top down driving at 40 degrees. It's just starting to get good then. The Miata heater is hot enough that I stay pretty darn warm no matter how cold it is. I haven't driven it through a winter yet, but I'll let you know when it gets too cold to drive with the top down. I just need to be careful about raising and lowering it as it approaches freezing... :D

btw, I didn't post the second quote you attributed to me. Just a cut and paste error, I think.

Alienate

Hailz!

Even if the car hit the USA with "Only" 240 BHP.... wouldn't a simple "muffler/exhaust pipe upgrade" get you at Least 10 more horses?

I put a Flowmaster Muffler in my 94 Carmaro Z28 and brought the base 275 Hp to over 300 Hp. (That info was per my installer, I never actuallly had it Dynoed )

And..I FELT the increased power.. as well as a great sound improvement.

And adding a K&N Air filter must add a few horses too...

Won't we be seeing 250 to 260 BHP with these simple add-ons?

Nate

Sputnik

Oops. You're right on that one, thanks.

---jps

Quick_lude

Nope. You are comparing a very innefficient engine from a 94 Z28.. Today's "import" cars, at least the high hp piston engines are very efficient and hard to get more power with simple bolt ons.

boowana

240HP is NOT for us. It will be 250HP in the six speed for sure.
Also remember that different countries make up different option packages so don't read too much into the way the German model will be marketed. Ours could be different.:p

Sputnik

That really depends on the car. First, I would take that installer's number value with a grain of salt. And it's not that a different muffler won't give the Camaro more HP, but remember the "butt dyno" is more about all of your senses. And a lower, deeper exhaust note is one of the more misleading things that can give you a "false sense" of increased power.

But back on track, the amount of increase that we'll see on the car depends on what Mazda puts on the car in the first place.

At one end of the scale, you have a Honda Civic. It has an intake and exhaust that was designed for the best fuel economy for 99% of the people who buy the car. Since the car is normally idling or at low cruise, a narrower exhaust actually increases airflow at those low levels. Since smaller exhaust systems are lighter and cheaper, it's a no brainer for that car. They also design the intake to muffle the engine sound, and improve low-flow/low-rpm performance. Replacing the exhaust and intake with highflow setups takes away a *little* low-end torque, but really opens up high-rpm flow, giving you higher peak HP.

At the other end, you have a Honda S2000. It already has a free-flowing cone intake, and a capable exhaust. This is because a louder exhaust and intake on their sports car is desirable, and they want that bigger HP number and performance. Replacing the exhaust and intake on a stook actually has little effect, because there is little room for improvement (unless you're going to add some FI).

So, it all depends on which end of the scale the RX8 falls under. Will they make things more "civilized", allowing us to get some performance out of a few such bolt-ons, or will it already have a high-flowing intake and exhaust like the stook?

---jps

Grimace

Exactly. Do a little research on the Mazda 6, for example. Most other markets don't get the 2.3L engine or 3.0L V6, but instead get 1.8L and 2.0L four-cylinder engines. Options like climate control and navigation are shuffled around, or won't be available here at all. The option packages, and engine-transmission combos are very different.

PatrickB

On the other hand, if sun roof is an option in Europe, you can almost guarantee it'll be available here.

boowana

Look at the 2002 Miata Special Edition. One is Titanium.:p