The 2nd gen RX-7 didn't reach full power until 10,000 miles. There was a switch in the odometer that told the ECU when the mark was reached. The ECU would then use more aggressive Fuel & ignition maps.

My guess is the motor just needs some more time. Any rotary engine builder will tell you that your engine isn't going to make full compression/power right away. It takes a little while for things to work in.

I would be expecting these to put down 205-215hp. The 3rd gen RX-7 was rated at 255hp and put down 215-225 at the wheels. Considering the drivetrains are very similar you'd expect similar losses.

 

Initially I was worried about the poor dyno results - did Mazda screw up again as they did with the Miata? But then I thought about it a bit.

Mazda originally targeted 250bhp for the RX-8 - their most important car in 10 years. Can you imagine how many hundreds of times the engineers must have tested and dynoed and tweaked the car to try to reach that number and then finally admitted failure and had to say it was 'only' 247bhp. Hell - if they were going to be 40bhp off and lie about it then why not be 43bhp off and claim 250bhp as they originally wanted to...

I think that future tests will show 247bhp at a minimum at the engine (i.e. definitely over 200rwhp). I am not worried about this any more, and I look forward to a dyno report from someone like MazdaTrix when their car is broken in.

 

 

The driver of the RX-8 seemed to be having a good time out there - too much of a good time. Everybody else was breaking traction, 4 wheel drifts, using all of their car. The RX-8 guy never lost traction, he looked late with his accel out of the turns, ya know, stuff like that. He didn't seem to care what position he finished in.
Secondly, the straight where he gave his position to the Nissan & the WRX (same short stretch) is just after the Nissan was next to him in the turn leading onto the stretch. It's obvious to me that he was extra slow coming out of that turn which is why both cars passed him. The WRX just went by with the Nissan. No great feat. No great testimony to the WRX, nor the Nissan, just a bad turn for the RX-8.
Thirdly, the RX-8 was perhaps not broken in or had a sticky port problem or whatever. A dominant car does not 1 race make.
Fourthly, the competition is either higher priced than the RX-8 OR it is a car made to sell for one reason only - its speed.

I saw an RX-8 for the first time today. What's more, I test drove it & my wife test drove it back to the dealership. We left that place in a state of euphoria. The car is beautiful in so many ways! And Block911 - if you should pass me somewhere sometime in a WRX, I'll guarantee you right here & now, if I happen to notice that you did, I {won't mind at all(edited-out the mud - sorry to offend you, Block911)} cuz my car will still be better than yours. See if you can manage to figure that one out.

 

Another OWNED!:p

 

"Block911 - if you should pass me somewhere sometime in a WRX, I'll guarantee you right here & now, if I happen to notice that you did, I aint gonna give a **** cuz my car will still be better than yours. See if you can manage to figure that one out."


1) Learn to use proper english mudshark.
2) Keep making excuses as to why the RX-8 got passed up in the straight away by every car in the race.

 

Hopefully an admin. will go through and delete all this bickering back and forth that has nothing to do with this guys low dyno #'s

 

I have a Dyno and if anyone is close to columbus Ohio I will do some dynoing for free to confirm the numbers.

Jason
www.rx7store.net

 

The 3rd Gen RX-7 also has a mileage switch. Wouldn't surprise me that the RX-8 has one too.

 

I didn't see this so called Japanese video, nor do I care to. If I was looking to thrash a Subaru, Nissan or Acura around the track then an FD would more than adequate at handling the job. And with more than a 10 year deficit on technological advancements it's still among the best.

My point is, anyone that wants to tear into the RX-8 based on performance is fooling themselves. I wold find it hard to believe that this first year RX-8 is the best that Mazda can offer. They are fully aware of how strong of a performer the FD was/is.