Road tests....
 

I wonder when we're gonna start to see magazines with road tests and more solid info... I mean that should happen a while before the car is available to buy right?

Anyone got any ideas?

If the 350Z is any indication we should see “real” reviews with in-depth road tests in January or February. The 350Z is being delivered to customers later this month and Road & Track’s present issue as a complete review on the car. That being the case, I expect that it will be a similar timeframe for the 8.

Now that the Z is in full production I am sure that Mazda is taking a close look at the car and they are making their final production changes to the 8. That’s when I expect that Mazda to start sharing the 8’s options and technical specifications to the waiting public. :D

i'm not so sure that Mazda will really care about the 350Z's performance, 'cause i don't think they're trying to compete... i REALLY hope that the media (i mean the one people pay attention to: Motortrend, even though IMHO i think Motortrend is a rag of mag, just a catalog of advertisments, and R&T is as close to objectivity in sports cars as a mag can get) doesn't pin them up against each other, because by the numbers i think the 8 will get killed, at least the numbers that Americans pay attention to, and that's "what really matters" when you're selling cars: what people think of them.
BUT, ZoomZoom, you're right. i do think they'll pay attention to the Z, to see (as you suggested) what options will sell, and finalize the options packages...
but Mazda releasing info??? NEVER!!! AHAHAHAHA!! too out of character!! not until the day before they ship!! ;)
oh, but BlueAdept, if you haven't seen them, i think there've been a few test drives of mules with pre-production (although close enough) RENESISes in them... i think they were R&T articles... right??

I think I saw one test drive on an oval track... they raved about the engine, but not in enough detail... said it could do with more torque and the Mazda guy said they were working on it...

Personally, a car this size with 250Bhp will be fast enough for me, and as long as there is enough torque low down that you don't have to redline it ALL the time I'll be happy.... I don't feel the need to be better than any particular other car anyway... I will choose this for the looks, and the rotary... not as a status symbol, or somthing I can compare stats with anyone else.