Pork Chop

What do you think? Should Mazda offer an R1 package like they did on the 3rd gen? They've done similar things in the past (Miata R and the Sport), so it's not too far-fetched, right?

I can't seem to find any specific details as to what was exactly in that package, but I do recall different (stiffer) suspension setup.

Nissan offers a "track" model for the new 350Z, but IMO, it's not "different" enough from the regular models. They add Brembos and lightweight forged Rays wheels, but do nothing to the suspension.

I think Mazda should do it. All the diehard track and autocross junkies would snap them up in a heartbeat. I know I would!

Strider

or a Spirit Type R model... nevermind... that's a 7 thing... worth a shot though... anyhoo-
Personally I think that it would be a good idea... maybe that model could be the rumored 3-rotor, or turboed version-

Zoom4Three

Count me in for an "R/Sport" model.

My wish list:
Increase spring rates, larger (adjustable) anti-roll bars , adjustable ride height (ala Chevy Z06) and externally adjustable shocks. (see Neon ACR)

Minimize the weight & cost and I would be a very happy camper.

Styjan

I think Mazda is moving all performance tuned models to the Mazdaspeed name. The likelihood the there will be a Mazdaspeed RX-8 is very high.

snip of past post:
I found the Mazdaspeed Q&A on the Mazda USA Website. Go to the Mazdaspeed link under the vehicles menu.

the Q&A of interest is as follows:
Q. Will other Mazda vehicles receive the MAZDASPEED badging (RX-8, MAZDA6, Protegé5)?

A. Although we can’t comment on future products, we would like to think that MAZDASPEED will have a home with many of our platform vehicles. We currently have some concepts we will be showing in the future and at that time we will address the product.

Here is the link to the pdf document.

Pork Chop

Thanks for the info, Styjan.

While the prospects of a Mazdaspeed RX-8 sound very promising, I'm hoping that they develop it concurrently with the RX-8 and release them simultaneously. Probably wishful thinking. I dread the scenario where I wait a year for the RX-8, then they announce the Mazdaspeed RX-8, which then forces me to wait for that to come out. By then, maybe the RX-7 will be out, and later, perhaps a Mazdaspeed RX-7? The cycle never ends. I guess I might as well just get the RX-8 when it comes out and enjoy that for a few years before the Mazdaspeed RX-7 comes out (assuming they'll even have one).

I'm really itching to buy a new car soon. Right now, that 350Z is looking so tempting, but I really want to wait for the RX-8 before I make a decision. Hurry up, Mazda!

Styjan

What ever Mazdaspeed does to the RX-8, I'm sure that the parts to upgrade will be availible though Mazdaspeed. Not to mention the upgrades from other tuner companies. Maybe half the fun will be upgrading.

Pork Chop

Since I'm planning to autocross the car (in stock class), a lot of the aftermarket upgrades aren't really an option for me. Ideally, they'll make a sport package and have that option as factory installed (one of the strict rules of stock class).

KayakDaddy

Pork Chop's fears are pretty likely. That's pretty normal for car makers to hold onto premium edition of their vehicles for a year or two after the standard version. BMW waits a long while before coming out with the M versions of their 3 & 5 series. Subaru has been dangling the STI in front of current and prospective WRX owners for quite some time. The 2nd gen convertable RX-7 came after the hardtop. There are many many many other examples.

It's good for manufactures, because it keeps their models fresh and keeps publicity high. We the enthusiast can sometimes suffer though. Many of us are geeked about the prospect of getting an RX-8 and will be some of the first owners of them when they are available. That leave us enthusiast with a difficult choice in a year or to when the Mazdaspeed version becomes available. We can dip into our pockets for a new one, or pout everytime we see someone else in the hot version. Or we can add some $$$ and mod up our '03 models to smoke the Mazdaspeed ones. I'd be more in favor of having the manufacture do the upgrading, not so much for Pork Chop's reason, but more for warrenty considerations.

KayakDaddy

My friend and I were just having this conversation earlier tonight. He just bought a sweet black on black RSX type S about a month ago. He's already made several cosmetic mods including JDM headlights and he's researching engine and suspension upgrades. Rumor has it that Honda may decide to bring the Type-R RSX over here next year after all. He would hate that now because he has already made his investment. Worse yet they may bring over a Civic Type-R with around 200 HP. There would be nothing worse than being out run by a Civic.

The bottom line is that you have to buy a car sooner or later. There will always be a newer car with better features, more performace, etc, blah blah blah. The secret is to get the car that appeals to you for more than just it's test track numbers and the dyno and drag sheets. Get a car that speaks to you, one you can communicate with on an emotional level. Then you will be happy with it for years to come! (you may even stay up until the wee hours typing messages about it on a website devoted to it:D )

RXRX

I agree..there needs to be an option ..that would seperate it from the base rx-8..with improved suspension..and maybe some ground effects..

Rich

Ack! I sincerely hope that if they do offer "ground effects" they offer them as a dealer added "feature" like the Miata. No spoiler, no tacky appearance packages, etc. That's the one thing they got right with the Miata options.

zoom44

you got that right especially the spoiler! that little lip on the back end is enough for me! although i think the one they show in pics of the mazda6 looks good on that car, i still don't want one on my rx8.

KayakDaddy

I'm usually pretty anti-wing myself. The RX-8's lines are so clean and smooth that a big rear spoiler would look tacked on and cluttered. I think the rear spoilers I've seen on the MP3 is way too "Look at me". I'd personally rather have a car that was a bit of a sleeper. I bet the cops will notice a car with a huge wing on the back before other cars too. Unless you are driving a dirt track midget racer, you probaby don't have a need for that kind of downforce. I do like the look of the more conservative ground effects, such as air dams and side skirts though. There is just no need to go too far with the cow chaser front ends or the Testarossa style side skirts.

Pork Chop

I'm not a big fan of "loud" bodywork either. If they do include some form of ground effects, I'd hope that it's subtle, and preferably functional, rather than purely for looks.

zoom44

what kills me is giant wings on the back of fwd wanna be street racers. downforce on the back of a FWD!?

T-RX

sounds like you guys need to be looking more into audi's and bmw's. i swear if i hear the term "refined" or "subtle" one more time to describe what is basically the intro to the arrival of a near supercar, im going to puke. The rotaries are beasts, why should the cars not reflect that raw power???

Rich

Supercar? The RX-8 is nowhere near a supercar. It's aimed at families for chissake! Also, I've never heard anyone refer to a stock rotary as a "beast". They're smooth all the way through the rev range. They can be a bit peaky, but it sounds like it was tuned down to make it more usable around town.

Don't get me wrong, but a 250 HP 4 seat car is nowhere close to being a "supercar" or a "beast".

RXRX

No one knows how much room is in the back seat.....the reason they made it 4 doors and 4 seats is to keep the INSURANCE DOWN . You see this all the time, why would a car have a back seat if it had only one inch of leg room?. First, why is it a family car, because of the 4 door or 4 seats?...if its because of the 4 seats, would you call a rsx a family car because it has 4 seats..and if it had suicide doors would it be any different? Still ..maybe it will have more room in the back seat..but if you want a family car..get a volvo

Rich

There's a vidcap of the guy from C&D getting into the backseat around here. It looks plenty roomy to me. Also, Mazda has made the point many times that this is the first sports car with real back seats. The C&D article also said that there would be room for a 6 footer back there.

Sorry, I don't believe this. Care to provide a link to where this was published? Here's a quote from Shigeo Hirata, the designer of RX-8 concept, who I choose to give more credence to than I give to the enthusiasts (my emphasis):

First, see the above quote. Second, I never said it was a family car. I said it was aimed at families, which is quite different. Take a look at the RX-7 vs. RX-8 thread. Most people over there say they wouldn't buy a 2-seater instead of the RX-8 because they need the room. This, IMHO, is the smartest thing Mazda's done with the car.

I don't want a family car, I want a 2-seater. That's why I'm waiting for an RX-7.


If you want to call the RX-8 a "supercar", you can. That doesn't make it so.

KayakDaddy

I agree with Rich, the smartest thing Mazda has done with this car is making it roomy enough for people with families to be able to consider it. That being said, it doesn't fall into the traditional "family car" category, but I don't think Rich implied that it does. It doesn't really fall into the "supercar" category either, though it probably will outperform some cars that used to be considered supercars. What make's the RX-8 unique is that it seems to be the only car that will provide near supercar like performance and still be able to carry four people and still be somewhat affordable. To address the original question in this thread, an R1 varient would be a nice option for those whose priorities are more on the performance side.

There are lots of two seaters on the market, and even more family cars on the market, I'm not interested in them. I want an RX-8.

boowana

Remember when there were no SUV's? It is possible for a car company to come up with a brand new catagory of vehicle that simply didn't exist. That's the story of the RX-8. It has created a whole new catagory; a four sood sports car!:D
What's wrong with that? Nothing apparently. if you look at the September issue of Road and track, there on page 55 in a Mercedes knock off of the RX-8, a four door car with no B pillar and, you guuessed it, suicide doors. :o

Imitation is the greatest form of flattery.

RX-pecting

This car is ambiguous if anything, no one is better placed to understand that than all those who participated in the legendary 60+ post war (and don't say it wasn't one) attempting to classify it.

So I say if you want to use it as a family vehicle for daily driving, or TC and Drag it as your hobby, it's your choice, but where I'm headed with this is:

The body appeals to many markets BECAUSE of it's ambiguous nature: I could be left stock and look gorgeous (I love this chassis, BTW) or it could be super souped up, T-RX has somewhat of a point: even a big a$$ spoiler would add to the image of the car, I find. It depends on why you like this car.

I'll keep mine stock, though, don't think my parents/co-owners would approve...

zoom44

and in that same road and track there is saturns new sports coupe- four doors the rear ones being suicide. doesn't look as much like a 2 door coupe as the rx8 though.

ZoomZoom

Rich is absolutely right!

T-RX

exactly. I meant to say NEAR supercar....although I don't know what your classification is of a "beast" is, any 1.3L engine that makes 250hp NATURALLY ASPIRATED is, in my opinion, a beast. But don't get me wrong, it does have 4 doors, which means that 3 of your friends can now experience the joy of a near supercar simultaneously. :D