Topless car?
 

Is there going to be a convertible or maybe a targa. That is the only thing holding me back from getting a Nissan Z is the hope that there will be a topless RX8.

the new Motor Trend says that because of the construction of the body of the car, it is definitely possible... but there haven't been any reports from anywhere stating such...

IMO, i think that if the mad a topless version, it the car would appeal to a much wider market,

I think they'll leave the topless version to a more Miata esque car.

Though I suppose that 3 series convertibles and such sell quite well. However, those rear doors would be REALLY weird on an open top car. They'd have to make it strictly a two door, which is why I don't think you'll see it happen.

The Miata is Mazda's convertible, and I just don't see that changing.

i dont see why htey would look weird at all!!, i actually think that it would really nice, one reason is because with the doors open and the top down, the car would look airy and open...very different and IMO BAD ASS!

I would be surprised if Mazda made a topless RX-8. The miata is Mazda's convertible and a topless RX-8 could take away sales from the Miata.

doesn't compete with the miata
 

Basically this is kind of what I see Mazda doing in the future:

Mazda Miata- based on a shortened RX-8 platform probably with a piston engine (maybe from the Ford Focus). I would rather see a rotary in all of their cars including the new 6 but it will most likely be a Focus I4

Mazda RX-7(Maybe)- using that same shortened RX-8 platform with either a 3-rotor Wankel or a turbo 2-rotor. I think this will depend on whether the cost for developing a new 3 rotor outweighs the cost/reliability issues of a 2-rotor with turbo. It is possible to build a very reliable turbo engine, but it may be more expensive than a 3-rotor.

Mazda Rx-8- maybe we will see a convertible, it is a four-seater that would compete against a broad range from the 330cic to the Solara. It would also probably cost about $6-7000 more than a Miata and not really be in the same class.

What I would rather see is the turbo options to be available after purchase from Mazda as a warrantied installation like Toyota does with TRD. This first of all should sell well, plus it allows Mazda loyalists who have to be first to get an RX-8 to not suffer from having a turbo RX-8 available later.

Actually I usually prefer superchargers vs turbos, but I'll take either in a pinch.

LOL... Nope!

Yeah, well I heard from a friend of a friend of a guy, that there will be an supercharged twin-turbo RX-8 convertible out for the 2004 model year.

Werd.:lol:

PBlue's goal is to bump all of the oldest posts he can dig up...

lame

I don't think you can do a convertible RX-8 - what would you do with the back doors? Besides, the pillars formed by the doors are critical to maintain rigidity. Seems like any kind of convertible RX-8 would have a lot of body flex.

Apparently, Mazda decided that you need a Targa bar.

http://img.worldcarfans.com/US/2008/...109.015.1M.jpg

If they made a convertable, it would probably have to be a 2 door. It would look bizarre IMHO from the photoshop pics Ive seen.

hence the targa bar...