Turbo RX-8
 

Okay friends. I have some good news and some bad news. I work for a Mazda dealer and get to hear about the latest developments with RX-8s and all other Mazda models. Mazda does indeed intend to build a Turbocharged RX-8 in 2 or 3 model years. On the flipside, Mazda is going to discontinue building trucks very soon. I don't know exactly when. Remember, Mazda hasn't actually built a truck since 1993, when Ford started building them.

Thats funny about the trucks. I saw something in automobile a few issues back that Mazda pickup truck sales were up somehting like 30% over the previous year, while Ford Ranger sales were down about 15% if I remember correctly.

Where I live in Idaho, the Mazda dealership is the top Mazda truck seller in the region, and is quite high on the list nationally for truck sales. They are all over the place. There are probably more Mazda trucks on the roads than either the Ranger or the Toyota Tacoma.

I think having a truck is a good idea, though a Ranger with a different badge never flew with me in the first place. I hear Mazda is wanting to be about sport, so maybe getting rid of a pickup is part of that, much like how BMW or Mercedes doesn't have any pickup. However, does that mean the MPV should go too? I doubt that. Mazda is still a every kinda car maker, just with sporty intentions.

I would like to see the truck stay, but be more of a Mazda. Give it noticably different sheet metal, and use the Mazda parts bin instead of the absoulte garbage they use in the Ranger. And give it a nice, smooth I4 or V6, not the rough, loud, wheezy, underpowered junk thats in those trucks now.

I'd also be quite surprised to see Mazda pull out of the truck business in North America. At present, truck sales amake up about 60 percent of sales at 35 to 40 percent of the dealer body. While I will not argue the point that Mazda needs to re-evaluate its truck and commercial vehicle offerings in North America, a wholesale departure from the field is not the answer.

bwob

I agree with the above people and also would not like Mazda to exit the truck market. I for one was dissapointed many years ago when Mazda stopped builting their own trucks and started buying rebadged Fords.

What I would like to see is Mazda built their own truck with a rotary. Bring back the REPU. I don't know how a rotary would hold up to heavy towing applications, but maybe they could market it to the boy racer market?

I used to have a 1990 Mazda B2200 i wanted to stick a Turbo II engine in there so bad and make my own "custom" REPU, oh well too bad i was only 15 with no money :( the early 90's mazda pickups were the best!

MotorTrend says...
 

MotorTrend says that they "believe" that Mazda is setting up for a future turbo model, maybe a light coupe also. www.motortrend.com

I also believe that a ram air would be another logical choice for a car if it is solid natural, yet the boost would be mild in comparison to a turbo.

The problem is that the engine comes with a preference towards the natural. A modernized 13B with wider intake ports that open earlier seems kinda NA instead of Turbo, the old one was better suited I think. So most rams wouldn't do harm. I would believe that a car that was set up to be NA could only be turbocharged at a loss of the constant power. You'd get 30-50 at every shiftpoint, but with some NA engines you'd lose 10-20 from the constant. Lowering overall expectation.

It's late I'm getting foggy. Whatever.

Gotta a cross section of the RENESIS down here.

Callaways Inc. has produced a turbo (Garrett T25) that will be getting installed on the new Mazdaspeed Proteges. As well, Mazdaspeed is coming overseas, as announced at the NY Auto Show from what I heard. Does this mean that Callaway could in future projects (as part of the partnership) look into making turbo kits for the rx-8/miata/new attenza??? By the way, I don't know much about turbos, so if anybody could tell me why it would/would not be a good idea/easy to put one on the rx-8, that'd be great

Yeah, the FD is a perfect example.

One thing I was wondering, is the dual exhaust on the RX-8 really necessary? I mean even the FD3 has only a single exhaust. That's easily 30-40lbs right there for the extra one.

i wouldnt mind 30 or 40 LBS for an extra exhaust..i think it looks realy nice...i guess it depends on your prioritys...i like speed..looks and functionality..all in proportion

lol, that trunk on ur rx-7 looks really functional ;-)...

damn straight it is...

http://www.imagestation.com/picture/...3.jpg.orig.jpg

RX - 8,
I can't see any of your pics on the forum. They all show up as a big red X.

basically, I assume that picture shows the trunk of RX-7 that has enough space for 2 envelopes and a car mag (not the fat british ones though)

Rotary Engined Pickups? Why?
 

Don't get me wrong, I love the Rotary engine and all it represents about Mazda but, BUT the rotary is a poor choice for a truck motor. It makes very little torque! And umm...last time I checked most pickups make more ft./lbs. of torque than they do horsepower for a good reason....it's necessary for hauling and towing the heavy stuff trucks are built to handle! Now the ultra high torque "Quasiturbine" rotary being developed in Quebec Canada (go to www.quasiturbine.com for an interesting read) is a rotational engine with huge torque output and would be perfect for trucks, but the Wankel motor in a truck would be akin to putting a cummins deisel in the RX-8. That's just silly. Go to the sports wagon thread if you are looking for a higher-utility version of a rotary engined vehicle.

I am such a boostaholic! That would reek of awesomeness!

compression ration
 

I know that this may be a little off topic, but I saw it elsewhere in this thread... what exactly is compression ratio... is that the air to fuel thing, or is that kinda like the gear ratio? Yeah it's probably a retard question but... there it is

Also to keep on topic w/ thread... turbos would be nice, but considering that the renesis makes what the TT made and is N/A, it's all gravy with me... just more that I'll have to do when I manage to get money after I get the car.

This is my first post. And, I too think that a Rotary truck would make little sense. I would however, like to see Mazda become a Japanese BMW, just like Pontiac has tried to do so but failed in my oppionian. I think that now Mazda has the best chance to really become the staple of ZOOM in the Jap wars. The new Protege's rule. Not power wise, but in handling, it surpases anyting in its class, including those annoying Hondas. And now that the RX-8, MS-Protege' and the 6 are on its way things are looking good. But lets take it one step further. If the RX-8 has high sells then that'll mean that Mazda might just might be able to shove a Rotary into any car:eek:. How cool would that be. Lets see, in three years we might see a performance segment in Mazda much like BMW's M-series, only, we'll call it the RX-series. Sure there'll the regular engines, but if you want a really hot Miata with, lets say 230hp, improved handling and looks, you can dish out an extra 10 grand and get the RX-5, or how about that same engine turned sideways in a Protege', lets call it the RX-3,(no not the ugly acward looking wangon thing from the 70's, RX-3 because in Europe and Asia the Protege' is called the 323, but we all knew that) How about the 6? Lets call it the, Umm..... hum...Idont know, RX-8923? no no, um.......... RX-2002..... Oh, yeah, logic, The RX-6 with 280 Hp, the RX-8 would then have to make more HP to fit into this marked segment or there can be an RX-8 rz or somthing with 320 hp via turbos, which doesnt seem out of the question now that this RENESIS engine makes 250 soon to be 280 hp without forced induction. But really, Mazda is known for the Rotary right? Then they should use it. I know that it may not seem cost effective now, but if the RX-8 does well, expect lil Rotarys poping up every where. It would be a dream come true.:p

I and many others think the RX-3 is a great looking car!
also that would be derating the name cause if you havn't noticed all the RX-series cars in history have been Front engine rear wheel drive. no one is going to even think of a FF RX (cept to the guys who put TII's in focuses) Mazda is known for the engine but big daddy ford won't let them (ford sucks balls hard) *did I just say the F*** word oh no now i am going to scrub my mouth with soap cause I said f**d well have fun ranting while I got face up to that big bar of dail soap.

Live damn you!!!

i actually started reading this thread until i realized that its from six years ago

Holy old thread resurrection. I think this is the oldest one i've seen yet!

don't bother. it will never work.

what an epic necro.

I read the first line, thought the guy was nuts, then looked at the post date.

I'm confused about the massive thread necros recently, but I get great laughs.