BigRed

anyone notice the rear bumper? euro license plate frame? it might be possible that they screw America. saying its a possibility, obviously not the most definite though... if it actually is a facelift.

j_tso

The FD was tested in an FC mule, so I'm hoping this could be them testing the 16X for an all new sport coupe. Mazda also put an RX-8 front clip on the NC MX-5 mule.

It's not going to be a turbo-whatever unless you see this mule on the 'ring or chasing 911s.

SlowLude

That's the thing. They don't! There's obviously some drivetrain or chassis testing or else they wouldn't need to drive it around in public. As to why they need to have the facelifted 8 to do this testing is beyond me. This seems to be more of a teaser than anything. Maybe to generate some long overdue publicity?

lone_wolf025

It looks exactly like the others...

lesper4

iTrader: (3)

i think putting an 8 test mule on the ring would give away it being a suprise.

zoom44

its late and i had a long day at work so pardon if im seeing things- is there something different about the c pillar?

oh and all the negative trash- can it. what the hell have we been saying- a refresh /facelift is coming. why are some of you shocked to see pics of a facelift. you act like someone stole your candy. lighten up . whats so wrong with the headlights? they look like a good extension of the current design that get rid of the extra side marker- hooray! if they had done that to begin with we wouldn't have had to switch them out.

the hood is different as well as the fenders. they seem wider at the headlight area
the nose is obviously opened wider. possibly one opening but i bet it has the small psuedo- pening just below the hood lip. that area would be blank since it would hide the crash bar and then the larger functional bottom opening. is the lip of the trunk bigger?

Macius8

iTrader: (3)

its just you

sosonic

Well, actually it would not be smart for Mazda to put out another low power NA rotary with very few external changes. Why?

Why should I buy a new RX-8 when I can supercharge or turbocharge an older RX-8??? Both methods would get me to 330HP to 350HP (crank). By 2010, both types of kits should be pretty cheap. The greddy turbo is already cheap... by then you could easily flash your ECU (which Pettit is already doing and COBB is soon to follow), so don't have to rely on 3rd party EMUs.

If Mazda is going to go for a similar look, than they better power up. Otherwise it ain't too smart.

zoom44

merged multiple threads

LionZoo

Maybe because some people would rather have a brand new car than something with an unknown prior ownership history?

Normality_Glitch

If it is anything like Rx7's, there will be very minor changes (a bit of interior, a bit of exterior, perhaps an additional engine option). And then a few years later badda-bing, you have another generation.

First gen Rx7's went through three different changes, second gens had one change, third gens had three, if memory serves me correctly. (although, we didn't get to see any of them here in the states, obviously.)

Although the Rx8 will have been out for quite some time in 2010, I don't see Mazda doing a new generation quite yet.

zoom44

he's right . its clearly there if you look at the hi res shots

sosonic

Thinking about it, another improvement would be to go semi-automatic. Then no more automatic or manual BS. Just one type of transmission and hopefully one type of engine.

The only engine options should be non-FI and FI.

Just hoping Mazda gets it right this time, because I think this will be "all or were done" type of gamble for the rotary.

crapdragoon

speculation

Main Entry:
spec·u·la·tion
Pronunciation:
\ˌspe-kyə-ˈlā-shən\
Function:
noun
Date:
14th century

: an act or instance of speculating: as a: assumption of unusual business risk in hopes of obtaining commensurate gain b: a transaction involving such speculation

ASH8

I agree with Conundrum...

Then why would they do a facelift for 2009 if it is going to be a redesign for 2010?

Easy_E1

iTrader: (2)

I think the car is all jacked up to confuse you all. Seems to have done a good job,,lol JK.
What I see is a car that is testing a drive train. Maybe it has some new design features, but the real reason they drive a car is not to show off it's body work. They are testing it's drivability.

reaper1

I hope they are just doing drivability testing , other wise i think the car looks like crap . If thats all they have to offer , well them it's time for me to move on. I'm done with my car payment in 09, so if I dont see something better, Corvett or Viper here I come .......

Spin9k

Some closer looks at the inside dash of the car with all the instrumentation going on there. Very interesting....





The front has a Lotus looking smile here....

Endgame

Good point. It does not make sense. I reassert that we will see the next rotary car in 2010 as a 2011 model if not sooner. The current RX8 is done so to speak. Time to go talk to my inside source now that this pic has surfaced....

Spin9k

1) Cause we're all bitching and moaning (and it's cheap to do)
2) Cause Mazda usually DOES do something the last yr of production of a model, like a MS version (w/turbo in the case of the Miata).
3) they still want to sell RX-8s

fmzambon

The fact that they are testing something mechanical implies that it'll not only be a facelift, but at least the new version will have revised suspensions. At least.

As far as the new 16x is concerned, it was stated that it'll not be used in a production car till at least 2010. But think about it: what's one of the most important thing that has to be done during development of anything? Testing! And what's the best possible way to test something? Simple: bring it where it's supposed to be used and USE it (and maybe ABUSE it). So, even if Mazda does not release the 16x till 2010, it still seems very logical to me that one may be under that hood.
And frankly, I couldn't be happier with that.

Then, the only sure way to discover whether they are testing the new engine is to find that test mule, and force the driver to open the hood.

Anyone in Germany willing to go hunting?

opus_opus

Does anyone else think that by 2010, the 16x, rumored to have 280 hp, will be an underpowered engine again relative to other sport cars? I am assuming Mazda keeps the weight the same. If they can drop the weight of the next generation RX-8 by 10% and have the HP at 280, I'll be buying one.

reaper1

Your 100% correct , by that time 280 wont be nothing . The Hp that are out now, are rediculous . It will give us something to bitch about .....

zoom44

they been working on a 7 speed twin clutch no clutch pedal smg type manual for several years. we(rg/me/brilo/ajax met the head of that prgram at 7stock 8

Aipex8

iTrader: (1)

The more I look at those taillights, the more that I think it's just off-the-shelf Mazda hardware stuffed into current RX-8 housings. Another common thing you see on test mules. Looks like the red reflector from the MX-5 and the signal from the Mazda3. They look kind of slapped together, I don't think either a facelifted or next gen 8 would use elements that look that similar to current models.