Found this in AUTOWEEK .ENJOY

Catalog Item: Build Your Own MazdaSpeed RX-8 With Dealer Parts

Not content with having a distinctively exclusive four-door, rotary-engine RX-8 sports car on its hands, Mazda made this MazdaSpeed version.

First, the bad news: For now, the car is available only in Japan-and then only in a model run of 300 that's already sold out. The good news? All the MazdaSpeed parts you see here are available through certain Mazda dealers (about half sell MazdaSpeed parts) in the United States, allowing any RX-8 owner to piece together a car much like the one Mazda showed last fall at SEMA in Las Vegas.

Mazda isn't ruling out the possibility of a factory-built version for the U.S. market… not yet, though. We hear a supercharger is in the works, but Mazda isn't commenting.

In the Japanese model, the twin-rotor Renesis engine is upgraded with a lightweight flywheel, balanced eccentric rotor shaft, and a free-flowing exhaust system. MazdaSpeed improves the B-pillarless body by adding underbody stiffening bars and more robust front and rear struts. Fine-tuned dampers are coupled with carefully selected springs and beefy anti-roll bars. Specially developed brake pads employ a high-friction compound.

The package is topped with a specially designed body kit developed by Ikuo Maeda, RX-8 chief designer, that includes a front bumper, side skirts, a rear bumper with built-in diffuser and a small adjustable spoiler.

In Japan, the MazdaSpeed RX-8 sold for $33,000 without the wheels; a complete set of parts Stateside will add about $8,400 to your RX-8's sticker (plus installation). Oh, and that's without the MazdaSpeed lightweight alloy wheels, a mere $2,400 option in Japan.

cheers michael

 

Yikes. As appealing as that sounds, I think I'll be sticking with my stock 8 for a while. At least until I get the money

 

Wait till next Spring when Mazda will most likely come out with a bigger displacement Rotary engine, with 3 or even 4 rotors, and maybe even a supercharger that will boost Horsepower up to about 350.

However, I am hearing that the Mazda 6 will get the first MazdaSpeed treatment over here in North America towards the end of this year, complete with all-wheel drive and 280 horsepower. Then the Rx-8.

Stay tuned!

 

I plan to build my own custom rx8
with ms parts and others

 

now if mazda is making a 3 rotor isn't that gonna be know as the 20b or is that a completely different 3 rotor that they are making. and how are they gonna make an 8 with about 350hp when i thought in japan that no car was allowed to have over 280hp. are these just rumors or something that is actually gonna happen in the near future?

 

I wish you were right. But dude, your dreamin!

 

The MazdaSpeed 6 will come out first, at the end of this year with 4 wheel drive and 280 horsepower. This is not a rumor. It is coming from Mazda of North America.

As for the MazdaSpeed RX8, that won't come out for another year from now from what a District Operations guy is telling me who reports directly to Mazda of North America. Horsepower will definitely be over 300, and most likely be pushing 350 horsepower.

Right now, Mazda is exploring all sorts of different engine technologies that will dramatically increase power, at the same time being very cognizant of DOT issues, gas-guzzler tax, and catalytic converter issues, etc.

 

dude! your dreamin. get me links and info. i'm one of those see it to believ eit guys. especially after being on this site for a month now. you just can't believe anythign you see written here.

 

I agree!:D

maybe in Japan and Aus... but not in NA

 

First off, I am 44 years old and am not a "dude".

Second of all, why not get off your lazy *** and do some of your own homework and "due-diligence" and contact someone from Mazda of North America yourself if you don't believe me.

I have nothing to prove to you.
If you don't want to believe in what I posted earlier, than so be it. It's not up to me to PROVE TO SOME DUDE, that what I said was "accurate".

Good Luck with your communication skills when you call up Mazda of North America. For some reason, I get the distinct feeling that you will be sent to a voicemail somewhere in cyberspace.

Good Luck, Dude!

:p

 

Where have you been? The first MazdaSpeed treatment over here in North America was the 2003 MazdaSpeed Protege - that's last year! The second MazdaSpeed treatment over here in North America is the current 2005 MazdaSpeed MX-5 (aka Miata). Whatever they do next, it will be the third MazdaSpeed treatment over here in North America.

Regards,
Gordon

 

 

correction- chip not chic, sorry guys I am a horrible speller! Sorry for banter above but the jerk deserved it.

 

That's not unreasonable. Add a 3rd rotor and that's 357HP. Keep the 2 rotor configuration and increase displacement by 50% to around 2 liters and that's still around 357HP (theoretically anyway). They would especially need an NA motor if they plan on bringing out the RX-7 again. 238HP in an RX-7 would be a bad idea. In fact under 300HP would be a bad idea. And I hope Mazda learned their lesson with both the 2nd and 3rd gen RX-7's that for a factory production street car, NA is the way to go.

 

I totally agree with you. NA would be the way to go, and a 3 rotor setup would get you there hp wise. But how realistic is that? Mazda just re-established itself with the rotary in the sportscar market place in the U.S. and they are reaping the benefits of their decision to bring back the rotor. But where in the world do those rumors which is what they are come from? If I told everybody here that the new Subaru STI was coming out with twin turbo version that made 380 hp it would sound fantastic to hear but would it really happen? The point being that this guy is using total b.s. on this thread. He is breaking incredible new to us no doubt, but it is incredibly wrong news.

 

Well, at this point he doesn't have any additional evidence to back up his claim and nobody else has any evidence to prove him wrong so it may, or may not, be true. I don't see a 4 rotor street car as a possiblity though unless Mazda decides to build something like an RX-10 supercar. You never know.

 

agreed

 

What is it about my information coming from a "District Operations guy at Mazda of North America" that you don't understand???

Tell you what, why not put your money where your mouth is and bet me that the Mazda 6 will not come out as a MazdaSpeed version BEFORE the RX-8, nor will it come out with all-wheel drive and 280HP. Let's just try that for starters, eh?

I'm waiting.

 

Your wait is over...

I'm not sure who you're referencing but if it's me, I was partially defending you. I realize your claim is from a "District Operations guy at Mazda of North America". That doesn't mean you are honest. For example - I am actually a Mazda rotary engineer and I say a 4 rotor engine is coming out soon. Can you prove or disprove this? No. And I've seen the news that a 280HP Mazda 6 is in the works. The difference is that info was in a reputable magazine.

EDIT: I am not a Mazda engineer. I was making a point.

 

No one really has evidence... as in proven in writing... signed n all that ... many post on this forum... is what they have heard... and used inductive reasoning to come up with a outcome... as in MazdaSpeed protege...Miata...?...?....... So, its all good... let people tell there side... it may be true or not... if not oh welll... it not like you can place one for order... so why even care...

 

If you check out my previous post, the heading was entitled "Miami Moron" - - - Thus, I was not referencing you or directing my comments towards you, and your comment of actually defending my earlier post was noted. I have always enjoyed your posts Paulie. Enough said.

I have been a big Mazda fan since the 787B won at LeMans in 1991. I too, am anxiously awaiting a new MazdaSpeed RX8.

The bottomline is that I am not some high school kid that has a ton of FREE time to play on the internet just to see my name in print! My time is much more valuable than that, I can assure you. Thus, I only post things that I believe to be accurate and relevant. That being said, if some of you feel that a magazine article has more credibility than a District Ops Manager at Mazda of North America, than so be it. If anyone has evidence to the contrary to what I presented in my earlier posts, than please post it, or just do everyone on here a favor and shut up.

 

I didn't notice the title. Glad you enjoy my posts. Humor is good.

I trust a magazine more than the grapevine because print must have a certain degree of accuracy otherwise they may face legal action. Especially for major news, such as a 350HP rotary. The grapevine is a grey area where nobody is accountable and therefore BS is everywhere. In business I deal with all kinds of people and am amazed at the level and frequency of BS that people try feeding me. You may be an upstanding person but is it possible the Manager fed you BS? Or maybe the person who told them is FOS? Regardless, I don't have any evidence on the contrary so I will honor your request and shut up. :D

 

Mazda has already stated they will not be making a 3 Rotor due to emissions and costs. It would be a lot less expensive to slap on a turbocharger than to design an entire new engine.

 

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Originally posted by KC_Prelude
The guy ( Chris Ott of Rotary Performance in Texas ) giving the RX-8 aftermarket seminar at rotary revolution confirmed that there will be superchargers and ECU tuning to go with it available by this time next year for the 8. He also basically confirmed the new RX-7 and said that he beilieves it will have a larger displacement version of the renesis. I'll take either!
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Sounds credible to me!

:p

 

Good to hear... Same here... i would take any one of those...