I wonder if any of the body kit companies are going to retool for the updated 8? Somehow I doubt.

 

Perhaps not, but I quite fancy the new Mazdaspeed body kit and would happily pay if I could get a replica that would fit my current RX-8...

 

Look at BMW's M3, M3 models have been derived from the E30, E36, E46 and E92 3-series. No real connection, but still the same badge.

 

Please for the love of God kill the factory stereo and I'd be happy. why do companies keep challenging the aftermarket, it's never going to go away and all this integrated bs is lame.

 

To me the only aspect of the tranny ratio that needs improvement is the 3 to 4 shift, where there's a noticeable lag after the shift at redline (about 90-92 mph). Let's hope it addresses that.

 

4.77 Gears - Improvement or not?

Some food for thought - I was watching a few of my older Best Motoring videos and came across the "Factory Fighters" episode where they compared a limited edition Mazdaspeed RX-8 (JDM) to a regular RX-8 Sport. The MS RX-8 came with 4.77 gears. In a 1/4 mile run that was done side-by-side on a wet track, the Sport model ran a 14.8 to a 15.0 turned by the MS model. While the 7% shorter gearing of the MS model could have caused more wheelspin resulting in the slower time, the announcer noted that the shorter final drive on the MS model, didn't allow the car to stay in the high rpm powerband for very long before an upshift was required.

So now that the '09 RX-8 gets this shorter final drive, will the car truly be any faster???

 

Agree. Do it do it right or don't bother. Even the cheap sirius intro radio has continious scroll for artist/song. If they do anything an ipod should be intergrated into the steering wheel from a safety standpoint.

 

I doubt it will make a huge difference. Maybe a few tenths at the most, and maybe nothing for the reasons you posted.

But it will make it more driveable, you wont have to downshift as much to get into the meat of the powerband.

 

From a friend at a Mazda dealer. This is the none RS version with auto trans. Sorry for the tiny cell phone pics.

 

i was thinking this before but forgot to mention it until that one coomparison above- there really inst any need for "eyelids" now. they've pinched the headlights and givne them the out line of what most of the aftermarket "eyelids" have. its liek they put on the ANGRY EYES

the front in altspaces pics looks great. i just need to make some mesh to hide the bar

 

i was thinking just about ever lip body kit made for the 8 has a continious flat bottom profile, i wonder why mazda went with the heavy looking jaw lines on the new bumper? (if you know what i am saying, does this mean aftermarket kits will also follow suite?)

 

I'm shocked we are getting recaros as option!

 

will the 2009 model come out this December, or earlier?

 

"For 2009, engineers improved RX-8 body rigidity through the addition of structural reinforcements, by adding a trapezoidal strut tower bar and enhancing the local rigidity"



how come they are saying it's lighter after all these additional reinforcements and a bigger diameter exhaust?

 

Really? Our current seats are of "Recaro" design. This are just a bit more bolstered and have Recaro stitched in them. But I dig them.

 

they din't say it was lighter

 

True,

As Mazda anticipated a "...better/improved acceleration" WE, on this board, speculated that that could be achieved by a weight reduction (among other things).

However Mazda has not stated the weight for the new RX8 yet. So could still be lighter despite the reinforcements and wider exhaust pipes.

I imagine, final specs will not be released until the model is ready, or almost ready, for sale.

Cheers

jird20

 

why the bigger exhaust pipe if the car does not make any more power? if the pipe is bigger will it use the same mufler?

 

it looks SOOO much better

 

I notice this car still has the current 5 spokes.

 

The mazdaspeed looks like factory rice.

I love the redesign of the RX8 but am sorely disappointed regarding the lack of significant power gains. I sold a 400 whp 2G Eclipse before moving to my 07 and the RX8 is a vastly superior car, but sometimes I really miss what "fast" felt like even when accomplished by brute force. Can't touch RX8 handling though.

 

They look like the MS dual can.

 

it's just like the Protege MP3 that was named after it's radio instead of being called MPS. Dumb. The RX7 Turbo2 (Second gen body) followed an RX7 turbo in the 1st gen body. Makes no sense.

Paul.

 

altspace, thanks for the pics! I noticed that for that non-RS model:
1. The front bumper looks good without the foglights (with the exception of that black plastic piece in the middle)
2. It has the current-model wheels!
3. No side skirts (in comparison to the RS)?
4. From the back, it looks like.... NEW JERSEY PLATES!! What dealer is this?? I'd like to look at it personally

 

Me too--how'd they get a 2009 model in New Jersey already???