Mazda Announces 2006 RX-8 Details
 

The new 6 speed Auto is on the way!....

Press Release.....

MAZDA ANNOUNCES 2006 RX-8

LOS ANGELES – Mazda today unveiled the 2006 model-year edition of its highly regarded RX-8 sports car. Highlights of the new model feature an upgraded 212-horsepower rotary engine, a new six-speed Sport AT automatic transmission and a "SHINKA"Special Edition package limited to only 1,500 vehicles.

The new transmission is mated to an upgraded RENESIS rotary engine, now tuned to produce 212-horsepower, an increase of 15-horsepower over the previous model. The "SHINKA"Special Edition package adds various exterior, interior and mechanical enhancements, bringing it to a higher level of sportiness.

"Since its launch in 2003 the RX-8 has been an absolute all-star, with an athletic exterior, an interior that offers comfort and practicality, and Mazda's trademark RENESIS rotary engine that continues to win accolades from automotive press,"said Tetsu Nakagawa, RX-8 vehicle line manager. "With the new six-speed automatic transmission and the addition of the SHINKA package, the RX-8 continues to get stronger in 2006."

The 2006 Mazda RX-8 is available as either a 232-horsepower model fitted with a six-speed manual transmission, or the new 212-horsepower model fitted with a six-speed automatic with steering-wheel-mounted paddle shifters for a Formula 1-style driving experience.

Both horsepower figures are SAE J1349 Certified Power, which is a new method of rating vehicle power for 2006. The SAE J1349 is an automotive standard written by the Society of Automotive Engineers to provide manufacturers with a method of certifying the power of engines.

The RX-8 "SHINKA"Special Edition takes its name from the Japanese word meaning "evolution"or "transformation"and mixes RX-8's sports car flavor with a touch of luxury. Available with either a six-speed manual or the new six-speed Sport A/T, the RX-8 SHINKA Special Edition features an upgraded and uniquely tuned suspension with uprated shock absorbers and urethane-filled cross-member supports for increased performance and ride comfort. In addition to SHINKA's unique leather/Alcantara ® seating surfaces, Mazda added leather to the handbrake lever, upgraded trim on the doors and center console, and revised the finish on the 18-inch alloy wheel. The SHINKA Special Edition also features a SIRIUS satellite radio system as standard, with a one-year subscription at no cost.

The heart of the RX-8 – and what makes its unique four-passenger cabin and nimble performance possible – is Mazda's unique rotary engine. Mazda is the only company in the world mass-producing the rotary engine for use in a passenger car.

By turning a triangular rotor in a cocoon-shaped combustion chamber, the

RX-8's rotary engine efficiently performs the four processes of intake, compression, combustion and exhaust. The RENESIS engine is remarkably smooth and high revving — all the way to 9,000 rpm (7,000 rpm on Sport A/T-equipped models) — and offers a smaller engine footprint than traditional internal combustion engines (some 60-percent smaller than a comparably powered V-6, and 40-percent smaller than a four-cylinder).

Improving upon 40 years of development, the RENESIS engine boasts side intake and exhaust ports with nearly 30-percent more intake area and twice as much exhaust area than previous rotary engines. The efficiencies gained through larger intake and exhaust ports excludes the need for forced induction.

The RX-8's normally aspirated 1.3-liter engine might appear diminutive to the untrained eye when compared to large displacement V-8s or heavy-weight V-10s or

V-12s. However, through the incredible efficiencies of a rotary powerplant, an advanced three-stage intake system and an electronic throttle, the RENESIS engine delivers smooth, linear power on a grand scale.

The trend of innovation in the engine bay continues to the RX-8's styling with its "freestyle"four-door design. Mazda has proven that a true sports car does not need to sacrifice space or convenience for performance. With ample passenger room for four full-size adults, it also offers enough trunk space for a weekend's worth of luggage.

Mazda engineers also incorporated numerous active and passive safety elements throughout the car. Active safety features include the use of large ABS-equipped disc brakes on all wheels as well as precise steering and suspension systems. Available Dynamic Stability Control provides superior handling and can be disabled when driving and road conditions allow.

Passive systems also are present throughout the RX-8. Despite the absence of a center B-pillar, the RX-8 has an exceptionally rigid body, a feat accomplished through the use of a series of locking pins, which hold the doors together and tie each door directly into the roof and floor. Integrating the frame components helps dissipate crash energy through the vehicle's structure.

The 2006 Mazda RX-8 comes with a four-year roadside assistance program. With a call to a toll-free number, RX-8 owners can access roadside assistance 24 hours a day, 365 days a year throughout the United States and Canada. For all 2006 Mazda vehicles, the company will provide a free loaner car in the event a warrantable condition requires alternative transportation.

I'm pretty sure the MT engine hasn't changed.. so I guess this rating is more realistic than the HP ratings of the past.. Instead of GAINING power in the public image, the MT loses even more (although it's performance hasn't actually changed)! :rollingla

Its worth noting that ALL makes will use the SAE J1349 rating method for horsepower in the future, so, whatever the changes and public perception will apply not only to the RX-8, but all makes and models.

[/QUOTE]Both horsepower figures are SAE J1349 Certified Power, which is a new method of rating vehicle power for 2006. The SAE J1349 is an automotive standard written by the Society of Automotive Engineers to provide manufacturers with a method of certifying the power of engines.[QUOTE]

So this comes under the new SAE regs, the same one that made many Japanese manufacturers restate their hp and the C6 Z06 get uprated from 500hp to 505hp. I would assume this is a much more accurate reading for the RX-8, as weren't the new SAE regs supposed to be much stricter in their guidelines?

Other cars like the S2K go up in HP over the years and the RX8 goes down (well not necessarily down... just restated.. so in other words its went nowhere). I dont get Mazda, I really dont

232hp.... the number are finally starting to make sense now... lol

232 hp, WHO CARES?! HP shoppers shouldn't be buying this car anyways, that's why they made Evo's. (shamless cheapshot @ Ike for finally jumping ship ;) )

I'm just glad they finally announced the plans for the '06 models. Should put a lot of people @ rest.

Kinnda cool how the Shinka's will have 1 yr of Satellite radio for free though.

the S2K hp did go down a big 3 hp. Most cars hp went down instead of up.

What if the HP downgrading for the RX8 isn't quite done yet even at 232 HP?!!!

it's not a horsepower downgrade, just a new way of calculating HP. (for all cars)

it is- the new standard is very strict.

yeah but since it was introduced it has been bumped up over the years and is apparently noticable

Both horsepower figures are SAE J1349 Certified Power, which is a new method of rating vehicle power for 2006. The SAE J1349 is an automotive standard written by the Society of Automotive Engineers to provide manufacturers with a method of certifying the power of engines.the tests are done with independant observers with all accesories on. This should be the final end to the hp controversy - the results can no longer be taken to the marketing department and tweaked so it sounds good. Whatever it makes, it makes... PERIOD!!


BTW - lots of cars (imports mainly) lost power... most of the certified Toyotas lost upwards of 10 hp, Honda lost power in the TL, ect...

Any change in torque rating to MT RX-8?

Mazda6S lost 5 HP, but gain 7 ft-lb of torque rating compare to 2003-2005.

The Acura TL went from 270 hp to 258 under the new SAE rating system.

It is PATHETIC though that the RX-8 was ORIGINALLY touted as 250, then 247, then 238 and we now find (under a more precise, and welcome rating method) the Renesis has a whole 232 hp.

Probably even the 232 is optimistic...

Actually, I feel the new stricter rating vindicates Mazda's original 238 hp rating. Many doubters on this forum felt the car was really only making around 220 hp. But 232 is only 6 hp lower than 238, and many other Japanese makers under the new rating system re-rated at even lower -hp figures.

Interesting. Done by whom and on what kind of dyno? Only one standard kind of dyno can be used? Who has access to these dynos? Too many cars in the world to be certified this way with strict supervision under one strict standard. I bet there are ways around things still.

Interesting comment also. But if the RX8 is unusually difficult to dyno compared to other current cars, wouldn't Mazda need access to the "official" dyno testing to tell the "independent" team exactly how to properly dyno the RX8? If Mazda has this access, what does that do to the supposed independence of the certification? If Mazda doesn't have access to the testing, how can the independent team possibly accomplish 232 HP when forum members on wheel dynos and even RB on an engine dyno couldn't get close? Either way, there are still many questions. Again, there's probably still many ways around things and the certification will probably remain a socio-political process.

Inspectors trained by SAE visit the dyno lab, certify the calibration of the dyno, and observe all testing and results. I haven't read the regs lately, but i believe the inspectors can also pick 3 random engines from the production line for testing.

Still don't understand the reason for never stating RWHP or FWHPinstead of BHP...makes more sense to me..but I think that marketing guys would get a little pissy if the REAL HP numbers were told...would make some people jump ship...i mean..come on..The new RX8 has arrived, bowing in at 172RWHP...that doesn't sound as fun as 247HP...

It's almost like lying...in my mind...or is it...

This may be true for dynoing rear wheel HP. I think the flywheel HP that is certified is a different story.

They did in 2005 as well. In fact, the whole article makes the Shinka sound like it's something new for 2006, even though everything they mentioned (less the Alcantara/Leather combo) comes in the 2005.

Agreed, and you make a good point.

This SAE thing just helps Mazda with their horsepower woes. Now they can blaim it on the new test and also can blend in with all the other cars that had their numbers restated. This just hurts for RX8 owners because when the 8 was first introduced Mazda claimed 250 hp, then rerated to 247, then after many people purchased them, they rerated it at 238. Now it goes down again. I know the rerating doesn't affect the performance and it's still the same car, but imagine if the car really made the 250 hp that was originally stated. There would be no discussions on lack of power.

Doesn't matter anyway cause what the car really needs is torque.

even at 232.... it purring down around 170 in whp still doesnt make sense... something is wrong with this car

Not with the car - but with the HP claims.

But what I'm saying is that even now after its known HP has been "corrected" by thrid party to 232 (which is supposed to be correct) it still doesnt make sense why it only puts down 170.

Do you think even the 232 is incorrect?

Why cant a man get an accurate hp rating? This is nuts

Seems like it... :(

Yes, it is.
I think the reason must be marketing and the fact that Mazda was touting the car to be 250 HP before it was released... they can't just say after all those claims that sorry, it's only 220 in reality.
The 232 is just the result of the different, new method of saying the old 238 claim. Based on the dyno results, it appears Mazda still didn't fess up to the real output the car makes.

But all in all, I'm fine with what I get from the RX-8, no matter if it's 238 HP or 220 HP. My only gripe is the fuel consumption, but even that is bearable. So I'm a happy camper - hope it will stay that way.

Oh, I think I see what you mean. Thanks.

What the car needs is a good 2 or 3 gear downshift (rev-matched, double-clutched) and a firm kick in the gas pedal.

Torque is for lazy folks who want a car to pin them to the seat in top gear doing 60. If it doesn't do this, it is instantly declared a 'wimp' or worse. Sad, because all that a driver needs to do is get the engine into the fat part of the torque and hp bands, and *then* mash the gas.

Too much work, I guess.

Even if it got the 250 HP, a lot of us would still have complained!

Not to put a downer on the thread or nething...but I'm not completely sure this new rating system is as accurate as they say.

For ex., the Acura TL went from 270 to 258chp, yet they dyno ~223whp. Now I'm not sure bout u guys but that 258chp # doesn't make much sense to me unless Acura somehow figured out how to reduce their manual tranny loss to ~13%. Now the original 270chp makes sense to me.

223/258 =.87 or ~87% dt efficiency whereas
223/270 =.87 or ~83% dt efficiency.

Makes more sense to me given it's a manual tranny. I dunno, wut do u guys think?

see I dont own this car but I really want to want it. Eventhough more power is aways better I'm content with what the RX8 delivers for the price and feel that the car is a great fit for me at this point in my life..... but all these "lies" relating to this car really puts a tarnish on the whole thing.

The 1/4 mile times the car can produce are well documented on this board and in many magazines. Everything else is irrelevant...whether it's 247-238-232, it's still as capable as it always was.

Marketing can not change the certified power claim. To be certified the advertised power must match the number the independant observer reported.

The accuracy of a certified engine dyno that is calibrated and run by a trained person is not comparable to going to Joe Blows shop and strapping your car on his chassis dyno and leaving him operate it.

The hp controversy is dead... period

The TL is a fwd car which will always be more efficient due to not having to spin a 6ft long driveshaft and varios other extra drivetrain components. 13% for a fwd car is about right.

It's not dead. The dyno is the manufacturer's and it's in their facility. Calibration can't stop a host of things that the manufacturer can do on the fly.

a certified 232 hp for 2006 RX-8 engines *only*, it will be interesting to see how they dyno compared to the earlier models, there may have well been a reason Mazda delayed the 2006, perhaps they were about to be busted for another overrated power output claim and had to retune the PCM to get where they are now, which is quite plausible

But what if they revert back in the middle of 2006 production? So the certified dynos have to continue year round. Are they going to do that?

btw, a 13% transmission loss is atrocious, it shouldn't even be half that, I posted a graph in the aftermarket performance area showing the distribution results of over 400 engines\modles tested for the difference in drivetrain losses and the major average was 7 - 9 %, anything above 15% was considered to be a defective transmission or the manufacturer lying about the real output

wow, in that case...is there a single non-defective 8 out there?

how many here are putting 91% of 232 HP to the wheels?

HAHA

no the delay was caused by use of the factory for other vehicles, excess 2005s in the states and issues stemming from the low power engines seizing up in Vegas etc.

I fully understand that FWD cars should be more efficient than RWD cars but 13% is still too low. Haven't you ever compared dyno #s for a FWD car to its rated chp?

Well neway, 16-18% is usually the avg. for manuals & 20-22% is the norm for autotragics.

So you still don't think this new system is wrong when it comes to the TL?

What kinda dynos we talkin about here? We're talkin about the diff. from advertised crank hp/tq to wheel hp/tq bein b/w 7 - 15% right?

Cuz I'm pretty sure ur #s are waaaayyy off from wut MOST enthusiasts are getting for MOST cars on MOST dynos under MOST conditions. Actually, I've never even heard of or seen an example of any production vehicle dynoing within less that 15% of its advertised chp.

Can you post a link showing such an example? Or how about a link to that graph? Mind sharing where this data came from? Cuz if you can prove that assumption, I'll revoke any thoughts I've ever had about pursuing any career in the automotive field. I hope ur right tho...wouldn't want to diminish your credibility or nething.

my 93 Probe GT lost 12%....

Other details:

* Smooth finish of leather seat side bolster in lieu of previous wrinkle finish
* Deletion of back plastic cover on leather seats
* Semi-gloss finish on interior chrome application – Meter Ring, Air Conditioning Dial, Air Vent Grille Ring, Air Vent Louver Knob, Shift Base Ring and Rotary bezel in seat headrest. (As previously featured on Special Edition model introduced December 2004)
* Bose ornaments on door trim speaker grills for Bose equipped models (leather pack models)
* Alloy pedals on automatic leather pack model
* Three new colours: Phantom Blue, Galaxy Grey and Snowflake White Pearl

I really don't know who cooks the bullshit at MNAO but I know the real number for the manual's rating is closer to 212 which ironically is the rating of the new automatic. But for those of you who can still buy the bullshit all these years and believe that the manual loses 20% or more at the drivetrain, then the number that makes sense realistically is 225hp. The 232 figure isn't too far off from that so you can see how they can get away with that new number.

Jerky, the new number is not something cooked up. I personally question the old rating and have seen one doing about 220 on an engine dyno with the old factory management. None of the manufactures can just pull numbers out of a hat anymore.