The next generation Z should be coming out about the same time as the next gen RX-8, amirite? It will be interesting to see how they modify their V6, since that engine is so high output to begin with, and I doubt they'll ditch it. I'm willing to bet they'll keep all motor, and I bet Mazda will too. With the new federal fuel economy law that forces manufacturers to keep a 35mpg average of car sales, forced induction and high output motors will probably drop off significantly. However, this paves the way for efficiency gains, like the 16X's direct injection.

 

New Z will be coming out in the next year or so. The next RX8 with the 1.6 will be coming out 2010 or 2011.

 

interesting ash- from what im hearing the issue is airflow for the bigger engine. the face of the 8 doesnt allow enough airflow for the cooling requirements of the bigger engine.

sounds like they have some engineering ahead of them- much like a certain race team did. when you stick a rotary in a place that was intended for a different engine(even a different rotary) you need to spend most of your time not just fitting it in there but redesigning it for proper cooling

 

Maybe the new "face" is more functional cooling driven than asthetic looks driven. That would account for the much bigger oil cooler area and the larger that is being talked about and in the photos being circulated.

 

more oil cooling!?
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All you need to do is prop the rear of the hood and cut larger holes on the sides to the "non-functional" fender vents that supposedly are just for show...

 

Has any one seen this pic and if its lagit? I found this on autoblog. Sorry, that was the only pic they had.

 

There is plenty of frontal grille area to cool down a much more powerful engine. The problem lies in the fact that air can't move very well after if passes the coolers.

 

^^exactly.

 

The Z will be pushing the new 3.7 liter tuned for about 330-350 HP. Should be pretty interesting considering they will be dropping about 200 pounds. Mazda should keep this in mind....

 

Wow. Thats a big jump in output.

 

If Mazda could get a 1.6L NA engine working with a less aggressive rear end ratio (due to more average power), a better cat (that can handle leaner fuel mixtures) and possibly a more efficient cumbustion chamber design, it might be possible to get nearly the same economy (as the current engine) with more power.

 

More MA Gossip.

For cooling (coolant) improvements a larger radiator, higher water pump input/output, and slightly larger electric fans with more blades.

Yes, larger oil coolers and obviously larger intake vents/scoops/whatever you want to call them, part of the heating issues/problems are oil temps with the 16. motor.

I agree with RG, it is the dispersal of all that hot air under the hood, not so much the actual fresh air intake volumes.

 

Personally, I think they should start openning the fake side vents we have behind the front wheels. They could have the air from the engine bay escaping out of the side vents or they can take a page out of the the Lotus Elise's style of air management. Making a hood that will direct hot air out of the engine bay will go a long way.

 

It is slighty open, but only a small portion of the vent from what I remember seeing.

 

True, it is slightly open but there is no direct flow from the engine bay to that vent. If you take the vent off the car all you see is metal. Correct me if I am wrong.

 

Huh? The side vents nicely ventilate the front disc brakes. I get almost no brake dust thanks to those vents (and manual transmission compressive braking of course).

 

There are a couple of small holes from the engine bay to the inner fender area behind the vents. That's how I attached my Autoexe 4-point strut bar there. so basically bolt hole size. That couple sq ins of area though is really nothing, esp compared to the other huge areas of air escape from under the hood. In essense there is no passthru there, at least not any that has cooling effect.

If they wanted to make that work, they need to open a larger area through the sheet metal with some type of intentional ducting to create a suction drawing air out. And I would guess the vent area would need to be totally redesigned as a backward facing one, not side facing.

 

Like in a wide body kit.

Cool...........

 

Well, the new 8 is suppose to be wider from what I understand...

 

Now that you say that I could see how that would be true but how bout this...

Do venting similar to the Lotus Elise (no I'm not dropping this...It's a good idea ) in the hood to remove hot air from the engine bay. They open up the vents on the side of the car and make them functional...I don't care for what. I hate it when **** is put on a car and it's not functional. The comment before about it being used for cooling the breaks...I honestly have not seen much supporting data for this but I could be wrong. Not to mention the plastic covers in the wheel well don't have vents/slits in them to move the air through the side vents.

It would not cost much to make these changes.

 

Oh my - I thought you upgraded that Etch-A-Sketch you have been using.

 

Vented hood would be cool haahaa, I like vents. Actually a better idea than side vents as one good low pressure area is usually near the windshield.

 

Cavemancan: I'm with you on ducting the radiator exhaust out the top of the hood ala Lotus Elise/Ferrari F50 etc.

I think it's a good look and would work very well.

As others stated there are some small exhaust holes in the sides of the engine bay behind our front suspention towers that exit to the fenders where our fender vents are. They work but need to be larger IMHO.

 

But the RX-8 isn't a F50, Enzo or Lotus Elise, the sales will even go lower with vented hood!
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