no the design guys already said that to meet that will take some actual changes to the chassis. that happens for the next gen cars on this platform- 2nd gen rx-8, revised mx-5 and whatever the 3rd/4th car(s) will be called (mx-3 and rx-7 hopefully :) )

merged again sorry for any confusion.


i believe will see a better tune, better flywheel, lighter weight etc. other than that? hmm.....

I wonder if DI on the current Renny is a possibility. I recall that the engine bay of that Las Vagas test mule had something mounted on top of the housing that looked very similar to the DI injectors on the 16X. Where would that put us for power and fuel efficeny I wonder....

I do not believe that is a real possibility (although I wish new 2009 RX8 would be equiped with a DI Renesis) .

In my opinion any increase of acceleration will be minor and will be achieved by minor and easy to implement changes such us:

1) Different gear ratios, particularly for 2nd, 3rd and 4th (I would also shorten 5th to make it usable for track days and make 6th longer for cruising more economically). I bet final gear ratio will remain untouched. Yes, I wish to see a 7 speed sequencial gearbox, but I do not think it will happen on this new model.

2) Slight increase of compression ratio, say 10.2-10.4:1 (more would probably imply a decrease in power). This does not involve rotor casting mold changes (something expensive particularly for a low production figures) and "just" a different machining of the rotors.

3) A new cat withstanding higher exhaust temps and at the same time allowing better exhaust flow

4) New tunning for the combination of 2 + 3 but probably not getting more than 15- 20 real extra bhp

5) Lightening the weight of the car. Reallistically I would not expect more than 20-30 pounds for this restyling. It is a restyling.

6) Lightening the flywheel. Anyway if this is touched do not expect somenthing aggresive as the average driver would not feel confortable with that.

Mazda claims "acceleration will be improved" and it will be phisically true, but not in the ammount many of you expect for this 2009 model. I hope I am all wrong.

Regards

jird20

So that means a Mazdaspeed 8 before 2010?
________
How to roll a blunt

Why is no one speaking of things spoken of long ago for the 8 like electric SC assist, or simply a mild turbo to give us better acceleration? RB could be the catalyst and developer of the SC that some are not talking about. Then there was the proto SC done and left at MNAO a couple yrs ago. Has that been reborn? :scratchhe

Or perhaps the acceleration comes from a 7 spd sequential as was mentioned as being developed some time ago. These 'old ideas' have had time to be developed and to mature, vs. the unknowns that we can't seem to figure out exactly, as in "how they gonna give us what they said?" :scratchhe

What about raising the redline to 12K rpm with power all the way up. Is that not possible? :scratchhe

Losing weight would be even better, but Mazda engineers have publicly said that using lots of aluminum and composite material (plastics) would require major refresh of their manufacturing process. So again "How atre they gonna do that?". We all know how hard it is to get weight off the 8. There's not that much fat there to begin with. :scratchhe

A 1.3l DI Renesis has been built by Mazda. It was in the Senku concept if I'm not mistaken, quite a few years ago. Thinking about it, a couple of years of rotary DI use in real conditions could be incredibly beneficial to the development of the 16x. So, although not very likely, I think that a (very low risk) DI renesis could make sense: better power, torque, fuel economy, emissions, low(ish) development costs and lot of experience to use on the 16x.

NOTE: With "very low risk DI" I mean a DI system designed with very mild specs, only marginally better than the current port injection system.

Does anyone agree with me?

Mazda has been working on DI in a rotary engine since the mid 80's.

just be patient, its very interesting news especially when mazda this time has the initiative in the next gen cheap sports car segment before Nissan unveils a new Z :)

But they didn't have the Renesis in the 80's, so they couldn't make a DI Renesis back then ;)

The side port exhaust was first attempted in the early 70's. They didn't have the seal technology to make it work then though. The side port as we know it started getting developed in the early 90's.

What are the odds that the new front bumper (from the 09) is going to fit on my 04...?

If the spy pics are indeed the "refreshed" RX-8 then it won't fit. It looks like you'd need to replace the bumper, headlights, front fenders and possibly the hood to make it work. Taillights might be a direct swap though.

I'm in the same boat. My Mazda3 and the wife's Honda Odyssey will be paid off, and I'll be looking for a third toy car to take to the track once in a while. It must have a DSG style transmission (so the wife can drive it when necessary), so I was very happy to hear that Mazda has a 7-speed one in the works, and what I've been reading about the 16X makes me even happier! I really wanted to get another Mazda (I love my Mazda3), and I've always loved the RX-8, but the current auto tranny in it is not something I would ever consider. I'm excited!

Posted in the other thread.

Is it me or can you see a difference here in the dash?

http://i13.tinypic.com/8g58ozr.jpg

just the extra testing gear

I am just curious if they do improve the OMP can we somehow take advantage of it. I am guessing not since it is ECU controlled.

I think you're right...the molding around the display seem to be more defined and the angles of the molding look to have changed...

Exactly! Of course I noticed the extra gear.

got this in my e-mail from Mazdaspeed motorsports.

also included this info. (sorry if this has been posted already, I did NOT read everything in here.)



2009 Mazda RX-8
Sporting a freshened design, improved handing, acceleration, quality and features, the 2009 Mazda RX-8 continues to be a “Sports Car like no other,” and shows that the rotary engine is still an important part of Mazda’s future.

Since its launch in 2003, the Mazda RX-8 has been hailed as a genuine sports car, but with a totally new, four-door, four-seat format that delivers sports car values, passenger comfort and driving pleasure. Powered by the world’s only mass-produced rotary engine, RX-8 is the spiritual successor to the 1967 Cosmo 110S, the world’s first twin-rotor production car. With almost two-million rotary engines sold, and the company’s legendary win at the 1991 24 Hours of Le Mans – the only Japanese brand to ever win the endurance racing classic – the rotary engine is the sole preserve of Mazda.

Mazdaspeed air intak and exhaust.

Whipping Ding.

lol^ so much more... it would be nice if they put the mazdaspeed coilovers for the handling part :P

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The red pod is the air intake.

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Confirmed!

More speculation spreading around in other Mazda forums. Here's one...

"One of our techs got back from school and apparantly someone there spilled the beans on what's under the hood of that mule.

A Supercharged Rotory. Yes. S/C. Along with a better oiling system to help them apex seals last longer, the S/C (he was told) puts out 6psi AT IDLE.

Should debut in the 2009 or 2010 MAZDASPEED RX-8."