is it going to be made here? that would be surprising.

Who knows where it will be built. It may never become a factory production car. Right now it's a one off concept car.

Mazda's R&D center in Irvine CA helped to design the Miata, 3rd gen RX-7, RX-8, and many other Mazda cars. Just because the car is designed in the US, doesn't mean it will be made here. Most likely Hiroshima.

But Mazda also likes to have these friendly bake offs between their various divisions. We've seen the Austrailian effort announced, next comes the US version, for all we know there's another version being developed in Japan. Mazda may then take the best effort or parts of each and craft the final version.

This is true, but the friendly bake-offs are usually only for new full production models, not Hi-Po versions of existing models. The Autralians have always had a penchant for creating Hi-Po models prior to other parts of the world. They created the limted edition Bathurst FD's and they also did a limited run of turbo MX-5 (miatas) before the MS Miatas here in the states.

The reality of this RX-8, is that it's a study for MazdaSpeed NORTH AMERICA.... not unlike the MazdaSpeed Protege program. :)

-Bern

How about some larger images? I know there is already one posted in this thread, but look at these - same grainy exposure blown up a little. :p

Where's the driver?

heres the cover of the new magazine. now there are 3 pics.

sweet..... I cant wait until this comes out.. thankx for posting.

Yes, but still 3 very tiny pics. Thanks for finding the cover. I think it's a little clearer from the cover pic, if one zooms in, that the rear wing is different and not the current MS one at its highest setting.

i think i wanna get smoked lenses on my 8 now! rx-7 style

Please please please please let this get released as a warranty approved MS kit.

please.

please (this last one is from my car, she wants a supercharger...)

I bought the magazine today. They are claiming about (estimated) 275 hp & 200 lb.-ft. of torque, and .5 sec. faster than stock. They strapped 245/35/19's on the front & 275/30/19's on the back. WOW ! They tested it at Streets of Willow which is about 1 1/2 hrs. from LA. I driven it, and it is a great track.

I actually asked Jim Mederer if they have tested any FI'ed on the RX8, and he graciously told me that they had a SC'ed Renesis. I asked him how much they were getting, and he told me about 285 hp. No problems.

Fanman rules! We are not worthy...

What make of tire I wonder? Those are huge sizes. :p

So Jim had his own SC8? Or is this the same one?

No problems? Why the heck are they not producing it then?

They would have so many customers and be first to market....?

.5 second faster? That's it? The question now becomes at what cost would the kit be to get the .5 second faster speed and would a big wad of $ be worth this improvement?

It's the torque we are after - right? that's almost a 20% increase

I've been trying to find this darn magazine, but nobody sells it... is it availible in the US? I looked so far at Borders Books and Barnes & Noble.. but they haven't heard of it.. the only place that has something called Speed is amazon, and that's $63 for 6 issues because it's an aussie publication.

This is 0-60 or 1/4 mile?

.5 sec is a decent improvement-- 14.0sec to 13.5 sec or 5.5sec to 5.0sec--also we don't know how the car is launched--if it is a .5sec improvement with a standard launch and not a 8,000 rpm drop then that is remarkable.

Sounds pretty much like what Petit did for improvent also. Falls in line with the Blitz kit too.

When I hear .5 I think 1/4 mile. Is this correct? Something like a 13.9? The big question is price and possible release as factory approved. Also curious about dyno curve and redline. All these superchargers put the power right about where I think it should be, but I am not so sure about paying $5k. If it was emissions legal in California and factory quality I would consider it a lot more though.

$5k for .5 second and 20 ft lbs of torque? Me thinks that is verrry near the point of diminishing returns.

Who said anything about $5K? There is no price for the MS setup. The $5K myth about the Pettit kit is wrong also. They are quoting $3.6K for their low boost setup.

And how do you know where your current torque is? I thought we were at 159 ft. @ 5500 RPM. Thats 200 - 159 = 41 ft lbs more not 20.

He probably didn't read your earlier response correctly. 20% increase in torque.

Hey Fanman, do you have access to a scanner?

yeah where can you get this thing? I've been looking around as well and I can't find it.....

I was hoping for 300 HP but nonetheless, i'm still excited

It is supposed to be available on news stands right next to the regular issue of Road & Track on Oct. 26th. Fanman got a copy early somehow.