Translating the entire article would take a lot of of time, but I’ve tried to translate the parts with IMHO useful informations:
…The RX-8 will not have any problems with crash tests (eg. EURO-NCAP) and in a sidecrash with 40mls/h the door will be imprint(?) for only six inches, one of the best results ever…
…on the first test drive the car feels very stiff,… because of a carbon bone next to the cardan shaft from the engine to the back of the car……result is a great ride, even on rough bumps the car keeps it track……the chassis is up to date with double wishbones in the front……the steering is very direct and gives a perfect feeling for the road…
… the last RX-7 turbo was banned because of it’s emissions and only sold in Japan, the new engine has 240horsepowers without any turbo. Euro4 emission limit will be no problem, and the consumption will be 20 % lower compared to the last rx-7…there are no final results, but the consumption will be around 11,6liters per 100kilmoters…the engine feels like a mixture between a V12 and a turbine, no vibration, no turbo hole. Early cars with those kind of engines sounded like vacuum cleaner…The reborn rotor engine is 30% smaller and lost the same amount of weight. It goes far over 9.000 without no problems, and sounds as good as we wished a rotor engine to sound…
The RX-8 is a real sportscar, but it’s not quite a Porsche and it’s no RX-7, too. It has too much space and comfort to be compared with those cars. …The weight is devided 50:50, with some oversteering in fast corners, but because of DSC it’s no problem at all…
…result: There are stronger, faster and less heavier sportscars. But no car is able to be compared with the RX-8. This car is next to the MX-5 a very fascinating car, but in a different way…and it’s cheap,too. Prices are about 30.0000 € for the 192 PS basic car, and 35.000 € for the 240 PS version… it’s a new class of it’s own…

 

Hi elisemk1,

I assume the 11,6 (approx 21 mpg) would be for the "city" rating? I tried looking at the article online and I couldn't find the mileage stats or the test report for the rx-8.

I'm not sure how the German mileage testing differs from the US epa testing but did Autobild mention the

Stadt/außerstädtisch/insgesamt 1 (l/100km)

figures?

Thanks, Brian

 

I think the 8 will come with these side mirrors when all is said and done in the US...

http://www.mazdausa.com/rx8/gallery/...15_display.jpg


Looks the same as the ones on that puzzle game. Takes care of the sidemarker problem.

 

What scares me about the article is the 240 hp number. Seems like the power is definetly slipping. But I guess this is a euro model and US models could be different. I wonder if there will be a lower power version offered to the US.

 

It could be DIN numbers.
I do remember them saying at SS5 the redline would be 9K. I will have to get the video tape out. They gave out the official specs such as length, wheelbase etc.

 

finally a shot with the hood open. also from a second look at the pics the "rx8" in the grill was in the front license plate holder. thanks elise!

 

Hi rxman720b,

To quote myself : "The mass of the last generation rotors was 9.54 lbs and the fd3s had a 8000 redline (9000 tach). Mazda says that the renesis rotors are 14% lighter so they should be approx 8.2 lbs with a 9000 redline (10000 tach). "

I would not be too afraid of the 240 hp number because it has been known that the Euro version had lower specs.

Brian

 

The photo in the German Magazine appears to have come from the recent press presentation done by Mazda at the Myoshi Proving Grounds, Mazda's private testing facility.
I guess they did not respect the November 15th embargo. i wonder if they will get invited back???
Anyway, you can see that the press embargo ends November 15th which technically means that magazines can start producing write-ups and photos.Check the newsstands often after that.
:p

 

Well, all the December magazines will already all be out by then, so I guess that means we'll have to wait for the January issues.

Also, do you know when Mazda will be lending vehicles to the auto mags? Both Car & Driver and Automobile magazine's headquarters are in my town, just minutes from my house. It would be great if you could give me a heads up on that so I can go check out the car up close and snap some pictures!

 

Thanks for the information elisemk1.
I really think this car will be wonderous car. The engine. Body style, etc... . It is really worth getting regardless that it has no turbo or more horsepower. 250 is great .
r limit over 9000 i couldnt ask for anthing more. By the time your warranty goes out there will be plent of aftermarket parts that will turn this swift crane into a roaring phoenix

 

Thanks for the scans!

Looking at the small print on page 3, it says 1340 kg, which is 2948 lb. I wonder if that's test weight (with driver) or curb weight (empty, but with all fluids)?

 

In the black box, does it say 5-100 km/h in 6.2 secs?

I think a proper launch would put it way under 5.5

 

I've said it before, and I'll say it again: What the heck would plastic panels that sit right up against the hood (when closed) have to do with airflow?

---jps

 

The Gallery on "Autobild.de" is updated!

Check out
Autobild

and follow the links "Mazda Mutprobe" and than "Galerie"
to get the pics from the article...


Stefan Janssen

 

Just so we don't miss anything...

 

Thanks for posting these.

What's with the pic of the Right-hand drive mixed in here?? (the first one with the guy just hanging out)

You can also see the clear lens on the turn signal in the engine pic.

But all in all, I still think this is pre-production, especially with such an odd mix of pictures.

RX8Dreamer

 

Yeah... they have a mix of old pictures in there... look:-



I filtered this one out since it's obviously an older car... at least I hope it is since I love the rear defuser...

 

yeah blueadept it is an older car. see how the exhaust comes thru the red bumber instead of thru the cut out black area below the bumper?! i wonder why the lens for the signal on the side looks clear at some angles and red at others? and what is with the right hand drive pic? is it some how a negative reversal from a film camera(for those of us that remember cameras that werent digital)? or did they have 2 cars at the press show?
edit: let me just say OMG that car is gorgeous!

 

You can tell it's older because of the rims... they don't match

 

its atually says 0-100 km/h in 6.2 but anyway 100 km/h is equal to 62.13712 miles per hour so u can shave a lil off that time maybe 3-4 tenths of a sec. and ur right i doubt he lanched it right.

 

3-4 tenths sounds just about right. Also note that the Euro version has different hp and torque curves.

The previous torque curve that we have seen has 3 "lobes" due to the 3 different length intake paths in the manifold. The middle "lobe" peaked at 5500 (approx 155 ft-lbs) and the top "lobe" peaked at 7500 (approx 159 ft-lbs).

From the specs mentioned in the Autobild article, the torque peak was 211Nm@5500 (155 ft-lbs) and the hp peak was 240 @ 8200.

I tried some revised gearing ratios to match up with the Autobild article and estimate the US version (159 ft/lbs @ 7500, 250hp @ 8500) to have a 0-60 time of approx 5.9 seconds.

Brian

 

I'll wait for C&D to publish the 0-60 times.. they always get the lowest times, except they themselves admit that launching the car the way they do won't let you have it for long

 

i hope u all liked my 62.13712 mph i used the unit converter on my calculater

 

Now if you'd use your spellcheck we'd be all set!

Just kiddin with ya :D

 

LOL!!! :D :D :D