New RX-7
 

The same 10 Best issue of Car and Driver has a paragraph about Japan lifting it's manufacturers agreement to not make cars over 276 horsepower. It reads in part "Mazda will introduce a 300-hp two-seat RX-7" On page 42. First I've heard about it. I need my back seats, but I think I might also need 300-hp. Anyone know anything about this?

Very Interesting. I have not heard anything about this yet.

Speculation is rife about the new RX7........... I'll believe it when I see it.

They had an agreement not to make cars over 276 hp? What's the point? *sigh* Back to counting my 198 horses to make sure they're all there still...

Well--rumours of the new RX7 and Mazdaspeed RX8 are running rampant from reputable magazines so things are looking up.

the agreement to not go over 300 is out the window. japan is having a horse power showdown similar to germany. Anyone see the irony with these two countries?

i'm with nojooc....i'll believe it when I see it

American automakers seem to be having a horse power war of their own also.

We're definitely witnessing the golden age of performance cars... import and domestic.

Well that's good since they all dropped off the face of the earth for a few years there

:( Not the face of the earth--just North America

I was just thinking the other day about cars in the mid 80's when I was starting to drive- my dad's 225hp '83 Mustang was king of the road, yet the speedo only went to 85mph. Now we have 300hp econboxes and 400hp station wagons... amazing.

all that power and nowhere to go

yeah it's sad. they give us all this hp and nowhere to use it, that's remotely fun or inexpensive.

Except for the Ford Five Hundred. What the heck are they thinking with that car?

It's getting a V-8. Just wait. I work at a Ford dealer, I drove one home over Turkeyday weekend. It had the CVT tranny and it was NO SLOUCH. Why add all that HP when you can still out accelerate the competition?

It is a slouch--its still a slow car especially compared to V6 Camrys, Accords, not to mention the 300 Limited V6 or the 300C. Its got to get a V8 option to be competitive-with only 203 HP in a car that size. puhleez :p

Nice find! 302HP, naturally aspirated... sounds like a winner. Can't wait to see this produced :D

i saw the 500 on motor week this morning. they were disapointed with the car!

If the 500 had more power then it would be a more viable option--its more akin to an Avalon fighter (which sucks too)--thankfully there is a new Avalon that may have at least 240HP if not alot more to debut at Detroit.

I don't know where you heard that, but I'm pretty sure it's incorrect. The Five Hundred will most likely get Ford's new 3.5L V-6, which will help, but it's not going to be in the same league as the 300C.


Actually, it's not that much slower than the Camry or Accord sedans. I can't remember the 0-60 or 1/4-mile times off the top of my head, but there was a very small difference. For most people in that market segment, the performance is fine. For those who demand better performance (and less conservative styling), Ford is introducing the 2006 Fusion along with the Lincoln and Mercury versions. I think those will be very successful sedans.

Uh ok, the numbers don't lie.

Here is all of the manufacturer's data about 0-60

Ford Five Hundred FWD CVT 7.5s
Chrysler 300C base V-6 11.0s
Chrysler 300C Touring (optional V-6) 9.0s
Toyota Avalon XLS 8.3s
Toyota Camry V-6 3.0 8.3s

Sorry but even with less hp the Ford gets it to the ground better. The 6-speed auto doesn't do as good a job, but the CVT gets it moving better. I agree that it needs more power, but why add a more costly more powerful engine if you've already beaten your DIRECT competition for less money and also getting better MPG?

[QUOTE=RX8_Buckeye]I don't know where you heard that, but I'm pretty sure it's incorrect. The Five Hundred will most likely get Ford's new 3.5L V-6, which will help, but it's not going to be in the same league as the 300C.
QUOTE]

It is slated to receive a new updated 4.0L or the 3.9L. The 3.5L is just another optional V-6. The plan is to have 3 engines available.

Cool, I hadn't heard about that. I hope these engines will also eventually be available for the Fusion, which is based on the Mazda6 platform.