New RX8 article
 

This is just a head's up...but there's an article in the new Feb. issue of SCC about the RX8 and in the TechnoBabble column, it talks about the return of the rotary. I haven't read it yet, but just got to flip through it a little.

I just skimmed the first couple paragraphs, but the wife is waiting for me to go out so I'll keep it short.

First, it said that there is a left hand and right hand drive version out there. The suspensions on both are tuned differently and that Mazda is saying that neither is a true representation of what the real thing will be. So this takes care of those early reviews of 'soft' suspensions.

And it says that they were shown a video in which a 3rd gen RX7 is chased by a RX8 on a track. The RX7 pulls from it on the straights (of course, 280hp vs 250hp), but the the RX7 is loose on the corners which allows the "very stable RX8 to close up on the tight stuff." And it says that the in-car cam tells the real story. "The RX-& driver had his hands full, while the RX-8 pilot needed to make very few steering corrections."


If I have time later, maybe I'll get to summarize more info if anyone wants. But if the handling is that much better than the 3rd gen (arguably one of the best handling cars out there still) then Wow!

Banquet Video
 

We were not shown that video at the SevenStock5 Banquet! :D :D

that must be the infamous " i didn't see anything like that at sevenstock" video that wasn't shown at the banquet that i have never heard anything about. anybody not have a copy of that never seen vid that they cant share with the rest of us because it doesn't exist?:D

edit: damn rotarynews sorta beat me to it. i bet he doesn't have a copy that he can't share either! ;)

Ok...got a little more time. The article isn't that long, since they said they were only allowed 5laps in the car at Mazda's proving grounds. Most of the article talks about stuff I've already seen in other articles. The only 2 things I read that can be taken as a negative is #1) "Overall, it's a less serious and less pure drive than an RX7, but it's a more comfortable, more usable car, with a compliant ride and a decently sized trunk." #2) "Because the back seat passengers put their feet under the front seats, the driver's seat is a bit high. We'd say about 2 inches too high".

But I'd take #1 with a grain of salt since they even said so themselves that the suspension tuning of the final car hasn't been shown yet. Everything is really pointing to the fact that the RX8 was never considered a replacement for the RX7, but is a sports sedan that will fell very close to it. Works for me!

Moving to the "Media" Section...

---jps

Nope.. I didn't see an RX-8 at the SS5 banquet now did I? :D

If it handles that good in corners and it is not even in final trim, then all i can say is:D