World of Wheels article, with Canadian pricing blurb - Scanned now!
 

For all my Canadian brothers and sisters:
World of Wheels (a great Canadian magazine) has a decent article with lots of pics of a silver RX-8 being put through its paces. Lots of info we already know, but one tidbit caught me by surprise (and its not a good surprise): "Expected prices are to start in the low 40's."
Not good. I was expecting mid-30's, which I could have financed (barely). If its in the 40's, I'm screwed. I'll have to look to a $35k Subie WRX, $27k MazdaSpeed Protege, or (at worst) a $22k Sentra SE-R V-Spec to haul myself around in.
Other stuff from the article: The low-power engine (207 HP, 164 lb. ft of torque (which comes lower in the revrange than the 247 HP engine), lower redline) will be teamed exclusively with a 4-speed auto transmission, and the article eludes to the fact that this will be the base model (i.e. the cheapest car in the low-40's). It will have 16" tires, 20 mm smaller brakes, and a softer suspension. The 247 HP/159 lb ft of torque model with the 9000 RPM redline will come exclusively with the 6-speed and sport package, which consists of 18" wheels, the big brakes, and the sport suspension. Here is an interesting bit: you can get the sport package with the base car. Stability control will be an option on all cars (and maybe standard with the top-dog.)
No firm prices were announced (other than the starting in the low-40's statement). They didn't put their driving impressions in the article, since for now, they are sworn to secrecy by Mazda.
I'm more than a little bummed out by the over $40k price. I just can't make the leap from the low-to-mid 30's to the 40's (and beyond). Mazda - give me the base engine, with a 5- or 6-speed tranny, no frills, for $35. Please. Don't make me buy a real sedan just because I need a good back seat!

Is there a site or can you scan the article, I would love to see a silver production RX-8. Also everything I had read always said that the base would be around 26-27k American which is low 40's, was it said somewhere that it was going to be less than that?

Some discouraging news regarding their forecasted pricing; let’s hope that they are just overstating the cost.

Mazda has continuously told us that the rx8 be taking dead aim at the 350Z and it will be aggressively priced. However, if the pricing is correct Mazda will be in trouble with this car and we will never see another rx7. Just my 2 cents.

Good find nevertheless!

Unfortunately, I don't have access to a scanner, and the article is not online (yet). They are traditionally slow in updating their website.
I believed it would mid-30's because Mazda traditionally prices its vehicle much cheaper in Canada than in the US when taking into account the exchange rate. For example, the Mazdaspeed Protege is $26995 here. The average price for Mazda can usually be calculated as such:
US price x approx. 1.21 (give or take 0.06) = Canadian Price.
I think Mazda usually gives us Canadian's a break, since we love our Mazda's much more than the US does (on a per-capita basis, for course). Although that article suggests otherwise in the case of the RX-8.

Edit - by the way, the car looked gorgeous in silver. The interior was all black, no silver inserts in the seats. In the pics the headlights were on, and they looked very nice indeed; I think they were HID's with a bluish hue.

ZoomZoom: The 350Z starts at $44900 in Canada, so Mazda can still undercut it, but the car could still be over $40k.

cut the pics out mail em to me and ill find away to scan them!

Well that rules out the RX-8 in my near future. Oh well, perhaps it will leave room for a 30K CDN 4WD Turbo MZR powered Mazdaspeed3. :cool:

KrisA, you wouldn't happen to be known as Mister Kris over at the (currently inoperative) GTF, would you?

Cause I'm KillerB :D

Unfortunately I fully expected this car to be in the low 40's.. :(
But if Mazda would like to be competitive that should be the price for the full blown 250hp model, not "base" :mad:
So does this mean that Canada is getting two versions? The low powered one and a sport package? :confused:

Grimace was that you on the Toronto S2K board? :p

nah, i dont' think Mazda'd sell too many of these newfangled rotisserie-powered cars in Canada, eh, unless there was significant monetary incentive to buy one (costs less money). the price on the 350Z is encouraging, especially if one the BASE RX-8 you can get the 6 speed... i dont' think you can for the Nissan...
what's the price of the Accord coupe?? those do really really well in my area (lots of Asian-Canadians who like to buy Honda), and it'd be fair to compare the prices on those, rather than the Fords floatin' around (there're two ENOURMOUS dealerships really really close to one another not too far from my house)...

I think the Accord V6 coupe is in the mid 30's.. and it's available with 6 speed/~250hp now too. I guess it depends on how Mazda is viewing the "competition" for the RX-8..
Accord V6 coupe, WRX which are both in the mid 30's or 350Z, G35 coupe which are in mid 40's I believe.

You found me out! Anyone else from the (defunct) GTF here? I know Cuda/BryanH is.

I only go by the "Mister" handle on the GTF, I had just purchased my MR2 when I registered there, hence the "Mister".

alright then, Mazda can't screw around then... if Honda's down in the mid thirties, they'll have to at least match that to sell a single car.
the Accord might be a lot slower and have less appealing looks, but it's bulletproof, and no one wants and investment that falls apart... the RX-8 isn't PROVEN yet, so they'll really need to meet-or-beat that 6 speed Accord.

The Accord LX-V6 base MSRP $29,000 and the EX-V6 base $32,500. Both of the are a long way from low to mid 40’s.

It’s still an Accord though.

oh ya Grimdog, there's hope for your $35k price yet. ;)

I think Motor Trend tested the six-speed 240 hp Accord Coupe 0-60 mph in 6.22 sec. That's one fast Honda for $27,900 US. (w/ voice recognition nav system)

I think we all hope for mid/high 30's Cnd for the 250hp model.. But I think Mazda will position the car in low/mid 40's to compete with the 350Z, g35 Coupe, S2000, BMW 3 series Coupe.. Wether it will sell at that price point, time will tell..

ah!! i just thought of this... those cars you've mentioned QL, they're all cars with a certain aire about them... they (S2000, BMW 3, 350Z) seem to exude performance, regardless of how fast they are...
an Accord is still just an Accord... maybe the prestige and glamour factor of the wankel and the gorgeous lines on the 8 would be grounds enough for that higher price...

He he.. yes we all want a car that associates with the 350Z/S2k but is priced like an Accord.. :D I guess we can't have our cake and eat it too.. :(

I admit nothing. :p :) Must have been some other Grimace who loves cars such as the RX-8...
ok Yeah, I frequent s2ki.com.

I'm going for the silver I think. Can't wait to see some photos.

omg... low 40s for a base model?!

i want me my 6speed dagnabbit?!?


what we thinking for something like that? assuming base is 40k, a 6 speed with some extras will cost like what? 45-46k?!

damnit... mebbe.. i'll just go with the z if i can get on the waiting list... i wanna stay true to the 8, but its something that has been untested, and if does become a success (which i hope) i may be able to hold out long enough for an FE....


oh well... a low 40k starting price could spell disaster for the 8... what about when toyota releases the new mk5 supra? ultimate doom... NOOOOOOOOOO!

Tell me that isn’t so… now we are talking about more money than the 350Z! OUTCH!!! :(

And there is no need to get on a waiting list now ladies and gentleman. I’ve seen several Z’s looking for new homes just sitting in the dealer lots. Just bring your chequebook and you can have one tomorrow.

Here's the article. Sorry about the quality: best I could do within file constraints.

Thanks for putting it up!
Now everyone can see how nice it looks in silver, and the HID-like glow from the headlights in the first pic.