Auto Gallery article (Japan)
 

A very comprehensive article with some awesome pictures (some of these have been posted to a previous thread courtesy of Buger):

http://www.auto-g.jp/news/200212/18/newcar01/index.html

Definitely worth a read (use a translator).

http://www.rx8forum.com/attachment.php?s=&postid=16984

http://www.rx8forum.com/attachment.php?s=&postid=16985

Check out the article for many more pictures.

http://www.rx8forum.com/attachment.php?s=&postid=16986

Awesome post!! Can't read Japanese, but the purty pictures are nice to look at. I think I have narrowed it down to the colors, either titanium with red inserts, or the nordic green with tan inserts.


Mmmmmmmm. :D

"It is possible to call the drive feeling whose density is dense. "

I need a translation of the translation. My head hurts after trying to read that. I can't even tell if they liked it. :confused:

What is this???? :confused:


http://www.rx8forum.com/attachment.php?s=&postid=17006

BMW i-drive:

http://a332.g.akamai.net/f/332/936/1...i.det4.500.jpg

Those aren't the only nice pictures on the site:
http://www.auto-g.jp/image.html?imag..._0504/22_b.jpg
:D

But anyway, about the car... is that real aluminum in the interior? Does anyone know?

I dont think its aluminum.

I remember in the article in Automobile they mentioned something about metal colored plastic. If I would venture a guess, that is plastic. Which might not be a bad thing. I envision a bare arm touching hot metal in the summer, and I wouldn't want plastic there as well. :eek:

controls for the nav:D

here are a couple of other pics
http://www.rx8forum.com/attachment.php?s=&postid=17021

and the seatbelt, with a little bit of sunroof showing
http://www.rx8forum.com/attachment.php?s=&postid=17022

and a cutaway showing the airbags
http://www.rx8forum.com/attachment.php?s=&postid=17023

I have taken the liberty to translate the translation. Here is part one:

The RX-8 from which it was derived from, was exhibited at the Tokyo motor show last year. The 8th of January, 2003, finally carries out its worldwide debut with the Detroit Auto show. The sale in Japan is being scheduled for the spring of 2003, just ahead of the North American release. The RX-8’s internal equipment, mechanics, safety, etc., probably will introduce a matter of concern in every other car builder.

The RX-8 is pursuing "a form where the sports car is all new." With the success of the RX-7, and Mazda’s stongly evolved sports car DNA, they have constructed a whole new style.

There are 4 doors which Mazda has named the “freestyle door.” If a standard centerpillar equipped 4 door structure had been adopted, the RX-8 would have a total length 150mm longer than it is now. Extension of the body would mean that the driving pleasure, which the sports car has, would have been lost.

The styling leaves a stirring impression. From the front air intake the dynamic modeling which is impressively connected to the body side and the trunk lid, at the same time, is not a secondary expression of the character line, you can feel the kind of forcibleness from inside in it’s three-dimensional form.

Nevertheless, the hood is low. The fender line at the edge where both ends extend to the rear is very effective. It makes a strong sharp running edge. Especially when the RX-8 is looked at from the side aspect, the peak of the sharp front fender and contrast of the low hood are impressive. In that front mask, I see the mantis. In the five-point grille, which of course is the Mazda brand identity, the RX-8 has accurately succeeded.

The side view, while making the cabin feel considerable, the sharp impression has not deteriorated. But to be honest, there is kind of an impression of stretching.

On one hand, as for basic the design theme of the interior, "it is a good feeling, like being wrapped up." The impression of pure sport has been removed, the driving position is more upright, not unlike a sedan or mini-van and the surrounding impression of having a sense of relief that is transmitted to the body.

Furthermore, the tricked out interior is on a sporty black keynote, but it is not overpowering. While it has a relatively high belt line and the driver's seat back is high, there is no overly oppressive feeling of being locked in the back by the fact that the latch on the front of the suicide seat door opens.

The black base trim’s resin panel finish produces a monotonous feeling which does not make a good impression. In addition, the center panel is covered in a deep gloss paint, which looks like black piano lacquer, but the balance of the style of the dashboard and upper material feeling is well taken. Furthermore, there is no feeling like something is missing, even in such detail as the shift knob where a 3 layer metal electroplate has been applied.

Having the added space of the rear seat, the room in which 2 adults can sufficiently fit in has been guaranteed. There is even sufficient space overhead. But, both front and side views promise minimum sight lines. You cannot expect too much comfort over a long distance either, but it is only a gentle impression. Simply put, don’t worry about baggage, even with the smallish looking trunk, as sufficient capacity has been guaranteed without needing to extend the rear overhang. It’s just enough capacity for short trips for a family of four.

It was named the freestyle door. You open the driver's seat side door of both openings and board the cockpit. It can make getting in and out very smooth. You cannot say it’s up to standard sedan level, but even when it comes to the bucket seat, it does not require exaggerated action to enter. Inside the cabin you can see that the thick bone tunnel running down the center is pure sport, but still there is no tight feeling in the cockpit. The impression is a good one, it wraps you up just as it looks like it should.

When 10,000 rpm it is reached in the tachometer the ignition is cut off. With the exhaust noise rushing, the rotary unit awoke. The 6 speed manual transmission has a very short throw, with both shift & selection direction being a moderation impression. The shift operation itself is very smooth. I, being the automatic lover, was attracted to this shift feeling. Right away when the clutch is engaged, the RX-8’s rotary unit, even with its low torque impression, just took off.

The high revolution & high output unit, which hits 250 horsepower NA, is flexible more than you’d think possible with its low torque feeling. It is something that makes you wonder about the evolution of this new generation of rotary engine.

Furthermore, even as it rises past 9,000 rpm, the rotary feeling still rises sharply. This high response feeling is only possible in a rotary and cannot be tasted under any other conditions, even in the best piston engine.

There is no razor sharpness in the handling, but the RX-8 is still pleasant to work with the steering wheel. The way the underside of the front double wishbone & rear multiple link set up traces the corner of any curvature accurately, you straddle it like second nature!. Therefore, feeling at rest, it is possible to thrust to the corner. The RX-8 footwork is beautiful. You do not have to be conscious of the inertia even when attacking a tight corner, with light footwork, which responds well, changes the direction of the nose faithfully. It’s pleasant steering wheel operation! In any case, it just follows the movement of the car, there is no weight getting in the way.

The drive feeling, which penetrates the whole car, is of a highly rigid impression. The efficiency of the suspension, steering wheel, and the brakes, including where of the parts are connected directly together leaves no feeling of wasteful movement or friction. It is possible to call the drive feeling whose density is dense. (I just didn’t have the heart to change that one – puppy1) There is no sharpness like that of the pure sports car. The precise movement, which is not wasteful, is very fresh.

The Mazda rotary engine which disappears with the production discontinuance of RX-7, is revived with the RX-8! The RENESIS rotary unit of the new RX generation gives new meaning to the RX name.

END OF PART 1

did they talk about the final weight for RX-8?

1300kg

http://www.rx8forum.com/attachment.php?s=&postid=16984
Well, from this pic, it appears that the top of the shift knob, the ring around the shift boot, and maybe even the strip on the outside of the center "spine" are real metal, but the stuff on the dashboard, like the temp controls and such are plastic.

And I hope those parts are metal, because if they're plastic, they would probably begin to show wear after a few years.

Kinda hard to tell without a more detailed picture, though.

The japanese article refers to a 3 layer process used on those items. I don't think that they are metal either.

There are at least 2 references to the composition of the aluminum looking surface of the shifter.

http://www.auto-g.jp/news/200212/18/newcar02/index.html
Furthermore omission is not felt, even in detail such as the shift knob where metal electrodeposition of 3 layer is administered.

http://www.auto-web.co.jp/NEW_CAR/RX-8/05.html
The class of the RX-8 has appeared even in each switches. Especially as the leather skin it administers special metal plating which has the same temperature characteristic to the MT shift knob and the steering wheel shift switch, can taste the genuine metal impression, the device which does not become hot even at summer season is elaborated.

It does appear to be "genuine metal" that is electroplated in 3 layers onto at least the shifters.

Brian

Yeah, electroplated to plastic!
;)

Good find, Buger.

Does anyone know if the 350Z's "aluminum look" interior parts are electroplated or just painted plastic? If it's the latter, then the RX-8 interior will be definitely be on a higher level of quality.

YEA!

Re: Auto Gallery article (Japan)
 

i hope thats the production model for the u.s!!

Is this the next generation RX-7 next to the Evolv?

http://www.auto-web.co.jp/NEW_CAR/RX-8/img/02.jpg

I can't tell from the translation;

'As for the photograph Matsuda RX-8 where those where it is decended of concept car RX-01, are exhibited to 1999 year Tokyo motor show concept car RX-EVOLV, and these 2 concept cars which from the left are exhibited to 1995 year Tokyo motor show are the new model. In the name of Matsuda RX-8, because image of the succession model of the RX-7 is strong, taking the initial of the RX-EVOLV, you say also the name, Matsuda RX-E was temporarily thought.'