factory turbo is definitely a possibility
 

I emailed Mazda a couple of days ago regarding the specs of the U.S. Mazdaspeed 8. Here is the response I got:



Thank you for contacting Mazda North American Operations. I appreciate the opportunity to respond to you.


In regards to your inquiry, Mazda has not made any official announcements regarding release of the MAZDASPEED RX-8 at this time. Mazda is currently researching to have it available in the United States market in near future. We do not have any estimated time period when it may be available.


The prototype of the MAZDASPEED RX-8 in Japan does have a turbo to boost the horsepower of the vehicle. It also has other minor changes and additions. Unfortunately, I do not have the specifications to list them all.


I hope this information will be helpful. Please let me know if you have any additional questions.


Zoom-Zoom!

sounds good, hopefully it is true. Maybe the turbo used on the MS RX-8 will be available with a warranty for the 6spd 8

T. T.,

In your email to Mazda did you say:

"I heard the Mazdaspeed RX-8 in Japan has a turbo. Is this true?"

or did you say

"I heard the Mazdaspeed RX-8 in Japan has a forced induction system. Is this true?"

If you suggested a turbo, they might simply be repeating your email. If you suggested FI, and they responded with the turbo comment, that would be a better indication that the Mazdaspeed RX-8 is in fact a turbo system.

To my knowledge the actual boost method is unkown at this point.

-Mr. Wigggles

if there is curently a factory boost system available you should be able to order it thru trussville or someone like that. that is if there were enough to go around.

I've said it before, but....Mazda does not have a history of bolting on a turbo and saying ship it (which is probably a good thing!). Look at the Mazdaspeed Miata that just came out...they reduced compression in the motor, etc (not to start that debate again!) in order to get the exact kind of driving experience that they wanted. If they are going to do an FI system on an RX-8, I would expect nothing different. Which pretty much means I wouldn't expect anything like that for sale any time soon, and I still think you people expecting a Mazda upgrade kit for this are dreaming. I hope not...but I'm not going to bet money on such a kit!

jds

Re: factory turbo is definitely a possibility
 

Maybe the prototype did, but not the production 300 car model! The MS RX-8 A Spec had NO TURBO! Do a search,.... I translated most of my brouchure from the Hanakoganei Mazda Dealer. Suspension mods, ECU mods, slihgt (very) intake mods, exhaust mods.

I asked about the differences between the normal and Mazdaspeed versions of the RX-8 and mentioned that I had heard rumors about an increase in horsepower. And yes, I knew about the limited production car in Japan. The MS A-spec has no turbo...but maybe a new MS package will (B-spec maybe? insert a letter in front of -spec).

Well the limited run is the only Mazdaspeed RX-8 in existence.

The new one, B-spec still has no turbo. It has coil-over shocks, 19" rims, and "big" brembo brakes up front as the only differences.

Someone else explained in another thread that by looking at business cycles and models, the US Mazdaspeed RX-8 couldn't come earlier than 2007 as the Mazdaspeed 6 will come first.

I thought about model lineup and believe that if you guys want to ever see an RX-7, then a Mazdaspeed RX-8 may never happen. Simply they are after too similar a customer. The high-end Z, Skyline GTR, Corvette, M3 customers. The MS RX-8 looks to be creaping into it's territory to me. The question is... is there room for 4 rotary sportscars in Mazda's lineup? RX-8, RX-7, Mazdaspeed RX-8 and Mazdaspeed RX-7... considering Mazda's volume of sales overal and the volume of 8's... I dunno.

I think you're right about the MS RX-8 stealing sales from the new RX-7. It would probably only work if they made an extremely limited amount of the FI RX-8's (like the one in Japan).

Or....the RX7 is just that much better. You guys are forgetting all the weight that is necessary for the two suicide doors and back seats. Drop the seats and the doors and you'll probably lose ~ 200lbs. Maybe much more. Add onto that a small bump in power...becuase...hey...this is the RX7 and you have a pretty formidable sports car.

Um...I think that was the point.... By having another high-performance car in the line-up, people that could've bought the RX-7 may buy the RX-8, stealing sells from the RX-7. Of course, there are some people that want a high-performance, rotary powered, 4-seater sports car.

Of course... like us. But some people here are coming from RX-7's, MR2's, Audi TT's, Miata's, etc... if they had a choice which would they take? The MS RX-8 or the RX-7? RX-7 is a tad more expensive, but a tad faster and better handling.

Thus bringing the discussion back around... all this talk of a MS RX-8 for the States. I dunno how much I can believe it, as it doesn't make much business sense to build it and a RX-7. As the RX-7 will be RX-8 plaform based, any and all FI RX-8's running around Mazda could simply be test mules for the new 7....

Overall in the states the Rx7 has never been a high seller when it comes to numbers however; if they build a more diversified model(NA convertable, FI)? The 3rd gen only sold in limited numbers because it was only available in turbo forum which made it expensive. I personally believe there is a more than enough room for Mazda to offer 2 versions of the 8 as well as 2 versions of the 7. Regardless of how well the MS version performs there are still going to be some die-hard Rx7 fanatics(my self included) who will choose the 7 over the 8. In fact, IMHO mazda would be foolish not to offer all these versions of rotary powered beast. Every model would sell exceptionaly well.

Maybe so, but the FD sold pretty damn well in Japan. You see one everywhere like the Skyline. I am more then willing to bet it out sold the Fairlady Z in Japan. I don't know about Europe... but it probably did decently. OTOH, the US is a damn big market... but knowing Japanese they way I do... they're going to stick with what they view as the image of the car. Honda has been doing that... espeically with their motorcycles.

I agree with you... offering everything under the sun is the best strategy... if anything just offer limited numbers of the 7 and mainly push the 8... but I'm not in product marketing/management at Mazda...