Cattywampus

I maybe a little late on this topic but I do know about it. The Mazdaspeed 8. I just picked up the magazine and started reading. Now I understand this is probably in another thread but I did not feel like looking it up. Anyway, why would Mazda make the MS 6 275bhp turbocharged and make the MS 8 275bhp supercharged. I am also curious how much the MS 8 will cost. I don't know much about engines but why supercharged and not turbocharged. I have heard that turbo brings less hp than supercharged. Also it seems to me these magazine editors write about the 8 to make it look good. They say all these good things about it. Then when I read about another car that compares to the 8 they say the 8 can't compare or the 8 is too slow. WTF. I know the 8 is not a superior sports car but what is this supercharged 8 going to mean and is it really coming out. Will it really be the right hp this time. Are we going to be able to do any better mods to it now that it might be supercharged. Just some general questions. I am curious since I will be purchasing an ''06'' model. I am a nice guy so don't flame me for not looking it up in another thread.

Ajax

No one really knows for sure if we'll see a supercharged 8 in the near future except mazda and the aftermarket shops. As far as 275bhp, that's really not much of an increase by adding a supercharger. 37 horsepower? and it's at the flywheel...

Why mazda would turbocharge one car and supercharge another is really because of the application. The MS6 is an inline 4 with pretty low power but high torque. It needs more top end than low end so they turbocharge it to give it a bigger power curve.

The RX8 is a rotary. It has decent power stock but low torque so they supercharge it to build up the low end (supercharging adds boost across the entire rev line of the engine where turbocharging doesnt add boost until the engine is producing enough exhaust gasses to spin up the turbo fully).

Also, previous versions of the rotary engine had the exhaust ports on the periphery. Exhaust gasses came out of the engine very fast allowing for very quick turbo spin up. The RX8 has the exhaust ports on the sides. That probably slows down the gasses some (but I don't know for sure) because it's making nearly a 90 degree turn before leaving the chamber. Anyway, if the gas is slower, then the advantage of a faster spooling turbo on a rotary is lost and supercharging makes sense.

It all really depends on what they're trying to accomplish and in the case of the RX8, it's more low end torque and faster acceleration. In the case of the MS6, it's more top end power.

grapes

The RX-8 actually is a SUPERIOR sports car, maybe nots as fast a Porsche 911, but definitely a superior sports car. Trust me i've had about 20 sports cars and this the best i've ever driven, maybe not the fastest but close.

Fanman

Just coming from a 2001 911 I can tell you that the RX8 is not a superior sports car in any fashion when compared to the 996, let alone the new 997 Porsche. The acceleration as you alluded to is not close, but even in the handling & braking the RX8 is not as good as the 911. But one is $30K, and the other is $80K so I wouldn't expect this car to be that good. The Porsche is among the best handling, best all around cars on the market today. Now that I have swapped out the springs, sway bars (including front endlinks), & strut bars the handling is ALMOST as good as the 911 (with sports suspension) that I had. The brakes on the 911 were among the best in the industry, the turbo even better. However in driving the S2000, and especially the 350Z, the RX8 is superior. I would even say it is better than the Corvette as when I drove it i knew I was going fast but it felt very ponderous, and the brakes faded badly after 3 laps at Streets of Willow.

Police,

You have it reversed, in general turbos will give you more power than superchargers (under similar conditions, same boost) as the turbos are usually driven by spent gases exiting the engine, while superchargers are driven via pulleys connected to the engine thus losing some of the power it makes (called "parasitic drag"). Probably the reason Mazda would go with a supercharger is that if it is a "Roots" type supercharger it will develop low end torque that this car soely needs, vs. having to wait for the boost to come on from a turbo. In general most car companies do not offer aggresive power in their after market kits as they have to warranty them. You may see only 40 hp from a car companies SC, vs. 60+ hp from some aftermarket companies, but if there is a problem with the engine later on the car company would have to cover it, while the aftermarket outfit would not. If you look most aftermarket tuner affiliated with a car company (Mazda Speed, TRD, etc) offerings will only offer mild boost (4-5 psi).

Cattywampus

Thanks for all the input. I learned some things from the posts. I am not big on engine stuff so I may be wrong on some things. What I say on the turbo and supercharged stuff comes from my brother and other engine buffs. I am hoping that Mazda will have the MS 8 out for 2006. My hope may not happen but I love the 8 so it doesn't matter. Is it me or is Mazda really the only company that keeps it's customers in suspense for new models. But if this MS 8 does come out will we be able to upgrade the engine easier. Or is that just a stupid question. I don't know. Also is it possible for the 8 to be a top performer in the speed department. Just a few questions.

army_rx8

you can make any car a top performer in the speed department...just depends on how much money you are willing to sink into it:p

Cattywampus

Haha. Well that would take a lot for the 8. I would like it to come factory quick. Then we can shut up those who swear the 8 is honda slow. Maybe I will get my wish. :D

speedweasel

I cant wait for all the turbo kits to get finished so the competition will bring the price down.
Ooooh what I can do with another 20 HP!!!

xdrian

Same here, by the end of this year we'll probabbly see something MORE interesting about the 8's, as if its not interesting already.

army_rx8

greddy is coming out with their kit jan-fed 05 aren't they? hehe can't wait. hmmm turbo rotary..the way it should be. (or r26b for everyone )

kvn8

so the ms8 is still jsut a rumor??

army_rx8

i believe it is...mazda speed is going to come out with the ms6...then most lickly the ms3...then we probable get the treatment......even when it comes out i'd still probable get greddy or some other aftermarket Forced induction...mazdaspeed is pretty conservative (but you get to keep the warrenty:D)...they are also not cheap...but they do good stuff

Snoochie

By the time it even exists, which I doubt it will, my warranty will be up anyways so screw that.

army_rx8

http://mazdatrix.com/8turbo.htm...hehe just found this crusing the web...sweet sweet turbo.:D

army_rx8

it has such a baby looking intercooler..but at only 5psi i guess it doesn't need a huge one.

Spin9k

Here's some gear that could end up in our new gen MS RX-8 should it come here. This is a Japanese site, so you'll either have to settle for the pics, ro babelfish-it.

http://partyrace.nr-a.com/preparation/rx-8.html

The roll cage looks pretty neat, just pop it in I guess. The Bridgestone RE01-R's I don't think they sell here. Some of the rest of the kit we already can get here, but it would be nice to have a complete ready-made pkg rather than have to buy the parts, throw the original away, etc., what a waste.

Then there is the MS II RX-8, more niffty stuff, including MS Coilovers, and just about everything else from the MS catalog they could stuff in there.

http://www.mazda.co.jp/customize/rx-8msv/index.html

Again use http://babelfish.altavista.com/ for some English from these sites.