Not being one to forget the auto crowd, we saw the new 2006 auto RX-8. It uses a 6 port Renesis engine that still has the same redline. Power is up slightly. It also uses a 6 speed automatic. The car was literally fresh off the boat a day earlier. Nice car and using the manual shift, it is supposedly alot like the clutchless manual transmission of many other more expensive cars. Nice ride.

Also wanted to point out that while we didn't see the white supercharged RX-8, we did see alot of information as to what it had in it. Yes it was a standard transmission. It was also a 4 port Renesis engine out of the auto that had the M90 Eaton supercharger and intercooler bolted to it. The car did 262 fwhp at 9 psi but remember this was on a stock 4 port engine. That's a nice little upgrade so don't be too scarede about not being able to have some fun with your engines.

 

I must say, I'm disappointed with the 6port AT news.

I wonder how much of a pita it will be to swap in the 6spd AT? Just stuffing it in there will be the easy part, but now with a 6port ecu, getting the electronics to work will be next to impossible. Even using a stand-alone to control the engine, I'm not sure the stock ecu will even be remotely compatible with the 2 year old 4port car's gizmos. Not to mention, my trade in value taking another big dive. There goes that plan. Just have to go big on boost, I guess .

 

262 fwhp?


how much at the wheels then?

 

what about other options? new stuff for the '06 other than the AT models upgraded engine?

 

Good news for future AT 8 owners. As for me... , I'm gonna go kick myself for not waiting to buy a car...

 

Nope. Just the 6port and the 6speed trans.

 

would it be a good assumption to say that the 4-port renesis (or derivations of it) will be much more suitable for FI application than the 6 port version, a la the difference between the NA FC and the TII :D

 

Bah. I just bought my RX-8 a couple of months ago, with the 4-speed AT. Too bad the local dealership probably won'tl do an even trade when the 6-speed ATs come in. :P

 

just enjoy wat you got and trade up next time, this is great news, we should all be stoked,not pissed

 

I'm drooling!!!!!!
TRADE IN
TRADE IN
TRADE IN!!!!!

 

I'm terribly happy for the 6spd news, just not the 6 port news. . An increase in power on the 4port could have been retroactively applied. The ecu's would have been more compatible for some 6spd swappage too. This just means even less aftermarket support for the 4 port crowd, if that's even possible.

 

What kind of aftermarket support will differ between 4 port and 6 port? All the aftermarket ecu's will work with both. All the turbo kits will work with both. All the exhausts and intakes will work with both. I don't see the issue. The new 6 port is the same engine as the 6 speed cars but it like the 4 port doesn't rev as high as the engine in the 6 speed manual cars. That means it too won't have the same top end power. Actually up to 7000 rpm, the 4 port makes MORE power than the 6 port! It's above this where the 6 port shines so if anything the auto cars are getting a step down in usable powerband but more than making up for it with transmission. The top end is where the biggest gains are from aftermarket mods so it seems to be reasonable that gains will be just as small for the new engines as the old.

 

All true however, all of the turbo/super charger kits available or soon to be available, with the exception of Hymee's are tuned for the 6 port only. In order for me to use them, I have to completely retune them. And while dyno tuning is preferred regardless, the 6 port owners can pretty much use these kits out of the box. I don't have the time or resources to tune a high compression rotary for boost from scratch. Particularly when it is my daily driver. A situation, I'm sure that many AT owners fall into.

And with the 4port engines no longer being put in the cars, I don't see much reason for the above to change for the better.

Oh well, as long as Hymee comes through, I can live with that. I'd really like to have that 6 speed tranny though.

 

I'll definately test drive one to make a good comparison--what are some acceleration estimates--0-60?

 

Any change in gas mileage with 6ports?

 

In light of what you just said, I would like to add that at the S.E.M.A show we did see a few auto 8's that had SC with stock engine's and not. I'll post picks as soon as I can. MikeB is at the show now and I think he'll add light to a lot of this as well. I'm also looking foward to checking out the Tokyo Auto show. That's a maybe ...

 

this is what happens to the early adopters.... everyone knows the 1st couple yrs are the worst for any model, just gotta suck it up and enjoy the fact you were one of the first

 

It may surprise many to know that I personally feel the 4 port engine, with some very special attention from a die grinder, probably has the most inherent power potential of all the Renesis engines! I'll keep everyone guessing what I mean by that but please bear in mind it is serious enough that the stock intake manifold and ecu will probably not work with it anymore. No I do not mean bridgeporting either. You'll see! All I will say is that it's a project coming up in the near future and no I don't mean next week. Patience...

 

Woohoo, we've gone from less potential to most potential.

And 4port auto owners have to have the most patience of all Rx-8 owners, afterall look at our 0-60 times

 

Less potential unopened as far as bolt on's are concerned. Lets just say they gave us lots and lots of casting room around the secondary ports. I'm still not talking about something that would be cheap or feasible for most.

 

Bump...

 

now thats funny

 

rotarygod, wasn't it you that wrote this long explanation of why the 6 port has more potential than the 4 port? or was that just in reference to bolt-ons like you mentioned?

 

From a practical application the 6 port does have more potential. In order for the 4 port engine to really open up, it must be opened up! The mods that will make it much more powerful will also require an entirely new intake manifold and ecu and to top it all off it may still not be a good match for an automatic transmission. Don't get your hopes up on making the auto cars much faster in this regards. I am referring to a completely custom application where it's potential can come out.