After seeing several posts about MY 2005 changes and the assumed lack of a power increase, I got to thinking, what could Mazda do to the car to make it lose some weight, like 150lbs or so. Obviously this would cost money, but it would have a similar effect to adding power, and increase fuel economy (another bitch I see frequently) at the same time.

I know weight was an issue before, hence the aluminum hood, trunk etc. What else? Other engine components? Exhaust? Suspension parts? Interior bits? I mean, if bought in bulk, what could another $500 in various weight savings get you?

I would kill for a rx7 with the same engine as the 8, only 300lb lighter

 

Helium filled tires. Just kidding.

Using metals with as much tensile strength and hardness, but with lower molecular weights will cause you to spend a lot of money on exotic metals. Titanium comes to mind, but that would be very expensive. I know titanium exhausts are a lot of money.

Using thinner metal or thinner glass would also save weight, but I'm sure Mazda is trying to meet some safety regulations and have some rigidity in the car.

 

The rx8 doesn't have too much weight to lose. I'm pretty sure the suspension parts are already aluminum, carbon fiber driveshaft. Maybe lightweight brake rotors and calipers, carbon fiber body panels and such, trunk lid. In general, Mazda is pretty good at cutting weight

 

Considering the cost, size, rigidness, features, and safety equipment, they would be hard pressed to lose that much. It is already barely a weight increase over the last RX-7 and that is in a much larger car. I am impressed and happy they have it where they do. It is light for a fully featured modern safety equipped car.

 

Cant change a whole lot and still make it a salable car.

Can make a lightweight CLS type variant tho.

In Uk we could drop rear seats, soundproofing/carpets etc, hifi (9 speaker bose), add lighter seats brakes/wheels. Add MS flywheel, ,change the drivetrain frame from steel to something lightweight.

I'm sure you could strip 100-150kg out of the car to make a track version, but why would you buy an 8 if you planned on tracking the car? Why not a caterham or something..

 

the extra fat that the RX-8 is carrying is almost 100% interior.

to reduce the weight of body panels, things in the drive train etc. would require necessarily way way WAY more expensive materials, and people do still ahve to buy the car.

reducing the amount of crap that's in the car would be the only way to go (no stereo, sound proofing, super adjustable power seats, etc).

 

take out your pocket knife and scrape a gram off of every part of the car. there has got to be 10,000 parts on this car you could scrape a gram from.

 

According to a car buying guide I saw recently, there is a plan for a MY2006 RX-7.

From the blurb in the mag, the differences will be that the -7 will be a 2-door 2 seater vs. the cabin of the -8. Also, they said the 7 might be made in a ragtop (supposedlly there's some issue with the frame design of the 8 that makes convertables very tricky).

Sounds kinda like a Renesis-powered Miata to me....

 

Here's a good read for some weight-savings. I know the sample is a Civic Si, but the concept discussed can be applied in general.

http://www.importtuner.com/features/0407it_striptease/

 

great stuff