When is the release date?
And what are the exact specs on it?

 

I have heard too many different dates, but a Mazda sales guy told me the soonest would be Summer of 2002.. Not saying his right either but i would safely say about a year before it hits our shores..

 

so anyone have any set specs on the car......

 

Earliest it hits the shores is fall 2002 for national debut as a 2003 model.

 

Latest word I've heard is it will be introduced at the NAIAS (Detroit Auto Show) next month.

 

Yea, I'm interested to see the final hp and torque numbers. Also interested to see how long those huge 6 piston calipers stick around Man, if that thing came stock with 6 piston calipers and 14" rotors!!!

One small thing I wish Mazda would hear - make the damn stock indash have RCA pre-outs! That's such a pet peeve of mine, make a factory CD player that's compatable with aftermarket amps.

 

That is true. I did a survey for the company that is building the display for it for that show. I even have one of my quotes from my survey/interview being displayed on the stand! I was quite honered by that. I am hoping that a few people I know that are going can get a couple of shots of the setup and some closeups of my quote if it truely does make it to print.

Anyone going to the autoshow?

 

Hehe, can't wait till it comes, my dad will be doing some of the PDIs for them, which means, I might be able to go for a ride or even drive them(I'm 15 now, so when it comes out, I will be 17)

 

Yep, Detroit is the official North American debut. Too bad not LA in 2 weeks. (Jan 5)

 

General
Vehicle Type: 4-door coupe
Driven Wheels: Rear
Pass. Capacity: 4
Price Range: Est. $30,000-$35,000
Assy. Point: Japan

Engine
Layout: Longitudinal mounted front engine
Disp./Cylinders: 1.308 L 2-Rotor Wankel Rotary
Bhp@RPM: 250 @ 8500
Torque (lb.-ft.)@RPM: 153 @ 7500
Fuel System: Electronic Fuel Injection

Transmission
Type: Automanual
# Ratios: 6-speed

Steering
Type: Rack-and-pinion
Power Assist: Electronically-controlled motor assist

Suspension
Type F/R: Independent/Independent
Fr. Susp. Links: Double Wishbone
Fr. Damper: Tube Shock
Fr. Springs: Coil
R. Susp. Links: Double Wishbone
Rr. Damper: Tube Shock
Rr. Springs: Coil

Wheels/Tires
Tire Size F/R: F: 225/50ZR19, R: 245/45ZR19
Whl. Size (in.)/Type F/R: 19-inch

Brakes
Fr. Diameter (in.): 14.0, 6-piston caliper
Rr. Diameter (in.): 14.2, 4-piston caliper
ABS: yes
Traction Cont.: Dynamic Stability Control

Vehicle Dimensions
Front Track (in.): 58.7
Rear Track (in.): 59.1
Height (in.): 52.4
Length (in.): 170.3
Wheelbase (in.): 106.3
Width (in.): 70.1
Interior Specs
Cargo Volume (cu. ft.): 10.6

 

I hope you're wrong about that price, cuz it'll never sell for over $30,000. I've always heard the target range was mid $20's.

 

The torque spec of 153 lb-ft @ 7500 rpm sounds alright but surely that's not the peak torque, right? If it is not, what is the max torque?

 

Shooting for $29k..

 

Still to high ... especially if the Mitsubishi Evolution comes here for low-mid $20's. Whatever happened to starting in the mid-$20's? Stupid Mazda better not screw this one up! If they do, there will never be another rotary in America.

 

Well, that is if the EVO is better than the US version of the "Lancer" That thing is a joke! At least to the DSM people it is. They were very dissappointed when it came here all watered down.

 

Yo,



Dave, you got your words up in lights at the display? What did you say?


"The RX-8 is the ****."

"Rotaries Kick ***!"

"I'm gonna put a 150 shot on the Renesis!"

*grin*

All kidding aside, what DID you say? I'm totally curious!

Kevin Sproul
1989 GTUs "I wrote no deep messages on my slip..."

 

I don't know! I wrote a bunch of stuff, and all of it made the RX-7 sound like the worlds greatest car. They asked me about 15 questions about the car, and I replied...throughly :D

I guess we will see when the show hits town. Is anyone going? I would really like to get some shots of it with whatever I said :D

 

Yo,


So the survey was after Sevenstock where they called for volunteers? We were so burnt from being there all day/traveling we bailed on that. What was it like?

Dude, I just thought how cool it'll be if all the car rags take pics of the RX-8 and yer words of wisdom are right there!

You must be dying of curiousity!

KS
1989 GTUs "All Rotor."

 

No, it was a different place. I did do that survey, but it was pretty boring, and they just kinda hussled us in and out quick.

I got a selected by someone to be involved in the questioning to get ideas for the layout and so forth. They just liked something I said I guess!

Damn I wish I knew what it was!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

Yo,


All I can say is:


SUGOI!


("Awesome!" in Japanese.)


KS
1989 GTUs "No one asks for MY input. *sniff*."

 

We're doomed if that thing breaks 30K. It needs to stay way into the 20's. Even if cars with the same over all power are low 30's...they are sport cars not sport sedans. Oh well...all we can do is wait and see.

 

It better make the Montreal auto show! I doubt it, of course there's never anything worth seeing here!

Can't wait to see the final version and numbers either!
I wouldn't trust a Mazda salesman when it come to FACTS regarding the RX-8, when I talked about it to a Mazda dealer here, he didn't even know what the hell I was taling about

 

It better make the Montreal auto show! I doubt it, of course there's never anything worth seeing here!

Can't wait to see the final version and numbers either!
I wouldn't trust a Mazda salesman when it come to FACTS regarding the RX-8, when I talked about it to a Mazda dealer here, he didn't even know what the hell I was taling about

 

This reply is in responce to someone who was bashing the way foreign cars are brought into the USA. Basically most foreign cars are toned down when brough into the united states... I hear everyone's pain, but look what has already happened to the american muscle!! GM is cutting back on all F-Body productions as well as the entire Oldsmobile line of cars. This is not a very good thing since Ford is now the prime company for muscle and sport cars (including Mazda, owned by Ford).

I love foreign cars and I've only owned hondas, acuras, and now I have a Saab and an 1987 tII RX7, but we still live in an american market which must maintain control of the driving thrill.

Again I know people are gonna get mad at me but its just the way things have to be as long as the Three Automobile Companies are still existant.

Hopefully Ford will allow this RX8 to whooop the *** of a new Cobra, for less than a Cobra. That would be sooo sweet!

 

The latest I heard was early 2003 for availability. So that obviously means it might be available sooner in certain regions. And I also was told the same thing about the price 29-33k wich puts in the market to try and compete with the BMW intro series and audi intro series. I don't know how realistic that is but I guess we'll find out. On the plus side if the yen stays where it is most Japanese cars should cost even less when they hit the states, so it may stay profitable for them.