RE: Mazda updates rotary RX-8
Monday 6th February 2006
Mazda RX-8 EvolveMazda is introducing its first-ever special edition model of the RX-8. It's no quicker, but it does have a fancy paint job and some design tweaks.
Mazda updates rotary RX-8
Sports coupé gets tweaks but no more power
Mazda RX-8 Evolve
The 228bhp rotary powered four-door sports coupé special edition, the RX-8 Evolve's exterior features:
- Two exclusive colours -- copper red mica and phantom blue mica
- Dark silver 18 x 8J alloy wheels
- A polished aluminium rotary crest on the front air dam
- Dark silver bezel headlamps
- Sports door mirrors
- Polished aluminium side air outlet fins
- Rotary branded B-pillar trims
- Chrome exhaust surrounds
- ‘Evolve’ badging.
Inside, the Evolve features leather and Alcantara seat trim, plus black leather-wrapped steering wheel, gear knob and hand-brake lever.
It costs £23,900, the same price as a standard, 'high-power' Mazda RX-8 model with leather trim.
Sounds like a lost opportunity to give it some more welly -- and just possibly a bid to boost flagging sales...
Discussion
There's a Prodrive special coming out in few weeks, although its just a susp and power tweak rather than an out an out performance package. There's not alot you can do to RX-8 tuning wise other than induction, racing clutch/flywheel or exhaust none of which give any real improvement, there are the odd turbo conversions around mostly the Gredy kits but there are issues with the euro ECU, there's one that's been worked on since July... still not running right. The other route is supercharging I know of one UK car with that, not heard of any issues with that .. yet. I think once the car drops out of waranty later in the year people may start to "play" with 'em a bit more.
There are still rumurs of a new RX-7 ... who knows???
Jon
There are still rumurs of a new RX-7 ... who knows???
Jon
suryade said:
The look of the car is ok. But the power seems very anemic IMHO. I thought Rotary engines were the way to go...cant they like up the displacement or anything? Isnt it like a litre and a half or something the engine size?!
To be honest I'm not sure why they still use a rotary engine, bar the obvious link to the RX-7. They're low in torque and (PH'ers correct me if I'm wrong!), need a fair bit of maintenance compared to a traditional internal combuston engine. On the plus side they do weigh less than engines with similar power outputs, so there must be handling benefits?
I'll agree with Paulie Mafia and say the Rx-7 is more desirable, but that might just have something to do with it being one of the prettiest cars ever designed. The benefit of the rotary is weight and its compact size, meaning the engine can be pushed far back into the chassis; correct me if I'm wrong but I think I've read that the RX-8 is effectively front-mid-engined, and obviously this has a huge positive impact on weight distribution and handling. Of course, torque is an issue and fuel and oil consumption over a conventional engine (not least one of the same capacity - one area at least where my Festiva would have shown up an RX-8) and I'm not sure if its better now, but I know that the FD RX-7, not to mention earlier rotaries (NSU R80 anyone?) were notoriously unreliable.
Ali.
Ali.
It may be a 1.3L, but its counted as a 2.6l and drinks like it too.
I loved mine, its driving dynamics make up for the lack of power just about - for the price, 230bhp from '2.6l' in a relativly light car with exceptional balance isnt to bad.
Theres an official(one off) turbo development car in Australia and a supercharged version in the US (again one off) and mazda Japan have a turbo on the duel fuel car. mazda are rumoured to be working on electricaly assisted turbo's and even a possible 1.5l 300bhp NA twin rotor.
I think after the 3rd gen RX7 mazda needed the 8 to be what it is, reliable and competative, once the rotary is a little more established we can hope for a turbo.
It'll drink like a fish but 300-330bhp in an 8 will be a stonking car, especialy for 25-27k.
I loved mine, its driving dynamics make up for the lack of power just about - for the price, 230bhp from '2.6l' in a relativly light car with exceptional balance isnt to bad.
Theres an official(one off) turbo development car in Australia and a supercharged version in the US (again one off) and mazda Japan have a turbo on the duel fuel car. mazda are rumoured to be working on electricaly assisted turbo's and even a possible 1.5l 300bhp NA twin rotor.
I think after the 3rd gen RX7 mazda needed the 8 to be what it is, reliable and competative, once the rotary is a little more established we can hope for a turbo.
It'll drink like a fish but 300-330bhp in an 8 will be a stonking car, especialy for 25-27k.
The supercharger kit is from Blitz. Most modified RX-8s in Japan just go and swap for an earlier (non side port) 13B turbo, or a 20B triple from the Cosmo. Still think the Rx-7 is one of the most beautiful cars ever made, not to mention it had the wailing twin-turbocharged engine. However, Scoot in Japan did make an Rx-7 with very supercar-style body mods, and powered by a custom-made quad rotor. It didn't use one of the horrifically expensive official quads though, they actually combined two even earlier-than-13B 10A 1 litres, thereby making a naturally aspirated 2.0 litre quad rotor. Makes 400 horses and revs to 10,500!!! Sounds like a cross between a Moto GP bike and a nitro RC car. Apparently if it didn't have silencers, the exhaust note would pierce your eardrums...
Mr E said:
what it needs is more rotors, three preferably four (just ignore the oil/fuel consumption )
Nope, what it's screaming out for is a turbo.
Yeah but the emissions legislation is what killed turbo rotaries in the first place otherwise it would have one already, the japs (Honda excepted) bolt hairdryers onto anything they can get their hands on
. Otherwise I would have also mentioned turbos, because that is what it needs to boost its torque output.paulie-mafia said:
The look of the car is ok. But the power seems very anemic IMHO. I thought Rotary engines were the way to go...cant they like up the displacement or anything? Isnt it like a litre and a half or something the engine size?!
To be honest I'm not sure why they still use a rotary engine, bar the obvious link to the RX-7. They're low in torque and (PH'ers correct me if I'm wrong!), need a fair bit of maintenance compared to a traditional internal combuston engine. On the plus side they do weigh less than engines with similar power outputs, so there must be handling benefits?
Happy to correct
Not particularly low in torque although the addition of a turbo/blower wouldn't hurt any! From memory the 240hp version has around 200lbft of torque...
Maintenance is certainly less hassle - very few moving parts and no timing chains/belts to worrk about. The oil usage issue is often touted as a problem but it's not so bad and getting into the habit of giving your fluids a regular checkup can't be too bad. Recent ECU flashes have (apparently) reduced the oil consumption further.
I'd love to see a factory turbo version of the 8 but I'm really hoping that they will wait until they replace the 7 and do it properly. A 1.5l twin rotor with FI would be quite nice thanks!
I didnt find the oil an issue at all check it every 1000 miles, top up every 2000 normaly (with a liter) tho it depends on the engine and how you drive.
It had as much torque as a 2.0l BMW which was plenty given that your normaly pootling or screwing it, cruising in 6th was fine.
As for maintanance, theres nothing to do to the engine apart from change the (expensive) plugs every 30k. rest of the car is the same as any other.
It had as much torque as a 2.0l BMW which was plenty given that your normaly pootling or screwing it, cruising in 6th was fine.
As for maintanance, theres nothing to do to the engine apart from change the (expensive) plugs every 30k. rest of the car is the same as any other.
As Rob says - the lack of moving parts keeps the cost down for servicing. Even the most basic 4 cylinder engine has inexcess of 40 moving parts - rotaries have 3. Oil consumption is simply not an issue - ask any owner and it simply comes down to basic maintenance, that so many have got out of the habit of doing, simply because we treat modern engines as almost sealed units. MPG wise, it's not great, but no worse than my Scoob, so I can't complain that much. The car is fantastic to drive, especially at the moment, as the tyres are getting a little worn, so it mkaes for some nice tail out moments
I will be at Bedford trackday on the 25th March.
If you fancy a passenger ride in my rx-8 just knock on my window.
The lack of torque is actually a myth.
The "peak" torque is just a number. Not as high as some "big" engines, but it is present throughout the rev range (unlike a v-tec) and the simple engine design means it revs very quickly up to its 9500 rpm redline.
>> Edited by fnegroni on Tuesday 7th February 23:26
>> Edited by fnegroni on Tuesday 7th February 23:28
If you fancy a passenger ride in my rx-8 just knock on my window.
The lack of torque is actually a myth.
The "peak" torque is just a number. Not as high as some "big" engines, but it is present throughout the rev range (unlike a v-tec) and the simple engine design means it revs very quickly up to its 9500 rpm redline.
>> Edited by fnegroni on Tuesday 7th February 23:26
>> Edited by fnegroni on Tuesday 7th February 23:28
I boost the torque available by changing down a gear (or two, or three - plenty of revs to play with.) Call me old fashioned if you like!
At EVERY track day I have been on, people have made surprised remarks along the lines of "it's quicker than I thought it would be seeing as it has no torque." You would think track day attendees would know better...
Anyway, to get back to the story - I happpened to see one on the back of a transporter yesterday, and the new bronzey reddy colour looks GOOD.
Pretty much all the other "enhancements" were already available as options, so as the ed says, I think they've just bundled them into the price to boost sales a bit. (Not that sales seem to be a problem round my way, common as muck!)
And hello to the other owners - didn't know you were here!
At EVERY track day I have been on, people have made surprised remarks along the lines of "it's quicker than I thought it would be seeing as it has no torque." You would think track day attendees would know better...
Anyway, to get back to the story - I happpened to see one on the back of a transporter yesterday, and the new bronzey reddy colour looks GOOD.
Pretty much all the other "enhancements" were already available as options, so as the ed says, I think they've just bundled them into the price to boost sales a bit. (Not that sales seem to be a problem round my way, common as muck!)
And hello to the other owners - didn't know you were here!
Gassing Station | Japanese Chat | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff