RX-8 top speed

Author
Discussion

mmertens

Original Poster:

397 posts

283 months

Wednesday 10th March 2004
quotequote all
... is supposedly around 235 km/h. I took mine to Germany last weekend and indeed briefly hit that figure. It took a while to get there though (ahh, memories of 270-300 kph in my Cerbs...). I then ran out of Autobahn and it started raining. What I wonder about is this - at the time the engine was doing around 8000 revs. I had full throttle at the moment. I tried it out - in 6, 1000 RPM equated to some 20 km/h speed difference. The redline being at some 9500 rpm, would this mean that you could get it up to 250? Or is there a reason why at that speed you wouldn't be able to reach the maximum reves anymore - aerodynamics?
Just curious. BTW, on a German owners forum there was quite a bit of discussion on RX-8s not wanting to go above 190-200 kph, actually automatically slowing down to 130! After a while at that speed (to cool down?), you could go faster again. Very strange - although probably not something you would that easily find out in Blighty...

Maarten

RobDickinson

31,343 posts

255 months

Thursday 11th March 2004
quotequote all
Top speed should be high 140's in 5th.

6th is too long a gear for the available power (overdrive effectivly).

Us owner has seen 151 on the clock in Germany, but there supposed to have more ponies.

As for gearing, 6th will see 190mph if it had the power, which it doesnt. Turbo'd with 400-450 mebee get 160-170?