According to a well placed source at Mazda's North American Operations, the world’s one and only rotary-powered production car will cease North American sales, most likely after the 2011 model year. Mazda has already officially announced that European sales of the Mazda RX-8 will not continue after 2011, due to more stringent EuroV emissions standards.
Although the Wankel-engined, 2+2 sports car was recently refreshed (2009) and currently meets all U.S. emissions standards (which are in some ways more strict than Euro-5), Mazda sold only 128 RX-8s in April of 2010 for a total of 428 year to date. The company builds the cars in Hiroshima, Japan, so it may make financial sense to cut back production and shipping costs on such a low volume sports car, in favor of its better selling, piston-powered vehicles.
Does this mean Mazda is giving up on rotaries? I hope not! Mazda’s market-by-market wind down of RX-8 sales may indicate a shift of resources towards the long rumored return of the RX-7. Japan has reported that an RX-7 is in development, it will be rotary powered and should arrive sometime in calendar year 2013.
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-----The orginal Mr.Goodwrench on the JBO since 11/99-----
worlds most pointless engine, so unique to make no power
1989 Turbo Trans Am #82, 2007 Cobalt SS G85
Rodimus Prime wrote:worlds most pointless engine, so unique to make no power
learn2rotary. it has no issue making power, just not torque.
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I thought it died years ago....
"Project 69'"
1969 Chevrolet C/10, 1/2 ton, 2wd
-Boosted LS1?
-Richmond ROD 6-speed(will get sometime)
-Posi 12-bolt(built w/eaton posi unit and richmond 3.73 gears)
-Disc brake and 5 lug swap
+little extras
If its so great why doesnt mazda even use it in any of their own cars?
1989 Turbo Trans Am #82, 2007 Cobalt SS G85
Rodimus Prime wrote:If its so great why doesnt mazda even use it in any of their own cars?
it's inefficient (1.3l, 20mpg HWY...), requires REAL maintenance, is difficult to make pass emissions standards, and is just plain different. so as a commuter car, it doesn't really fly.
that being said, it makes for a PERFECT enthusiast car. sadly, there is no market these days for NEW enthusiast cars. people don't care about how a car feels to drive. they just want to get from one place to another.
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Rodimus Prime wrote:worlds most pointless engine, so unique to make no power
How ignorant are you? Have you ever been in a turbo rx7?
If the RX8 had a proper engine, it would be a lot closer to the top of my list. My friend has one, and while I like the performance aspect, everything else is brutal.
" To study and not think is a waste. To think and not study is dangerous. "
cant say this move surprises me any.
I <3 JGM
I think bigfoot is blurry,
that's the problem. It's not the photographer's fault. Bigfoot is blurry. And that's extra
scary to me. There's a large, out-of-focus monster, roaming the countryside.
"Run! He's fuzzy!" "Get outta here!"
In Loving Memory of Phil Martin December 14 2005
I test drove one of the R3 edition ones and I thought the car was well built. It handled awsome and the interior was nice, especially with the recaro seats but I was very dissapointed in the performance of the motor. I have driven a few S2000's and even though the power ratings are similar the rx8 felt far insuperior and actually felt less than my cavalier which I is probably correct as the car only runs a 15.0 in the 1/4 (if I remember correct). I'm not supprised that they are not continuing it, as it was mentioned earlier about the brutle gas mileage because a vette is around the same. Get half the motor and burn more fuel. Anyways, I'm not upset about this, especially at the $53,000 the dealer wanted for it, I know its not worth it to me.
you mean you get a fraction of the motor... not even close to half
they tried to make it way too 'accessible'.. it lost its sports car looks it should have inherited from its RX-7 bretheren
R.I.P. JessE Gerard 7.11.87 - 1.25.08
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Sh!t just bring back the turbo RX7.
I prefered the manual Genesis 3.0l over the RX8. More power and handling felt way superior in the HyundaI.
