Because its launch, the Mazda RX8 has been the subject of near scrutiny by fanatics. The superior stage of attention is not only because of to the car’s admirable driving dynamics but, in aspect to the early reports of below-than-predicted overall performance. To be a lot more specific: wheel horsepower calculated on various chassis dynamometer operates resulted in values properly down below the expected 17%~20% drivetrain parasitic losses. And quarter mile operates of any place between .5 and 1.5 seconds off of all those developed by journals on allegedly pre-manufacturing autos.
In connection with the RX8’s horsepower ranking: the authentic promoting product from Mazda North The us (MNAO) advertised the 6 speed manual transmission RX8 at 247hp @ 8,500rpm. Assuming parasitic drivetrain loses in between 17%-20% -widespread for modern-day rear wheel push autos, a inventory RX8 must measure among 205~197 horsepower at the rear wheels (rwhp) -relying on elevation, barometric strain, temperature and correction elements utilized. Alternatively, a stock RX8 chassis dyno run reveals final results ranging anyplace from mid-substantial ~160 to ~185rwhp. These readings would stand for parasitic drivetrain loses in surplus of 25%. To say that, it is unacceptable to knowledge this sort of a higher stage of loss through the drivetrain of a “athletics auto” with a carbon fiber push shaft -among other factors- is an understatement.
To further more consolidate doubts about the true energy output of the new Renesis, numerous owners were being unable to reproduce mid-very low 14 2nd quarter mile passes -as witnessed released by very well recognised U.S. vehicle magazines. Very low trap speeds were a further trace in direction of the obvious lack of electricity output.
Soon soon after, a number of debates on online fanatic boards and dialogue boards turned into heated arguments as to what was leading to these kinds of weak “straight line effectiveness.” Quite a few previous Miata owners remembered a earlier “snafu” in Mazda’s background, when the maker admittedly overstated the horsepower figures of their redesigned Mazda Miata.
Immediately after a couple of months, MNAO arrived ahead and defined that they experienced misrepresented the Renesis’ electricity output. The revised determine was now 238hp @ 8,500rpm nevertheless, according to MNAO, this revision did not alter the formerly reached track overall performance success.
Speculations about the motives powering the unexpected lack of electrical power output ended up numerous. Having said that, there are at the moment two faculties of assumed:
- The initially a single supports the notion that the RX-8’s motor management unit (European), in conjunction with the quite a few “nanny” equipment -these types of as Stomach muscles & TCS- do not allow to receive correct readings from a chassis dynamometer. To simplify, when the auto is run on a chassis dyno, only the driven wheels are turning. The RX-8’s Eu would detect an abnormal driving circumstance and retard timing and utilize other safety steps to preserve both the “driver” or the “motor” -or equally- from destruction (browse: skidding predicament, or a vehicle heading out of the highway.)
- The next a single thinks that MNAO was forced to re-engineer the software that runs the motor administration even ahead of the initially batch of RX-8’s achieved U.S. shores, due to forthcoming Federal emissions restrictions. I have read through of a single in certain, which needs catalytic converter lifespan of ~100,000 miles. The enemy range a single of catalytic converters on any car is heat (and heat is the number one attribute of rotary engine’s exhaust gases.)
MNAO supplied two choices to individuals who had pre-purchased an RX-8, or had obtained no late than September 2003:
- They would obtain back the car, no concerns asked.
- They would provide Totally free Scheduled Upkeep for the everyday living of the guarantee, plus a 500 dollar “gift card” to those people who opted to continue to keep the vehicle.
I was amongst individuals who opted to continue to keep their RX-8. Immediately after all, the driving working experience had not adjusted given that exam driving the automobile prior to buying it. Since August 2003 I have clocked nicely above 20,000 miles -as of 1/18/2005- and I have but a person ounce of regret about my decision. If you’d like to read more about owners’ opinions, visit this thread @ RX8Club.com
There have been a quantity of Eu “updates” introduced throughout the previous 2 decades. To the best of my expertise, all early samples of ’04 RX-8s, came from port with level “J” of motor administration software. Given that then, we have escalated all the way by the alphabet to “M” -which was launched on a TSB campaign by Mazda North The usa (MSP04) in purchase to have ALL vehicles taken in for Assistance @ Approved Sellers flashed to “M” calibration.