Michael,
I've read numerous interviews with the Miata team and there is always this
question about a rotary Miata. They don't want to do it, and they are never
going to do it. It doesn't matter how cool we all think it would be, it was
never their intention for the Miata to be a 300hp car.
Mazda's first priority with the RX-8 will be to give some reliability cred
to the rotary and see if the 4 door concept carves out a new niche.
Depending on how well that works, there may be a 2 seat RX-7 to follow,
based on the new RENESIS motor in the RX-8.
As for what the RX-8 is good for, I think it will be good for a lot of
things as long as they can make it nimble on that long 106 in. wheelbase.
For one thing, it will be one of the few cars in its class that can carry 4
tires.
Peter
-----Original Message-----
From: Michael R. Clements [mailto:mrclem@telocity.com]
Sent: Friday, April 12, 2002 1:55 PM
To: 'John J. Stimson-III'
Cc: Nandaholz@aol.com; ba-autox@autox.team.net
Subject: RE: So what IS going to happen to the Miata in 2003?
The RX-8 is a cool car, but it has 4 doors and more weight than the
Miata. Since the primary benefit of a rotary engine is superior power to
weight ratio, it belongs in a light, nimble car. With a rotary powered
Miata, Mazda could really heat up Super Stock again at the Nationals
level.
I think the appeal of a rotary powered Corvette challenging Miata is
obvious. The appeal of the RX-8 is for a more "sedate" (and perhaps
larger) crowd.
So what if the price jumps by $5k? The Honda S2000 is selling for $36k
now. A super Miata would be the same price or less, lighter, with a
better P/W ratio.
> -----Original Message-----
> From: John J. Stimson-III [mailto:john@harlie.idsfa.net]
> Sent: Friday, April 12, 2002 13:34
> To: Michael R. Clements
> Cc: Nandaholz@aol.com; ba-autox@autox.team.net
> Subject: Re: So what IS going to happen to the Miata in 2003?
>
>
> I think that Mazda is afraid to put the rotary in any other
> car before the RX-8 is established. After all, what is the
> real appeal of the RX-8, other than being the only rotary
> powered car on the US market? The funky Saturn-esque rear doors?
>
> The new rotary might be too expensive for the Miata's
> low-cost concept.
>
> I hope that Automobile is right...are they usually? I also
> hope that when they say "just over a ton" they don't mean "a
> ton and a quarter", which is where they're at now.
>
> --
>
> john@idsfa.net
> John Stimson
> http://www.idsfa.net/~john/ HMC
> Physics '94
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