350z (35th aniversary edition) vs. RX8
Cost: $49,600 vs. $39,995
Weight: 3290 lbs vs. 3050
Weight distribution: 53/47 vs. 52/48 (That’s waht mazda calls “50:50”)
Power: 300hp/260tq vs. 230hp/150tq
1/4 mile(R&T mag): 13.8 vs. 14.6
The RX8 has a ways to go before it can even keep up with the 350z and by the timemazda get a green light for a new rx7 nissan will be relaesing a new z. Maybe even a 400z :shock: You can figure a new z would cost about the same snd have a little more hp (maybe 350hp). Now if mazda makes a $50,000 rx7 that runs with the z they will compete with the rx8 ( which has sold pretty well). I think Mazda might be in a bit of a pickle. With the Renesis only putting down about 230hp @ 8500rpm Mazda has a lot of work to do to build a rotary engine that will match it’s competitors. Turbocharging is not really a viable option due to the rotaries notorious reliability issues under boost. So that leaves raising the compression from 10.0:1 or incresing displacemnt.
I fthey do make anything it will probably be a 3000lb 280hp car powered by an all aluminum renesis displacing 1.6 or 1.8 liters selling for $60,000…not exactly sounding like a winner, which is most likely why the rx7 has remained dead and will continue to be dead unless the rx8 stops being a sales sucess.