New Rx-8to Be Unveild At The

[GR-8]

A few new concepts are to be unveild at the detroit Auto Show and a surprise to me. After all the Fake 2009 RX-8s that you can google search mazda is unveiling a "...freshened design, improved handing, acceleration.." 8. Full article below and link to the original article. I wonder what the new 8 will look like.

MAZDA FURAI CONCEPT AND 2009 RX-8 TO MAKE WORLD DEBUT
AT 2008 NORTH AMERICAN INTERNATIONAL AUTO SHOW

Mazda Furai –‘Sound of the wind’
HIROSHIMA, Japan, December 12, 2007 – Mazda Motor Corporation will showcase the world premieres of the Mazda Furai concept vehicle and the heavily revised 2009 Mazda RX-8 sports car at the 2008 North American International Auto Show (NAIAS), to be held in Detroit from Sunday, January 13 through Sunday, January 27, 2008. On the heels of its show-stopping debut at the 2007 Tokyo Motor Show in October, the Mazda Taiki concept vehicle also will make its North American debut, the first time it has been shown outside Japan.

Mazda Furai –‘Sound of the wind’
Inspired by the fact that, on any given weekend, there are more Mazdas and Mazda-powered cars road-raced in the United States than any other brand, the Mazda Furai (Japanese for “sound of the wind” and pronounced “fu-rye”) is the sort of car that could only come from a company that incorporates the “Soul of a Sports Car” into everything it builds, but with an eye toward the future and the environment through the use of 100% ethanol produced in partnership with British Petroleum (BP).

Furai takes Mazda’s unique Nagare (Japanese for “flow”) design language a step further as it is translated into a concept car based on an American Le Mans Series (ALMS) racing car. The car utilizes the Courage C65 chassis the company campaigned in the ALMS series only two seasons ago, and the 450-hp three-rotor rotary engine that distinguishes it from anything else on the track.

Says Franz von Holzhausen, Mazda’s North American director of design, “Furai purposely blurs boundaries that have traditionally distinguished street cars from track cars. Historically, there has been a gap between single-purpose racecars and street-legal models — commonly called supercars — that emulate the real racers on the road. Furai bridges that gap like no car has ever done before.”

Mazda’s critically acclaimed Nagare design language describes the flow of water, air, people or things moving in one direction. Mazda Nagare is flow, with an insightful and spirited styling, which, in Mazda Furai, invokes a raw, unfettered desire to possess everything this car represents.

2009 Mazda RX-8
Sporting a freshened design, improved handing, acceleration, quality and features, the 2009 Mazda RX-8 continues to be a “Sports Car like no other,” and shows that the rotary engine is still an important part of Mazda’s future.

Since its launch in 2003, the Mazda RX-8 has been hailed as a genuine sports car, but with a totally new, four-door, four-seat format that delivers sports car values, passenger comfort and driving pleasure. Powered by the world’s only mass-produced rotary engine, RX-8 is the spiritual successor to the 1967 Cosmo 110S, the world’s first twin-rotor production car. With almost two-million rotary engines sold, and the company’s legendary win at the 1991 24 Hours of Le Mans – the only Japanese brand to ever win the endurance racing classic – the rotary engine is the sole preserve of Mazda.

Mazda Taiki
Making its North American debut, the first time it has been shown outside of Japan where it was hailed as the “Concept of the Show” by a major enthusiast publication at this year’s Tokyo Motor Show, Mazda is eager to show the Mazda Taiki alongside the all-new Mazda Furai.

While Taiki is significant as the fourth of the Nagare-inspired concepts in the series, it is also the third rotary-powered car that will be debuted on the Mazda stand. Mazda is committed to the current and future development and production of the rotary engine, as well as pursuing multiple fuel strategies under its Sustainable Zoom-Zoom plan.

The challenge to create "a design that visually expresses the flow of air" was inspired by the image of a pair of Hagoromo – the flowing robes that enable a celestial maiden to fly in Japanese legend – floating down from the sky.

Inspired by Japanese koinobori – the decorative "climbing carp streamers"– the notion of creating an Air-tube became the concept word for the interior design. In accordance, from the dashboard and seats down to the door trim, the interior space creates the dynamic sensation that the flow of the wind is being visually depicted.
Additionally, Mazda will have a special display of racecars on its stand during the press days, and the full lineup of production cars for consumers to sample for public days.


http://www.mazdamotorsports.com/pages/news/furai.html

[Huzer21]

I'm guessing (especially from the pictures I've seen) that the refresh will be a minor update of the front and rear fascia. Maybe some trim updates to the interior, etc, but that the RX-8 will be basically the same.

[OpacRX]

yeah cant wait to see what it looks like all i want is for them to throw a turbo in to keep up with the sti/evo class but who knows if that will ever happen hehe

[GR-8]

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Huzer21 @ Jan 7 2008, 12:27 PM) [url=index.php?act=findpost&pid=16732]<{POST_SNAPBACK}>[/url]</div>

I'm guessing (especially from the pictures I've seen) that the refresh will be a minor update of the front and rear fascia. Maybe some trim updates to the interior, etc, but that the RX-8 will be basically the same.[/b]

I saw a "Spy Shot" from a Japanese Magazine online last night and it was total crap. Horrible photochop. The front bumper was the same with a different front lip spoiler, differnt fog lights, the rear had a rear bumper from a bodykit that is on the market already, and the rear lights were from a Mazda 6.

Mazda is really good at keeping their projects secret I can't wait till next week. Wish I could see it in person.

As much as I want a turbo I'm not sure that one will come out of the factory for a while. Unless they throw a the MS3 motor in the 8.

[SpeedRacer]

But MS3 motor isn't rotary...

[GR-8]

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (SpeedRacer @ Jan 7 2008, 07:32 PM) [url=index.php?act=findpost&pid=16794]<{POST_SNAPBACK}>[/url]</div>

But MS3 motor isn't rotary...[/b]

Exactly why it'll never happen . As much as I want it to.

As much as I love my rotary I'm kinda getting sick and tired of all the CEL's I've been getting. Especially after the new motor was put in in August. I never had any problems from Feb 04 to Aug 07 until a CEL came on. You'd think the new motor wouldn't have any come on. I've had about 6-8 CEL's in the last 4-5 months. The motor and all problems need to be fixed before Mazda will even think about doing FI.

I wish next week they come out with a fix and FI from the factory that current 8 owners can purchase. I wish, I wish, I wish.

Thanks for taking time to read my problem now back to the original post. I can't wait to see the 8. The 12th is the Springs meet and 13th we get to hopefully see the "New" 8.

[Huzer21]

As I said, I'm not expecting much other than minor face and butt lifts since it isn't an all new model.