Confirmed: Miata next Mazdaspeed Car

We had some discussions on how you can turbocharge a Miata engine and only end up with 170 hp :) But they're not stupid. There's a big difference between a modified car owner and a stock car owner. The latter will abuse the car much more and not a single thing is allowed to go wrong. The rods in those cars are not as strong as they could be and the compression is high. The life expectancy of the transmission and rear end also has to be taken into account. The rod strength is probably reflected in the 6500 rpm redline, down about 800 rpm from the other versions.

Also, there's a lot more to life than peak numbers. Response is very important in an OEM application - look at the bad reputation the WRX has obtained for having lag and slow spoolup in stock form. Torque is also far more useful in a street car. Wait until we see some dyno graphs - we don't even know if that's on 85 octane pump gas or not.

Keith
 
It is worth considering Mazda may be worried about 'within brand' competition. $30k puts the miata square on the heels of the RX8. If the car HAD the Aus-version power, of 200hp, I'm sure it'd out-perform the RX8 in most areas. People paying MORE for a RX8 may not like a less-expensive car which can do more - with less.

Just thinking outloud.
 
The RX-8 and the Miata occupy very different segments of the market. The RX-8 is not simply about straight-line performance, and the fact that the MS Miata would have a better power/weight ratio (which it may very well have anyhow) is pretty much irrelevant. One is a four-seater coupe thing, one is a two seater convertible.

Some speculate that the output of the 1.8T Golf was underrated to avoid overshadowing the more expensive V6 model. In that case, it's quite possible as the two cars were very similar.

From what I know of the Miata internals and given the production numbers of the turbo, I suspect it's more of an engineering/cost tradeoff. Remember, we're talking about an end-of-life upgrade to a fairly old engine being made in small numbers.

We also have to take into account the two recent black eyes Mazda received from overstating hp numbers :)

Keith
 
I agree...the MSP Miata and RX-8 will be two very different cars...Even if the Miata ends up being faster, lighter, and a better handler...people looking at the RX-8 will probably still want an RX-8 over the Miata...

Porsche is running into the same thing...There are rumors and specs of a new 928 coming out by the end of 2004, and a new version of the 911...Both are speculated to possibly use a similar V-8 engine (this will through the 911 community into a s*** throwing contest, remember what happened a few years ago when it merely got a water cooled engine?)...the 928 will have a base price of around a moderately equipped 911, be slightly more powerful as well...And everyone at the Porsche forums are saying that "no one will buy a 928, it won't be as fast or as light as the new 911"...but IMO that isn't the point...the 928 will be a GT car with more room, luxury, and a softer suspension...and the 911 a sports car with less of all of that...

The RX-8 will clearly be bigger than the Miata physically, and has adequate room for kids in the back (if they are a year old)...and is therefor in a completely different buyers market...If people were only worried about performance, they would ditch both ideas and buy an EVO...
 
Darin said:


And just what is an '03' from a PGT/MX6/626?

It means the KL-03...that was the engine code for the V-6's in the 2nd gen MX-6's, 626's, and Probe's.
 
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