Miata spyshot.

[wongpres]

So why put an RX-8 front end on a 2nd-generation Miata? Did they need more room under the hood for the V-12 conversion?

The next gen Miata's platform is based off the RX-8 (although I don't know exactly how loosely or tightly based it is).

 

[Black Majik MSP]

**** the miata anyways, give me a decent 2 door coupe that I can afford (and fit in )before I leave Mazda all together.

Scion tC (thumb)

 

[Orthonormal]

Yeah, but the platform on that car looks like a 2nd-gen Miata...the windshield frame and rear quarter panels aren't parts you just yank off and bolt onto a different frame. The Miata body panels all fit perfectly with no gaps.

The RX-8 body panels on the other hand obviously don't fit very well, so I don't accept the idea that they were used because they fit the platform.

I think they were used to screw with our heads. Success!

 

[Foolish]

got a point, the rotary has to be started at least 1ce every day, they need to find a apex seal that doesnt dry out as fast..

Once a day? Where did you hear that?

My 134,000 mile '87 gets run about once a week, sometimes more often, sometimes less. It runs great, every time. This winter, it sat for weeks at a time, no trouble.

Once a day!..... You couldn't go on vacation without ruining your car.....

(screwy)

 

[Shane5425]

thats what the techs told me, cause they have rx8s commin in out there asses cause of that problem

 

[rx7gslse]

one other thing to note... That car has 5 lug wheels.... Standard Miata's do not...


sumthin's a bit different

 

[anarchistchiken]

Heres to hopin they'll bring back the MONSTER!!! 5 liter, 350hp, 2500 lb Miata? YES PLEASE!!!!! American muscle say "**** a rotary"

 

[anarchistchiken]

Somebody wanna explain how I quoted myself?^^^

 

[rx7gslse]

Monster miata's weren't form Mazda... you can still get a v8 miata kit now just as well as you ever could..

 

[mikeyb]

From the windshield back looks like the current Miata.

 

[Mazdaspeedgirl]

thats what the techs told me, cause they have rx8s commin in out there asses cause of that problem

At the dealership I work at, the 8's come in due to people not letting the engine warm up before shutting it off again. The spark plugs get fouled.

 

[Shane5425]

that could be what they ment, he was just blabing on and on about how much the rx8s are giving starting problems just like the 7s were, i guess i mis understood what he said..

 

[Swifty]

I'm surprised noone here noticed that the gauges in the car are not of the current Miata. They look more like the ones in the 3. Also from the rear I don't see any of the lower chassie bracing that connects the two lower A-arms. It could be the angle, but there is somethind different there.
Another thing, notice the odd thing around the gas lid on the drivers side rear quarter panel. If Mazda grafted on a 2nd gen Miata rear onto or over the new chassie I doubt the gas filler tube would line up with the old gas lid. Hence the whatever-that-is around the gas cap.
There are some other little things too, like the shape of the top.

Im looking foward to the new Miata. Mazda had better kept the weight down. If they don't, what's the point of the car then?

 

[jflo]

did anyone notice the twin tailpipes ? i think they used an rx-8 chassis, chopped the rear a bit, and used the NB miata's tail.

 

[altiain]

got a point, the rotary has to be started at least 1ce every day, they need to find a apex seal that doesnt dry out as fast..

You don't seriously believe this, do you? Apex seals in a typical Mazda rotary are made out of iron, not rubber or something similar. They don't "dry out", and they certainly don't need to be started every day.

C'mon people - don't thoughtlessly regurgitate what someone else tells you. It makes baby Jesus cry.

 

[Swifty]

Iron?
Is this for the Renisis? I vaguely remember reading about the history of the rotary somewhere and the article stated that the seal was made of some sort of carbon or graphite based material.

 

[protegeV]

I tihnk they were originally made of iron in the 12a, and maybe early 13bs, but Im sure they switched to a more durable comnposite at some point. I definitely dont think the Renesis uses iron apex seals...

 

[Shane5425]

nope... they not iron anymore..

 

[BlueMP5Dave]

Antoine's along the right path.

These pics are of a next-gen Miata chassis test mule taken at the old Nurburgring track in Germany (there's a new Nurburgring next door where the F1 cars currently race, but this is the original track). Many manufacturers (BMW, Porsche, Mercedes-Benz, even Cadillac), use this track to test suspension tuning - this is what Mazda was testing with this test mule.

As such, the bodypanels have nothing to do with what the final product will look like (basically they just put some sort of shell there to do their chassis testing with).

The next-gen Miata will debut at one of the '05 autoshows - don't know which one yet, but from what I know, here are the candidates (in order of likelihood): Geneva, Chicago, Detroit

Funny you can tell the body does not even fit on the chassis

 

[rx7gslse]

Iron?
Is this for the Renisis? I vaguely remember reading about the history of the rotary somewhere and the article stated that the seal was made of some sort of carbon or graphite based material.

Nah, ceramic seals are available, but they're really only used on super heavy duty race motors..

Pretty much all street cars still run iron/steel seals.. even the Rx8
http://www.mazdatrix.com/8engine2.htm

From Racing beats' site..
"Note: The carbon apex seals are designed for racing only. They seal better above 8k rpm due to their lighter weight. They do NOT last very long (20k miles on the high side), and do NOT seal well at low rpm's (like starting and at idle).
Not recommended for turbo, supercharged, or nitrous engines. "