Thread: Car Talk

Rotary engine Mazda cancelled.


Mazda Motor Corp. has canceled production of its RX-8 rotary engine sports car, citing falling sales and stringent global emissions standards.

Production in Hiroshima, Japan, ended in early July and global sales of the car will conclude later this year.

The RX-8 and the three generations of the RX-7 that preceded it have long been the foundation the brand's fun-to-drive aura. The car's high-revving 1.3-liter, twin-rotor rotary engine produces 232 hp at 8,500 rpm--a big punch in a relatively small package.

But Mazda sold just 1,134 RX-8s last year, a 49 percent decline from 2009. Sales through July this year were down another 21 percent.

The RX-8, which has a base price of $27,590, including shipping, peaked at 23,690 sales in 2004. But the first-generation RX-7 surpassed 50,000 units throughout the early 1980s.

Mazda's U.S. dealers had 300 units in stock as of Aug. 1 for a 118-day supply, according to the Automotive News Data Center.

Mazda pulled the RX-8 from the European market last year after the car failed to meet local emissions standards. Without volume from Europe, Mazda couldn't justify selling the RX-8, a Mazda source said.

Exporting vehicles from Japan also has become more difficult. The yen's rise vs. the dollar was a major reason why Mazda's North American operating losses from April through June grew nearly threefold to ¥7.9 billion, or about $97.6 million, from the same quarter last year.


Over the years I have had a couple of rotary engines and loved them.

Setting a world record for a Porsche 911 sold at auction, Steve McQueen's 1970 Porsche 911S went to a new owner for a cool $1.375 million during RM Auctions' Monterey event on Friday.

The 911 wasn't just owned by McQueen; it also featured prominently at the beginning of the film Le Mans as the lead character, played by McQueen, drives through France reflecting on the realities of racing.

Hagerty's Rob Sass and I checked out the car on Wednesday night at the RM Auctions preview. Be sure to watch the video for a closer look at the car, and stay tuned to our Pebble Beach page for more Monterey Peninsula auction action.



Read more: http://www.autoweek.com/article/2011...#ixzz1VmRaFQMv

2010 Honda VFR1200F with Dual-Clutch Transmission - First Ride
The dual-clutch transmission comes to the world of motorcycles via the 170-hp VFR1200F.
Specifications
VEHICLE TYPE: mid-engine, rear-wheel-drive, 2-passenger motorcycle
BASE PRICE: $15,999–$17,499
ENGINE TYPE: SOHC 16-valve V-4, aluminum block and heads, port fuel injection
Displacement: 75 cu in, 1237 cc
Power (SAE net): 170 bhp @ 10,000 rpm
Torque (SAE net): 95 lb-ft @ 8750 rpm
TRANSMISSION: 6-speed dual-clutch automated manual, 6-speed manual
DIMENSIONS:
Wheelbase: 60.8 in Seat height: 32.1 in
Curb weight: 600–650 lb
PERFORMANCE (C/D EST):
Zero to 60 mph: 3.8 sec
Zero to 100 mph: 7.2 sec
Standing ¼-mile: 11.1 sec





Two wheels, two clutches, no waiting.

Although Honda doesn’t yet have a dual-clutch transmission (DCT) in any of its cars, it has just introduced the first-ever device of
that type on one of its motorcycles. The VFR1200F is powered by a 170-hp, 1237-cc V-4 and features an optional, fully electronic, multimode DCT ($1500).

The Honda transmission follows automotive practice, with two clutches and two shafts—one turning within the other, each responsible for half of the six gears. But the constant-mesh, dog-engagement system—selected here by a motorized shift drum—is typical of motorcycles.


There are two automatic programs (normal and sport) and a fully manual operation that takes commands from triggers at the left-hand bar. There is no clutch lever to pull. “Normal” heads for sixth gear with true environmental zeal, while “sport” allows the revs to rise much higher. The *manual mode will hold any gear until the rev limiter steps in somewhere beyond 10,000 rpm.

I traded in my 04 RX-8 this past March. Fun car to drive but it was a hunk of shit.

Originally Posted by speedking

Talk about an auction price..hehe...


click here

16.5 million for a Ferrari that cost $9000..... Nice return

Originally Posted by Disco Batman

I traded in my 04 RX-8 this past March. Fun car to drive but it was a hunk of shit.

I had one in 05 and it got like 12 mpg.......but the engine was so smooth and sounded so good....

Ex-Formula One driver David Coulthard has been making the publicity rounds in the United States during the past week or so, and on Sunday, he strapped into a Red Bull Racing car and hit the new Austin, Texas, track scheduled to host the U.S. Grand Prix next year.

Coulthard's run was the first for an F1 car on the Circuit of the Americas--even though the "circuit" is still nothing more than an expanse of graded dirt. He also toured some of the local streets in Elroy, Texas, the town near Austin where the track is being built.

You're a long way from Monte Carlo, Mr. Coulthard.



Read more: http://www.autoweek.com/article/2011...#ixzz1VsoSIRxq

Qaddafi’s Tricked Out Green, Gold Fiat 500 Stolen in Tripoli



Corriere Della Sera, reports the 500 was customized at Castagna, a custom shop located in Milan, Italy, where every detail is tailored to the customer’s request. Qaddafi’s doorless Fiat is seen sporting a cream interior, a sandy-colored soft top, and at the ‘mysterious’ customer’s request, the Fiat badge on the front be replaced with a black silhouette of Africa, with Libya highlighted in green.

Rent some fun!

speaking of R8's.. neighbor a couple courts away had 2 white ones in the driveway.. sick looking cars. I dont know what this guys does for a living but the amount of high dollar cars and trucks I see around the house.. I think I'd move to a nicer house...but that's just me. Not that it's a bad hood... but not the kind of hood to have over half a mil in cars.

Originally Posted by speedking

This car will never see the light of day..but it looks great..

http://www.thefordstory.com/our-arti...ght-look-like/

Speed, very cool car! Great to see American auto mfg, really competing so well. Thumbs up!

New Ferrari spider

First and only V6 mustang with a Novi 2000 supercharger installed.

How many HP homank?

Not sure, ran out of fuel pump before we could finish, it was around 420...should be at 500 when finished. Right now it's sitting in storage for the past three years and will be for the next three years.

Very nice, do you have other pictures of it?