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Car and Driver: Electric TURBO on RX-8 in late 2005
Submitted by Dan Mazzella on Friday, June 4, 2004 - 9:37am

((NOTE, WE POSTED THIS STORY IN June 2004... THERE IS NO TURBO ON THE RX-8 FROM THE FACTORY. TO SEE WHAT WAS AT THE TOKYO AUTOSHOW SEE THIS STORY))

Car and Driver Magazine is reporting Mazda will unveil the Electric-motor-assisted turbocharger at the October 2005 Tokyo Auto Show. We give this rumor a good, about 70%, chance of being true.

This concept is the one that was first used on the Hydrogen RX-8 concept at the 2003 Tokyo Autoshow. The electric-motor-assist turbocharger is used to maximize the effectiveness of forced induction throughout the RPM range. At low engine speeds, beginning at approximately 1000 rpm, an electric motor operates to assist the turbocharger and increase induction efficiency. At high rpm, the turbocharger is driven in a traditional fashion, by the flow of exhaust gas alone.

We will have to wait to see what surprises Mazda has for us at the 2005 Tokyo Autoshow. Note that there is no Tokyo autoshow in 2004, as Tokyo plays host to a large commercial vehicle show. Expect to see more rumors circulate around the web for the next sixteen months. We will try to report on the best ones.
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subject:
Introduction of the hybrid RX-8
author:
date:
April 14, 2005 - 2:40pm
Is there any reliable information concerning the introduction of the hybrid (hydrogen) RX-8 to the american market. I am driving my wife's mini-van with 191,000 miles on it until that happens. Please, someone let me know that I don't have to wait more than another couple of years.
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subject:
I'm looking at some of the ea
author:
date:
January 12, 2005 - 9:10pm
I'm looking at some of the earlier on posts and it seems that some people joined up just to bash RX-8s and rotaries in general. I also noticed one person talking about how there are too many performance mods not working and people investing tons of money in the car to get no results. Do I need to point out that they've almost reached the 1,000 hp mark? 953 hp doesn't seem like there are no mods working. My God people, Mazda's striving for more and more innovation and you can only bash something that's not been tried before. Poor Felix Wankel probably got this way back when the rotary was meant to be steam driven... As for those of you who stand behind Mazda and are complimenting their constant search for something new or a new way to do things, kudos. There's something to a company that can make a 4 rotor engine that can deliver more power than, and do it smoother than a V-12, (look it up) and most of you recognize this. Back to the case at hand, an electric driven turbo to decrease lag? It's perhaps a perfect cross-breed between a super and a turbo charger. The problem with supers is that they have to be spun by a belt which acts as a bit of a parasite on horsepower, and turbos have the problem with lag. Why shouldn't Mazda give this a shot? Electricity has almost always been an abundant resource for energy and they've found a way to actually make power with it. Go Mazda! I want to see this idea reach its fruitation.
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subject:
electric turbo?
author:
No Rotor
date:
July 18, 2004 - 7:21pm
Flocking weird...Might as well make it a hybrid -- half electric quarter rorary power, another quarter electric turbo power...
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subject:
yeah they should, one electri
author:
No Rotor
date:
November 22, 2004 - 10:46pm
yeah they should, one electric motor driving each wheel......
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subject:
How to extract more money from your wallet...
author:
No Rotor
date:
June 24, 2004 - 4:28am
It's a shame really, all that expense of having to modify your 8's just to get the performance the car should have had in the first place...and that's before you consider the impact on the already poor fuel economy. With a turbo'ed 8...you're well on your way to sub 5mpg economy.
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subject:
Turbocharging Fuel Economy
author:
No Rotor
date:
October 11, 2004 - 12:29pm
Turbocharging can indeed improve fuel economy, while supercharging can't. There
is waisted energy in the hot exhaust stream that a turbocharger works to recover. It
recovers the energy in the exhaust gas and increases the volumetric efficiency of the
intake, improving the overall thermal balance sheet. For a given amount of horsepower produced, a turbocharged engine will burn less fuel. So, if you drive drove your RX8
using the same rate of acceleration, and same speed on the highway, you'll burn less
fuel. The reality is that most people will use the increased horsepower available from
the turbocharged engine to go faster, which will burn even more fuel.

A supercharger increases horsepower, but makes almost no improvement in efficiency because it takes horsepower directly away from the crankshaft - a place where there isn't any excess (being wasted)... The only way a supercharger might increase fuel economy is if it causes a driver to change his habits.
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subject:
Have the laws of thermodynamics changed???
author:
date:
June 18, 2005 - 5:29am
Turbocharging can not improve fuel economy, since you need to burn more fuel for the extra air you are pumping through the engine, air fuel ratio is the issue here. The engine volumetric efficiency (VE) is increased by the fact that you are artificialy forcing air into the engine. VE is the measure of the whole otto cylce not just one part of it or at one component. Latest technology centrifugal superchrgers achive a greater engine VE that that of a turbo charger with equvivalent power and torque. Because VE is measured how well an engine can breath essentialy, so for the same intake boost level the superchrged engine will need a greater mass flowrate, therfore a surpercharged engine will achieve greater VE, because you have a greater pressure differential across the intake and exhaust sub systems. This is the same reason why on a 4 valve head piston engine you need more mass flow from a turbo or supercharger to make the same amount of boost as in a two valve head because the 4 valve head has a greater VE.
I have done the experiments, turbo charged engine v's same engine with a supercharger. The most intersting test is to dissconect the intake on both the superchrged and turbo config so both configs are aspirated naturaly and the supercharger and turbo are still being driven. Then remove the superchrger belt and the turbo (replacing it with exhaust headers). Very suprising results!!
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subject:
Turbo
author:
No Rotor
date:
November 20, 2004 - 2:44pm
I'm not sure how I feel about my RX8 anymore.The gas mileage sucks.Wheel sensor,what good is it without telling me which tire is low.No turbo or upgrades to increase power.Some of the mods dont work.Some people report the,now,238hp is incorrect.Most of big companies with endless pockets have tried & failed to speed this car up.The 350z is the route I should have went.I'm waiting for the potiac 400hp stock gto.You will find my rx8 for sell at that dealer.
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subject:
I agree there are some downsi
author:
date:
March 16, 2005 - 6:57pm
I agree there are some downsides to owning an RX8(mileage, hp, flooding) but I think the benfits outweigh those. I respect your opinion and not starting a war but I'm just wondering what you still like about the car?? Texas 8
BTW, if you decide to go the GTO route, good choice. Sharp car.

"The object of war is not to die for your country but to make the other bastard die for his."--General George Patton (1885-1945)
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subject:
keeping the same compression
author:
No Rotor
date:
July 13, 2004 - 10:42pm
keeping the same compression ratio and jsut adding a turbo, i would think that for daily driving fuel economy may even improve (comments on this???) as you'll find that you'll probably be changing gears at around 3000rpm instead of 4-5000 rpm. I noticed a massive improvement in fuel economy when i swapped turbos on my 180sx from a standard t25 to a ball bearing t28 which spools quicker and gives a tonne more low end torque. I attribute it to driving in lower revs (2500 gear changes down from 3500) for normal driving. I'm wondering if anyone can comment from experience.
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subject:
No economy improvement
author:
No Rotor
date:
July 20, 2004 - 6:14am
You can't compare replacing an existing turbo (on your 180sx) with adding a turbo to a normally aspirated engine. From my own experience, I've NEVER heard of an NA engine (assuming its been reasonably well tuned) that has had its economy improved using forced induction. You may improve torque and power but you'll never improve economy.
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subject:
It can be done!
author:
No Rotor
date:
July 21, 2004 - 7:38pm
It sounds wierd but my friends 01 integra got 27mpg with a turbo compared to 25 mpg with out the turbo. Strange but true!
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subject:
That happened after we got so
author:
date:
January 9, 2009 - 8:55am
That happened after we got some new nissan parts turbo intake etc, it makes the car a bit more efficient.
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subject:
turbo rx8
author:
No Rotor
date:
June 11, 2004 - 1:04pm
Why is that we always have to wait for so long, so there is not going to be turbo or supercharged rx8 for 2004? come on mazda guys do not leave the rotary on last place!!!
Manolo Aguirre
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subject:
there is a turbo for the rx8
author:
No Rotor
date:
August 31, 2004 - 2:24pm
go to speedforceracing.com
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subject:
Us rotary heads have to wait
author:
No Rotor
date:
June 23, 2004 - 8:52pm
Us rotary heads have to wait so long because its a difficult market. Look how sketchy Mazda was (although they may say they were confident) of bringning the RX-8 out to North America, andf pushed the program hard in order to ensure themarket was there. It's not as simple/easy as if say Ford was doing a similar thing to the Mustang.
But yes, it does suck :)
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subject:
supercharge yours
author:
No Rotor
date:
June 11, 2004 - 3:02pm
Supercharge your 2004. They are built to handle it. You'll have it all over a stocker. By the way, my RX8 has been flawless.
Tim Johnston
See you at SEVENSTOCK
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subject:
mike
author:
No Rotor
date:
July 6, 2004 - 7:26am
What kind of performance gain does that supercharger give your 8?Where can I find one,how much?
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subject:
Hello
author:
No Rotor
date:
June 29, 2004 - 12:02am
I bought an RX-8 and I am looking for a site to show what a Turbo will do for my car. I love the car and but know that it has so much more power to offer, just don't know what is out there.
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subject:
except no one has a complete
author:
No Rotor
date:
June 11, 2004 - 3:32pm
except no one has a complete kit yet.
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subject:
A kit? Get a turbo charger,
author:
No Rotor
date:
June 12, 2004 - 12:14pm
A kit? Get a turbo charger, makes some headers, get an EMS. fairly straightfoward
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subject:
Turbo
author:
No Rotor
date:
June 22, 2004 - 5:10pm
We have an engineered stage 1 kit here in Australia. Raises top power slightly (about 10-20% from memory). Difference in the dyno sheets is amazing tho. Using a ball bearing T28, it spools up quickly and makes for a massive increase in low end power. The turbo is mounted very low. The original airbox is modified. Even with the engine covers off, you'd have to be good to tell it's a turbo.
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subject:
Stage 1 Kit
author:
No Rotor
date:
September 19, 2004 - 3:58am
I have a rx8 and would like to modify it. I live in Melbourne and would like some more info. My email address is Mario.L.Pirotta@PirottaFS.com.au. Thanks in advance!!
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subject:
Rx8 Turbo kit
author:
No Rotor
date:
July 12, 2004 - 10:49am
Any one that has a website or info on where to get my hands on one of these turbos for my Rx8 id love to know, As far as ive ever been able to find out the turbo really wont give you much of an increase. But ive havent heard or seen any hard evidence of weather or not there will be a power increase and at what cost. Please anyone that has any info email me at grant@wisconsinpc.com i would really appreciate it.
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subject:
What are the advantages
author:
date:
July 22, 2009 - 4:19am
What are the advantages and disadvantages of owning Reva, the electric car?

Thanks,Car credit
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