Interview With Shigeo Hirata "Designer of RX-8 Concept"

Question: What has been your role in the RX-Evolv/RX-8 Design Process

Reply: He judged the Production RX-8 design models,
he is Cheif Designer for Sports-Type cars within Mazda. He also
mentioned their may be more sports cars he will work on in the
future.



Question: Where did you get design cues for the RX-8?

Reply: Mostly from RX-Evolv. He wanted a "New
Flavor" in this car's design. RENISIS allowed for short overhangs
and large interior space.




Question: What do you see on the RX-8 making it to
production, and what do you see leaving the final
product?


Reply: The Doors will remain, they are legal in
Europe, which was an initial design concern. The way we made
them legal was to make them interlock and only have one outside
door handle on each side of the car. Hood louvers he likes but
they are still a "work in progress" idea. Mazda wants the
engine to breathe freely, so if louvers are the way to make that
happen, then they will remain, he does see them being moved
around and refined however. The START/KILL system, the designers
very much would like to see remain. Active Breaking System will
probably fail to make it to production due to potential problems
with untrained public using a system they dont understand. The
Dual Exhaust will stay, but the designers want much larger dual
exhaust with a much deeper tone. Access card is unsure at this
point, judging by the way he answered this question, dont look
for it on the RX-8.


Question: Will there be a Mazda Performance Series
or a MazdaSpeed version?

Reply: That is a good possibility, MPS versions
will probably be a variation on every car in Mazda's
lineup eventually.


Question: Is the Transmission an AutoStick or a True
Clutch 6-Speed?

Reply: The transmission is a true 6-speed
clutch style manual transmission. Its wing shifter system merely
throws the shift lever and actuates the clutch must faster than
humans can do it. The automatic option on the center console just
allows a computer to send the same shift signal to the
transmission that the wing shifters would have if you flipped them
manually. The transmission shift system should be famial to Drag
Racers and also Ferrari enthusiasts.


Question: Is the underside of the car designed specially?


Reply: Yes, it incorperates a wind channeling
system to created a large low pressure system under the
vehicle. This actually pulls the vehicle down to the road surface
resulting in superior handling.


Question: Is the RX-8 the RX-7
Successor?

Reply: Absolutely not, its a whole new idea in
sportscars designed to appeal to those who want the performance
of a two seater sports car combined with the convenience of a
family oriented 4 seater. That is not RX-7's philosophy.


Question: During design testing, how much of a role
has computer modeling played in this project, and also how do
you test the ideas?

Reply: Computer modeling has great sped up the
processes we use, however at Mazda we still use the tried and true
methods of clay modeling. A few other RX-8's besides the one at
the NAIAS show do exist and have been used as test beds for
Mazda's ideas. The RENISIS is test run in a Miata retrofit with
RX-01 suspension.


Question: What other options does the
Platform Hold?


Reply: The platform is very versatile and could
be used for future sportscars. (We assume perhaps the next
generation Miata and maybe RX-7?)


Question: Has Ford requested and cooperation for their
use of a Rotary?

Reply: No, the Rotary is Mazda's motor, it is not a
Ford product. (YES!)


Question: Have you researched a 3 or 4 rotor RENISIS?
Perhaps a Hybrid version?

Reply: No, only the two rotor version has been
designed/tested. Rotary has low Torque which is terrible for
Hybrids. . . this is unfortuante though because the rotary is very
compact.


Question: What are the side intakes for? Oil
cooling?


Reply: Yes, the central one is well designed to be
unobstructed for the radiator and other engine devices. The
Driver's side intake is for oil cooling. The passenger side is
currently just a secondary intake for the enginebay.

(NOTE: At this point we managed to trick him into hinting that
Fog Lights are being worked on as an option to go into the "Dead
space" in/near the side air intakes. This would not block
airflow and would further improve the looks of the car. )


Question: The turn signals have been redesigned,
anything special about them?

Reply: Yes, we wanted to make the lights flash in
series, so if you are turning right. . . . 7 or so yellow lights in
the right tail light will flash in a series pointing towards the
direction you are turning.


Question: How close is this car to final production
worthiness?

Reply: I'd say about 90%
finished.



Interview With Philip Martens "Mazda Marketing Director"

Question: Will the RX-8 platform be RX-8 only, or is
it open to other models?

Reply: "Mazda executives are not idiots" (yes, he
said that). . . we are "Open to using RX-8 engine and platform
on future models"


Question: What is the target weight and what is the
body's materials?

Reply: The body has alot of aluminum and is slated
for a 1260kg weight.


Question: What information can you tell us about the
RENISIS and its drivetrain layout?


Reply: The RENISIS and Mazda sportscars are ONLY
rear wheel drive. He has no intention of ever making an
All-Wheel-Drive version or a Front wheel drive version. . . . in his
words "Its just not right for a true sportscar"


Question: What is the key to the body's
strength. . . even though it is lacking the
B-pillar

Reply: The Rockerpanel is the key to the
body's rigidness. The rockerpanel is I-beam steel. There are also
beams connecting the shock towers.


Question: Is the 250hp the max for the motor, or where
are you planning to go from here?

Reply: The RENISIS is an amazing motor and we are
still researching its possibilities. The goal is to have two power
levels. The first low power level will be about 200hp, the other
high power motor for the RX-8 will be 250hp. . . as of now. However
the goal is to get more horsepower out of the motor if at all
possible.

(NOTE: Something I noticed here. . . . . why would they want a 200hp
lower power RENISIS if the high power one is the only engine the
RX-8 will have???? Wonder what theyre planning to do with that
low power motor? :)


Question: What timeframe are we looking at for
production?


Reply: The project goes for formal Mazda approval
in Spring. From there is will take approximately one year to enter
production. We could see it as early as Spring 2002 as a 2003
model.



Question: Heat is a major concern to current RX-7
owners. Is engine bay heat being taken into
concideration here?

Reply: Absolutely, it is a design goal to allow the
engine to breathe well. Thus the louvers in the hood and the
larger Air intakes up front. Also note that the exhaust system
design allows for the elimination of the pre-cat on previous
RX-7's. . . this will eliminate much engine bay heat.



NOTE: Due to the speed at which the interviewees spoke, their
replies have been paraphrased. . . but still maintain all their
points. No information they said has been changed just shortened.