Should Nissan and Mazda get more powerful 350Z, RX8

[Ford Capri 2.8i]

Once Nissan decided to be replaced its powerful 300bhp 300ZX Twin Turbo by a less powerful(and quite more slow as the Old Car vs New Car Top Gear comparison shows) 350Z.

And Mazda has taken a similar decision replacing the 280bhp RX-7 for a slower RX-8

Do members thing that Nissan and Mazda had to achieve higher goals such as launching about 360 bhp cars capable of challenging against the Ferrari 360, the Gallardo, the 911 GT3, the DB9, and so on?

My opinion is affirmative, for instance, for me means to save some money spending more euros in a DB9, Gallardo, and get more performances, pleasure of driving, rather than saving more money and not getting the nice sensations that give the Gallardo car segment

[T-Bird]

no way those cars are intended for a different market like the under $40k market not the over $100k market.

[JiggaStyles09]

also you have to look at the price, the 350Z is relatively cheaper than the 300ZX turbo even if you compare the price it was in 1996 compared to the 2004 350Z and the performance is not all that lagging in the 350, it was pretty close in the top gear race. also the rx-7 im pretty sure was very expensive back in 1995/1996 and the rx-8 is pretty affordable by todays standards. plus like others were saying it wasnt really made to be a replacement for the RX-7 anyays.

I keep hearing rumprs of a new RX-7 but havent seen anything of substance yet..... :roll:

[mindgam3]

Dude, it's Japanese LAW.
Cars produced in Japan, or by Japanese firms can't have more then 280bhp.
That's why the Impreza, Evo, NSX, Skyline ... all have 280bhp. In Japan the speedo doesn't even go higher then 180km/h ;)

how come there are versions of the impreza and evo that have more than 290bhp then??

I think theres already a "sportier" 350Z coming out/is out

[T-Bird]

Dude, it's Japanese LAW.
Cars produced in Japan, or by Japanese firms can't have more then 280bhp.
That's why the Impreza, Evo, NSX, Skyline ... all have 280bhp. In Japan the speedo doesn't even go higher then 180km/h ;)

That only applies to cars sold in Japan because they do have much more powerful versions of their cars/trucks sold outside of Japan that break the 300hp barrier and are still rising thanks to Subaru vs. Mitsubishi.

[Jabba]

Once Nissan decided to be replaced its powerful 300bhp 300ZX Twin Turbo by a less powerful(and quite more slow as the Old Car vs New Car Top Gear comparison shows) 350Z.

And Mazda has taken a similar decision replacing the 280bhp RX-7 for a slower RX-8

Do members thing that Nissan and Mazda had to achieve higher goals such as launching about 360 bhp cars capable of challenging against the Ferrari 360, the Gallardo, the 911 GT3, the DB9, and so on?

My opinion is affirmative, for instance, for me means to save some money spending more euros in a DB9, Gallardo, and get more performances, pleasure of driving, rather than saving more money and not getting the nice sensations that give the Gallardo car segment

I personally wouldn't waste money on jap cars but yeah they should increase those cars with at least 50 Kw

[BADMIHAI]

Power isn't everything. An EVO 8 can lap a tight circuit almost as fast as a Gallardo or 360. There is a great video showing a 600 hp E30 being chased by a stock E46, and while the E30 pulls in the straights, it's no match for the E46 in the corners.

[Vansquish]

I think turboed versions of both would be kind of fun...they'd have to be export-market cars though, as the Z is already at max output for Japanese law.

[IgotWRXed]

not happening. look at all the problems down the line with those turbo cars.

the 350 and rx8 are practical cars that can be bought by the masses.

its not like Nissan and Mazda have their eyes shut to the cult following/modding thats going on with the older cars. so when they dont produce a version like that.......well it should tell you someting. they dont want to.

[SilviaEvo]

a 350z against a Gallardo??? BHAHAHAHA. that's funny

remember the Focus VS. Gallardo?
btw i think Nissan and Mazda should both dump their ugly ideas of sports cars. the 90's were Japan's ultimate time. The I-6's were the ultimate from Japan but now they are long dead. and Mazda with the RX8 which is an horrible car all those ricey stuff like altezzas and crap along with the Mitsu basing the EVO on a Cedia what the hell is wrong with them?!!? 300ZX replaced with a fat ass ugly car called the 350Z and they plan to remake the Skyline with the horrible 350Z type styling?!!?
Japan's cars to me have died off in the 90's. Hope they come up with at least a decent looking one :roll:

[Silvia_Drift]

It isn't a law in Japan guys, its a "gentleman's agreement" among car manufacturers. The car that each manufacturer wants to compete in the Japanese Touring Car Championship must be less than 280bhp in production form. Most car companies under rate their cars at 280bhp but have 300+ hp most of the time. Apparently, this agreement has been dropped so the next versions of each companies cars will be significatly more powerful.

[Paco]

Very right so, Silvia_Drift.

Most stock Japanese cars go over the 300bhp gentleman's agreement and I'm sure that after some time they will release a special Nismo version (other than the already existing one) to give the 350Z a premium placing in the market and to compete with the M3. It's already known that the current configuration can cope with much more horsepower. I guess a 350bhp version or more is not far away. Skyline will top this with dual turbos I guess.


"If you build it, it will come"

[T-Bird]

a 350z against a Gallardo??? BHAHAHAHA. that's funny

remember the Focus VS. Gallardo?



Well that was a one off V8 RWD focus that is a little different.

[Vansquish]

i think the limit of japanese production cars *in* Japan is 300hp, not 280 as some have said.

It's neither...to be exact it's actually 276bhp, or 280ps...which is what everyone seems to refer to.

[RC45]

The 350Z does just fine as it is... I mean look at the hp/l numbers that thing produces.

:)

[gottacatchup]

Both the 350Z and RX-8 are supposed to be modern day semi-lightweight but most of all affordable sports cars. I really dont think mazda wants to go back to when the RX-7 cost over $40,000. Both the cars are supposed to be practicle for daily driving yet a blast for enthusiasts.

At the same time i think the RX-8 would benefit greatly from a turbo. If they ever actually release the Mazdaspeed version of the RX-8 it should have a turbo on it like all the others along with the tuned suspension and styling changes.

[Vansquish]

There is a Mazdaspeed version of the RX-8 actually...it's in production, but we can't get it in the US...I believe it's called the RX-8 A-spec or something to that effect...has a wilder bodykit and more aggressive wheels and tires...but I don't know that anything has been done to the engine.

[T-Bird]

you can get the Mazdaspeed bodykit and wheels from the dealer aftermarket but I haven't heard anything about engine mods.

[sentra_dude]

300hp Law?! LOL Come on people...remember the R34 Skyline? Umm, those have at least 320hp and maybe as much as 350hp (at the crank) which sounds like more than 280hp or whatever that silly 'agreement' was.


a 350z against a Gallardo??? BHAHAHAHA. that's funny

remember the Focus VS. Gallardo?
btw i think Nissan and Mazda should both dump their ugly ideas of sports cars. the 90's were Japan's ultimate time. The I-6's were the ultimate from Japan but now they are long dead. and Mazda with the RX8 which is an horrible car all those ricey stuff like altezzas and crap along with the Mitsu basing the EVO on a Cedia what the hell is wrong with them?!!? 300ZX replaced with a fat ass ugly car called the 350Z and they plan to remake the Skyline with the horrible 350Z type styling?!!?
Japan's cars to me have died off in the 90's. Hope they come up with at least a decent looking one :roll:

Wow...that's some closed minded thinking right there. So, when you drove all these 'trash' cars what was the worst thing about the driving experience, was it the steering, or the brakes, or the handling in general, or too slow in a straight line, or maybe rough & unrefined engine?

and Mazda with the RX8 which is an horrible car

Oh really...so all those people talking about its brilliant handling are just stupid?

all those ricey stuff like altezzas and crap

So because it has 'euro-tails' its automatically ricey? Wait, I thought you said all the I-6s were dead...last time I checked the IS300 had a I-6...

the Mitsu basing the EVO on a Cedia what the hell is wrong with them?!!?

I don't know...I mean those Evos are so crappy, and slow too, I guess pulling track times close to some supercars and having exceptional handling is a bad thing...what do those Mitsu engineers know, they should hire you, the expert.

300ZX replaced with a fat ass ugly car called the 350Z

Ugly is subjective, weight is not.
1995 T-Roof Turbo: 3517lbs
2003 350Z track: 3225lbs

[davidoff]

As gottachatup said the aim of the companies is making faster but cheaper cars.(GTA , cupras ,type-r)and you can´t compare them to old glorys simple because the have a totally diferent concept.

[TransAm]

i think the limit of japanese production cars *in* Japan is 300hp, not 280 as some have said.

It's neither...to be exact it's actually 276bhp, or 280ps...which is what everyone seems to refer to.

here here.

[Paco]

I wouldn't be surprised when the RX8 would come with a turbo. This to stay up to par on the sports-coupé market with the future plans of Audi and maybe Nissan (or even Mercedes).

[PaulGT2164]

if nissan and mazda doesnt sell higher output versions of their cars, there is already an huge aftermartket for both cars that will glady help out and make them better

mazda and nissan know this, so i dont forsee any huge leaps in power for the cars, although there is a rumoured turbo rx8 on the way

the "gentlemans agreement" is just hat
the skyline, the supra, 300zx and the 3000gt vr4 all put out more power than 280 or 300 the agreement is

[ae86_16v]

Dude, it's Japanese LAW.
Cars produced in Japan, or by Japanese firms can't have more then 280bhp.
That's why the Impreza, Evo, NSX, Skyline ... all have 280bhp. In Japan the speedo doesn't even go higher then 180km/h ;)

It's a Gentlemen's Agreement. Same as the Germans with their 155mph speed governors.

But I could bet that Nissan will release a turbo Z and Mazda already stated that they will produce a RX-7 again, which means you probably will not see a RX-8 Turbo.

[capore]

Haven't you thought about the difference of guarantee that offers the new RX-8 and the old RX-7? Or the new 350-z and the old 300 ZX? The quality of its engines...
Moreover, in Japan there is a rule that all brands must follow, and this is that the maximun power in their sporty cars must be 280 bhp, and this is the top. You only have to see what happens with the nissan skyline, or the Toyota Supra, or the Honda NSX, the mitsubishi EVO, the Subaru Imprezza. All of them can be modified engineerily talking and reach 900 bhp or so.
Another point: have you seen the speedometer from a japanese car? have you ever seen best motoring drivers at max speed? The speedometer reaches only 140 mph and this speed is easily reached by any of the cars I said before without using their top Gear :) .


PD: Sorry for answering what you said in other post, but I didn't read them :lol:

[gottacatchup]

There is a Mazdaspeed version of the RX-8 actually...it's in production, but we can't get it in the US...I believe it's called the RX-8 A-spec or something to that effect...has a wilder bodykit and more aggressive wheels and tires...but I don't know that anything has been done to the engine.

The mazdaspeed RX-8 has been modified with a focus on handling, with a completely reworked suspension with new coils and struts along with front and rear anti-roll bars and larger wheels and tires. But nothing has been done to make power as of yet, hopefully if its released in the US a turbo will be added.

[gottacatchup]

There is a Mazdaspeed version of the RX-8 actually...it's in production, but we can't get it in the US...I believe it's called the RX-8 A-spec or something to that effect...has a wilder bodykit and more aggressive wheels and tires...but I don't know that anything has been done to the engine.

The mazdaspeed RX-8 has been modified with a focus on handling, with a completely reworked suspension with new coils and struts along with front and rear anti-roll bars and larger wheels and tires. But nothing has been done to make power as of yet, hopefully if its released in the US a turbo will be added.

alot of people seem to forget that alot of coupes (350z, RX8, TT, G35, etc..) have a HUGE aftermarket parts availability. Why would anyone pay Mazda 2x the amount of money to add parts that aren't even as good as if one does it themselves. Maybe warranty issues, but that depends on which country you are in and how the dealer handles modifications.

On previous Mazdaspeed cars the parts mazda has installed are quality and the price of the car does not reflect the work mazda has done. Both the miata and protege versions, if you bought the parts and made you're own would cost much more then one straight from mazda and you wouldn't have a warranty.