Prodrive RX-8
 

Stolen from Nabisco, stolen from jalopnik.com... hot. I love it. Debbie needs to (sort of) come back to her Subaru roots with this RX-8 :p

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http://noonzwheels.blogspot.com/2006...o-produce.html

Beginning July 1, 800 lucky UK enthusiasts will be able to purchase the Mazda RX-8 PZ, a special model developed in collaboration with the motorsports gurus at Prodrive.

The RX-8 PZ is based on the top-level 231ps (that's 228 Horsepower) RX-8. Power numbers remain the same as the standard car. No engine modifications are part of the PZ upgrade.

The changes begin on the outside, where the RX-8 undergoes a subtle, purposeful transformation. Customers can choose either Brilliant Black or Galaxy Grey for the exterior color. Prodrive-branded 18-inch OZ wheels finished in a dark grey (Mazda calls it "dark silver") complement either exterior color. The stock mirrors and rear spoiler are ditched in favor of new, aerodynamic mirrors and a new, functional rear spoiler. The spoiler receives subtle Prodrive badging and is unique to the RX-8 PZ.

Black mesh grille inserts are applied to the front and rear fascias. Around back, larger exhaust tips peek through the rear bodywork. They are connected to upgraded performance mufflers which provide more audible snarl but no increase in performance. Finally, new "PZ" badges are given prominent position on the front quarter panels.

The most significant changes are made to the RX-8's suspension. The car is dropped 15mm (.59 in) overall, and new Bilstein shocks and Eibach springs fitted all around. The front bump stop is also replaced by a new Bilstein unit, which is 10mm shorter than the stock version. The rest of the stock suspension pieces are left in place. Prodrive dials it all in to give the car steering and handling characteristics that truly set it apart from a regular RX-8. All told, spring rates are increased 60% stiffer than stock, yet ride comfort is maintained.

The RX-8 PZ's interior is unchanged. It shares the same specifications as the 231ps RX-8.

The Mazda RX-8 PZ looks like an attractive, involving street carver with the added cachet of exclusivity. Only 800 will be built. British fans of the RX-8 have a new aspirational vehicle to dream about.

See all pictures at: http://www.flickr.com/photos/30614642@N00/142814252/

I'd hit it. Continuously.

It's like an RX8 P1! Awesome. Haha, look at the RX8 forum reaction...

http://www.rx8club.com/showthread.php?t=89345

Apparently RX-8 owners are idiots with their heads burried in the sand (Debbie excluded from that comment of course).

1) They clearly have no idea what Prodrive does.
2) There isn't a single change to the car that isn't functional ('cept maybe the exhaust, since it doesn't make any more power... oops!)
3) Prodrive knows what they're doing, I guarentee that car will *stomp* a factory RX-8 on track.

It's the idiots like the people in that thread that make it so hard to get special editions of cool cars sold here in the US. The US market just doesn't know shit about cars.

Wow those guys really hate their car.

At least one guy got it.

I said pretty much the same thing about the new spec-b. Many people saw the same HP numbers, and complained it was all show and no extra go. For some reason a lot of people don't see Bilstein suspension as a performance upgrade.

Is the Mazdaspeed RX-8 coming to the states anytime soon?

Have you guys seen the Speed 3? I heard its going to be a 250hp Front Wheel Drive, 6 speed. Aimed at combating the SRT-4 in the straights and demolishing it in the corners (which wouldn't be hard).

But there is no SRT-4 anymore. It's the new Caliber right?

There's no Neon SRT-4.

right. thanks. good.

They plan on making a Caliber SRT-4? Thats so weak.

They already have.

http://www.autoblog.com/2006/02/08/a...caliber-srt-4/

He didn't get it right. People want power, not handling. I'm not saying its bad to have no power and good cornering, but the majority of people out there want their head forced back to the seat when they step on the gas... and mazda isn't providing that. But... then you have to question, why did they buy their car in the first place if all they want is power...? I think their reaction is priceless... as Tyson said, they really do hate their cars :p

True, in a consumer environment, he didn't get it right.

But from a true track whore perspective, he got it right on the money. Adding Bilstein suspension and eibach springs tuned for the car is just as much of a performance increase as bumping the hp up a smidge (for track times anyway).

Or maybe its just me. I prefer my cars to force my head side to side, rather then planted into the headrest.

If people wanted only power and no handling, the Mustang GT would be the only "sports" car sold in the US.

I don't think they did enough to warrant a $48,000 price tag.

Well, keep in mind its UK only, so the price only went from to £21,400 to £25,747. So, don't think of it as a $48k RX-8 (or about $20k over US retail), but a performance package costing an extra £4k (or about $7.5k US).

Yeah, its still a bit much for suspension and wheels (and a few other shiny bits), but it does have the exclusivity.

Yeah I know that, but still it's a lot more money for what little they did. And the limited production of 800 probably adds to the price.

Precisely. Unit cost for 800 of anything is significantly higher than for 8000 of them, especially when it's a complex item requiring dedicated tooling, like wheels, or intricate assembly, like shocks and struts.

That's $48,000 converted from GB Pounds, since the car is only sold in the UK.

For reference: a fully loaded RX-8 MSRP's for almost $53,000 in the UK. Cars are just more expensive there.

Edit: damn I'm slow... that's what I get for pricing out an RX-8 on Mazda's UK website. :lol:

Yeah I just priced a fully loaded US spec RX-8 versus the Prodrive one.

But it doesn't work that way. A standard WRX is like $38,000 there.

Wait what? It costs MORE for the same car? How's that work...? Do they just charge more over there because of whatever reason?

Yeah, and the "whatever reason" is just the totally different economy over there. cost of living isn't that much different there relative to wages, just the numbers are different looking.

Makes sense.