Cliff: Mazda looked at putting different engines in the miata including the RX8. Management doesn't want to put a rotary or a different engine in the miata.
for fear of moving to far away from a winning formula or by not having a clear distinction between the RX7 and the Miata. So for the foreseeable future it's a
four and lightweight; those are the goals mazda has for the miata. Practically speaking all we can really hope for at this point is for a hot mazdaspeed turbo
four (I'm hoping mazda can see where the wind is blowing in the miata clone wars and brings a turbocharged 300hp mazdaspeed miata to the game [take that
Pontiac] ).  

Having said that" MAZDA NEEDS TO GET FOR  REAL." Put Volvo's five cylinder engine in the miata "instant torque" it's what America has always
wanted form the miata and never got. Volvo already has a 300hp turbocharged version developed and federalized. FORD THIS IS A NO BRAINER this is how you put
the zoom in "zoom zoom".The rest of the world can have their under powered four cylinders give the America market a fire berthing five. If you're really
serious about going lightweight how about a magnesium block. Yeah I, know how about when hell freezes over right.Subaru,Mitsubishi, Pontiac, heck half the
industry will be blowing you're doors off and mazda will still be saying "zoom zoom".you need to inject some of that do or die sprite that won lemans into
producing sport cars with real power before the competion leaves you permanently behind.

I agree. Mazda management are way too conservative HP wise in the new highly 
competitive car world. Miata sales are starting to fade. The RX8 is out selling
the Miata over two to one in the last quarter. A supercharger would give more low speed
torque than a turbo. They also need to get an all aluminum rotary built, both two
and three rotor. An all aluminum two rotor is just what the Miata needs.
The number of passengers will adequately differentiate the RX8 from the rotary powered
Mazda and or put the all aluminum three rotor in the RX8.

Paul Lamar
 
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