Controversial : Should the RX8 have been a Vette?

[CrevetteRouge]

It's been a while I had something on my soul I wanted to share with the community.
My work has been really crazy last year and I really went aware of new cars only when I saw them. I didn't travel and so did not read any auto mag like I used to do. I heard about the new C6 incoming... no pictures yet besides the black wrapped test car, which is IMHO nothing.
Then one day, as I was waiting at a set of light on my way to work, a nice sparkling clean deep-red car came slowly alongside my car : I saw those shapes coming to me, little by little, this womderful front, the body work aroung the wheels, jaw dropping, heart beating : am I seeing the C6???
Well.... the light turn green, the car finished its panning in front of my eyes... and I saw the end of the car : definitly not a Corvette... then I saw the rear : Mazda Rx-8. So it says.

Since this day, and especially after seeing the new C6, I can't help but feel that the RX-8 body (at least the front) should have been a Corvette. The C6 has an already seen hightech design. Don't take me wrong: I like the car. But I would not give her a C6. Just a C5.5.

Do I spend too much time in my Mako shark body vette?
Is the C6 just a marketing blip to have us wait for the C7?
Am I in love with the awesome designed RX-8?

Did I sin? oh God Rob, did I sin?!?

 

[Buster1]

To me the nose of the C6 says...Vette!!! The Rx8 front end just doesn't look agressive enough to me, and definately not like a Vette should. There may be a few vague similarities in the two...but the Vette screams American Muscle, while the RX8 just says Mazda...
As far as the C6 marketing blip for the C7...I think you just sinned. Go wash your hands in 10W30, say 3 hail Corvettes, and apologize to the God of Horsepower.

 

[ROCKETBLOCK]

To me the nose of the C6 says...Vette!!! The Rx8 front end just doesn't look agressive enough to me, and definately not like a Vette should. There may be a few vague similarities in the two...but the Vette screams American Muscle, while the RX8 just says Mazda...
As far as the C6 marketing blip for the C7...I think you just sinned. Go wash your hands in 10W30, say 3 hail Corvettes, and apologize to the God of Horsepower.

Buster... I had to smile on the sin comment! I have to agree that I don't get the Corvette out of the RX8 style at all either. The C6 might not be my favorite design but it blows Jap Junk out of the water.

 

[Greenie]

Jap junk?? Now now.

 

[ROCKETBLOCK]

OK OK.... imported asian automobiles.

 

[c5vetter]

Unfortunately, the C5 took MANY styling cues from some of those Asian auto makers, such as the NSX. The C6 has carried those cues over.

 

[Scissors]

The RX-8 is one of the few cars that, to me, actually looks worse in person than it does in photos.

 

[Greenie]

Thats better!! Aside from my Corvette, I have an Acura RSX which has been terrific. Compared to some of my earlier Vettes which WERE junk, the RSX is great!

 

[RedRagTop]

Zoom zoom, my ass.

 

[Kotzenjunge]

I got an RX-8 vibe from the C6 also, especially the side "gills," or whatever you want to call 'em. I won't lie, I loooooove the RX-8's styling and think it looks better in person than in pictures. Still, the dimensions make it look a lot different, having a backseat and all.

 

[LongTimer]

Who copies whom?

2004 Mazda RX8:

2003 Concept SS:

I really don't beleive that halo cars are purposely copied from each other. The design challenge today is that "compactness" is so much more important than in the 70's and earlier when sheet metal could reach out from the chassis in all directions to satisfy the Earls and Mitchels. Today's design must cover the chassis and passengers with as little excessive weight as possible - so too many cars start to resemble each other.

BTW, the front of the Rx8 is very nice, but the rest of the torqueless wonder looks awkward as heck. compare it to the SS above. That's the four seater I'd love to buy!

 

[Chris Kennedy]

I agree with those who don't like the RX-8, but I was driving by a new one yesterday and did note that the side scoop and front fender treatment (the "peaks") did look a lot like the new C-6. I have been critical of the C-6, and I think the problem is simply that GM needs to take a strong NEW styling direction with the Corvette. The design just does not look fresh. Ever since the C-3, I have gotten the impression that what GM has done is continue to work with the same theme, and they haven't done a particularly good job.... The C-4 through C-6 generally have all been accused of much the same thing, styling-wise (derivative of other cars, bland, big rears, etc.). One big problem, and I don't know if anyone has noticed, is that all these models seem to sit too high above the tops of the tires---there is simply too much space, there, and they all look much better when people lower them a bit. I am sorry, but I just don't think GM has a very talented group of stylists for their cars. The Corvette deserves better, and I am worried that the car will generally go the way of Harley Davidson motorcycles as to clientelle (I won't say it, but I think you know what I mean).

--Chris Kennedy
Houston, Texas