We’ve been busy in our new workshop, and thought it was about time we shared some highlights of what’s been going on behind the scenes. One of the most exciting projects we’ve had through the doors lately has been Mazda RX-8 tuning — a car that continues to have a cult following thanks to its unique rotary engine and motorsport heritage.
The RX-8 is an icon, but anyone who has owned one knows it has quirks. Factory calibration was designed more around emissions compliance than raw performance, leaving plenty of potential untapped. At Auto Upgrades, we’ve been able to refine ignition timing, optimise fuelling, and smooth out throttle response to make the RX-8 not just more powerful, but also far more enjoyable in everyday driving.
Our workshop tuning sessions involve a full diagnostic check before we even think about adjusting maps. We then carefully remap the ECU, focusing on safe but effective gains. For the RX-8, this typically means:
- Improved low-end torque to make the car more usable in daily driving
- Smoother mid-range pull for confident overtaking
- Sharper throttle response, bringing back that classic character
- Calibrations that preserve engine reliability while giving a more engaging drive
Below are some shots from recent RX-8 projects in the new workshop:
We’ll be posting more case studies like this as we continue to build out the new workshop and showcase what these cars are capable of with proper calibration. If you’re an RX-8 owner in Auckland and want to know what kind of gains are possible for your car, check out our Mazda RX-8 performance tune page or get in touch with us directly.