This would enable PZ owners to restore their exhaust system to their original specification and may also be an attractive upgrade for other Series 1 owners who want a system that is stainless steel, lighter, more free-flowing and only slightly louder than Mazda OEM.
After 3-weeks of (mainly one-way) communication, I have finally got a response, which wasn't quite what I was hoping for but isn't entirely bad news, answering most of my questions (shown in italics)
It's a pity that they no longer have any of the drawings, patterns or fixtures; so we're looking at a replica system, albeit from the original manufacturer.Scorpion wrote:Hello Dave,
Thanks for the enquiry.
You are correct when saying that Scorpion produced the exhaust for the Mazda RX-8 Prodrive PZ, the exhaust was designed in conjunction with Prodrive and built under license for them.
Do you have the original design for the PZ exhaust system? We no longer have any of the drawings, patterns or fixtures for the RX-8 PZ exhaust
Could you do another production run? This would only be possible if someone could provide a sample of the original exhaust
How many units would have to be pre-ordered to make this viable? We’d need a confirm order of 100 systems to make this viable
How much would each system cost? The retail price would be in the region of £650 - £700 inc vat
We wouldn’t be able to brand the product Prodrive as it’s not our brand and we also no longer have the tool which embossed the Prodrive name in the tailpipes, all we could offer is Scorpion branded or plain tailpipes with no branding.
If you have any further questions don’t hesitate to ask.
Kind regards
However, I'm sure, if there were to be sufficient demand to take this forward, that we could find a member with a PZ, still fitted with the original exhaust, to let them examine it for a few days, especially if it meant getting a new replacement cheaper. Their factory is in Ripley, Derbyshire DE5 3NW.
A confirmed 100 order sounds a lot but the PZ Suspension group buy was a similar magnitude and was over-subscribed at the time, and club shop stock sold out two years ago.
The PZ exhaust is in a very similar situation to the suspension, as it's unique to that special edition and not available from any source, including Mazda. It would fit all other Series 1 cars without modification, though a slightly different tail-pipe arrangement would be required for R3's. It's also in direct competition with aftermarket systems produced/sold by trusted traders in the UK, and a wide variety of alternatives from around the world.
This gets us neatly on to price. Scorpion have said the retail price would be in the region of £650 - £700 inc vat, which sounds a lot compared with say a Toyosports catback, and puts it between an RRP system @ £653 and a Racing Beat @ £962.
It's a pity but understandable that they're not (currently) able to offer "Prodrive" branding on the exhaust tips. However, if there's enough demand, I'm happy to have a discussion with David Richards (Chairman of Prodrive - who I know from my Ford and Aston Martin days) and I'm sure we can get his blessing, at least for the PZ owners.
There would be one significant advantage of this group buy, compared to the PZ Suspension.
For the latter there was only one production run, for those units in the order, and a similar commitment would be required to repeat. This means that PZ owners that weren't able to take advantage the first time round are now still stuck as they would have been before.
Hopefully, once the minimum initial order has been placed with Scorpion, the PZ exhaust system will become part of their ongoing retail offerings, which will benefit future PZ (and non-PZ) owners going forward, without having to commit Club funds for Shop stock.
For the benefit of those unaware, I have included a copy of the original PZ sales brochure, which slightly underplays the role of the exhaust, only saying "The car also features a new upgraded exhaust system to accentuate the engine's enthralling sound" and "Unique upgraded twin exhaust system, with exhaust tailpipes branded ‘Prodrive’".
Please feel free to comment in this thread, particularly if you would like to be part of the 100 initial order (list below) and especially if you are able to provide the sample car that they could use for the replication.