Mazda RX-8

2006-12-12T18:56:42Z

122.49.173.233:

[[image:2007_RX-8_blackleftonwhite.jpg|right|450px|thumb|'''The 2007 [[Mazda]] RX-8''']]
The '''Mazda RX-8''' is a [[sports car]] manufactured by the [[Mazda|Mazda Motor Corporation]]. It first appeared in 2001 at the North American International Auto Show. It is the successor to the [[Mazda RX-7|RX-7]] and like its predecessors in the RX range it is powered by a Wankel rotary engine.

See Wikicars' comprehensive '''[[Mazda RX-8 Review]]'''.

===Recent Changes===
The 2007 RX-8 remains largely unchanged from the previous model year, with the exception of two new exterior colors and the minor addition of certain standard interior features previously offered only as options.

===Styles and Major Options===
In North America, the 2007 [[Mazda]] RX-8 comes in three trims: the Sport, Touring, and Grand Touring. All three are equipped with the same standard 1.3L 232[[hp]] rotary engine, 6-speed [[manual transmission]], [[rear wheel drive]], and sport [[suspension]]. Main differences between the trims consist of options upgrades. Some of the standout features include:

'''RX-8 Sport'''
*Tochigi Fuji [[limited slip differential]]
*18" silver alloy wheels
*Cloth seating and door trim
*Leather steering wheel and leather/aluminum shift knob
*Manual front air conditioning
*6-speaker AM/FM/CD audio system
*[[Cruise control]]

'''RX-8 Touring'''
[[image:2007_RX-8_yellowonwhiteleft.jpg|right|350px|thumb]]
Adds to or replaces Sport features with:
*Driveline [[traction control]]
*[[Electronic stability control]]
*Express open sunroof
*Auto-dimming day/night headlights
*9-speaker Bose AM/FM/6CD-changer audio system w/amplifier
*HomeLink Wireless Control System

'''RX-8 Grand Touring'''

Adds to or replaces Touring features with:
*8-way power driver's seat
*Heated front bucket seats
*Leather seating trim and leatherette door trim
*Heated remote side mirrors

===Pricing===
Today's actual prices for the [[Mazda]] RX-8 can be found at [http://www.carsdirect.com/mazda/rx8/prices CarsDirect].

<table border=1 tablecolor=#000000 bordercolor=#000008>
<tr bgcolor=#cccccc>
<td colspan=3>
'''RX-8 Trims'''
</td>
</tr>
<tr bgcolor=#ffffcc>
<td>
Sport
</td>
<td>
Touring
</td>
<td>
Grand Touring
</td>
</tr>
<tr bgcolor=#66ccff>
<td colspan=3>
''MSRP''
</td>
</tr>
<tr bgcolor=#ffffcc>
<td>
$26,435
</td>
<td>
$29,535
</td>
<td>
$31,070
</td>
</tr>
<tr bgcolor=#66ccff>
<td colspan=3>
''Invoice''
</td>
</tr>
<tr bgcolor=#ffffcc>
<td>
$24,458
</td>
<td>
$27,318
</td>
<td>
$28,735
</td>
</tr>
</table>

===Gas Mileage===
As seen on the [http://www.fueleconomy.gov/feg/findacar.htm FuelEconomy.gov] website, the City/Highway MPG averages are as follows:

<table border=1 tablecolor=#000000 bordercolor=#000008>
<tr bgcolor=#cccccc>
<td colspan=2>
'''Trim'''
</td>
</tr>
<tr bgcolor=#ffffcc>
<td>
RX-8 [[automatic transmission|auto]]
</td>
<td>
RX-8 [[manual transmission|manual]]
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td colspan=2 bgcolor=#cccccc>
'''MPG'''
</td>
</tr>
<tr bgcolor=#ffffcc>
<td>
18/25
</td>
<td>
18/24
</td>
</tr>
</table>

===Reliability===
According to Automotive Information Systems, the RX-8 has exhibited good long-term reliability. the 2004 model received an overall Green rating in every category, indicating only minimal problems.

===Safety===
In safety tests carried out by the [http://www.safercar.gov NHTSA,] the RX-8 performed well. Side-impact and driver's side front-impact crash tests yielded 4-Star ratings, while tests for rollover and passenger side front-impact earned the RX-8 5-Star marks. Some of the standard safety features on the RX-8 include:
*Front and rear anti-roll bars
*4 wheel [[anti-lock brakes]]
*Driver/Passenger front-impact [[airbag]]s
*Driver/Passenger seat-mounted side-impact [[airbag]]s
*1st/2nd row overhead [[airbag]]s
*Occupancy sensors
*Side-impact bars

===Photos===
<gallery>
image:800px-Mazda_RX_8_titan_front_left.jpg
image:2007_RX-8_redongrayangle.jpg
image:2007_RX-8_dashboard.jpg
image:2007_RX-8_frontinterior.jpg
image:2007_RX-8_rearinterior.jpg
</gallery>

===Colors===
Available color combinations will vary by trim, and a full list is viewable at [http://www.carsdirect.com/mazda/rx8/colors CarsDirect.com.] Some of the available combinations are:

'''Exterior'''
*Brilliant Black Clearcoat
*Crystal White Pearl
*Galaxy Gray Mica
*Sunlight Silver Metallic
*Velocity Red Mica

'''Interior'''
*Black
*Black/Red
*Sand

===Main Competitors===
*[[Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution]]
*[[Honda S2000]]
*[[Ford Mustang]]
*[[Nissan 350Z]]
*[[Pontiac GTO]]
*[[Chevrolet Corvette]]
*[[Subaru Impreza WRX STI]]

==Hybrid Models==
There are currently no [[hybrid]] models of the RX-8 in production.

==Unique Attributes==
[[image:2007_RX-8_redsuicidedoors.jpg|right|350px|thumb|The RX-8's "suicide doors."]]
The car features a pair of rear-hinged suicide doors in order to provide easier access to the rear seats. The RX-8 has no B-pillar between the front and rear doors, with the leading edge of the rear door acting as a 'virtual pillar' to maintain structural rigidity. Because of the overlapped design, the rear doors can only be opened when the front doors are open.

==Resale Values==
According to [http://www.kbb.com Kelley Blue Book,] "as sports cars go, the RX-8 holds an excellent resale value, just below the [[BMW 3 Series]] and [[Infiniti G35]] Coupe, but much better than the [[Chrysler Crossfire]], [[Chevrolet Monte Carlo]] SS and [[Mitsubishi Eclipse]]."

==Criticisms==
*"I wasn't too impressed by the RX-8's styling, inside or out. Exterior styling has a lot of odd bulges here and there, including a couple on the roof." - MSN Autos
*"If you're looking for a low-involvement sports car (which is, to a certain extent, an unreasonable expectation), the RX-8's rotary engine, with its occasional fuel consumption issues and short-at-the-bottom torque curve, may not be to your liking. The compact rotary engine delivers its torque high in the rpm band, meaning you have to run the revs high when passing or accelerating." - Kelley Blue Book

==Current Generation: (2004–present)==
The RX-8 was designed as a front mid-mounted, [[rear-wheel drive]] 2+2 [[coupé]]. The car has a 50/50 weight distribution, achieved by mounting the engine behind the front axle. Weight is trimmed through the use of materials such as aluminium and plastic for the body panels and a carbon composite for the driveshaft.

===Powertrain===
The RX-8 is powered by a 1.3 L [[naturally-aspirated engine|naturally-aspirated]] ''RENESIS'' rotary engine, which features newly designed side intake and exhaust ports. The engine is smaller and lighter than previous rotaries, primarily due to the lack of a [[Turbo Engine|turbocharger]] and associated parts.

The engine is designed in various configurations for different models, but in its most powerful setup develops 250 PS (247 [[HP|hp]], 184 kW) at 8,500 rpm with a redline at 9,000 rpm and fuel cut-off at 9,500 rpm. It won the International Engine of the Year and Best New Engine awards in 2003 and holds the "2.5 to 3 liter" size award for 2003 and 2004.

The power is delivered to the rear wheels via a 5- or 6-speed manual gearbox or a 4-speed [[Automatic transmission|automatic]] through a [[limited slip differential]].

==== Shinka/Evolve ====
Mazda introduced a special ''Shinka'' edition to the U.S. market in 2005, and to the UK market in 2006 where it was branded as the ''Evolve''. New features included Shinka badges on the B-pillar, new paint colours (Black Cherry Mica, Copper Red and Phantom Blue), re-styled mirrors, alcantara-trimmed leather seats, updated component materials, and enhanced chassis and suspension tuning. Power output remained unchanged from the standard models.

==== Hydrogen RE ====
At the 2004 North American International Auto Show, Mazda unveiled the RX-8 Hydrogen RE concept car, designed to run on either hydrogen or gasoline. In February 2006, Mazda revealed that it would start leasing a dual-fuel RX-8 to commercial customers in Japan, and in March 2006 announced its first two customers, claiming the first fleet deliveries of a dual hydrogen/gasoline production car.

==== Senku ====
The [http://www.automobilemag.com/auto_shows/tokyo/0511_mazda_senku/ Senku] is a prototype of the next rotary powered Mazda vehicle. Designed as a practical sports car for adults, it has a 2-piece hatchback, a single large sliding door on both sides, and a highly advanced direct-injected rotary engine with electric [[Hybrid Cars|hybrid]] technology.

==== UK (May 2006) ====
{| class="wikitable"
|- bgcolor="#CCCCCC"
! Model !! Estimated<br> On the Road<br> Vehicle Price !! Insurance<br>Group /<br>Licence Band !! CO2<br>Emissions<br>(g/km)
|-
| 192 ps (141 kW), 5-Speed || £21,400 || 15E / G || 267
|-
| 231 ps (170 kW), 6-Speed || £22,900 || 16E / G || 284
|}

==Worldwide==

==Design quirks and oddities==
The car is used in the Formula Woman racing series which started in 2004. A slightly modified RX-8 was also featured in the 2003 film ''X2: X-Men United''.

==Awards==
The RX-8 has won numerous awards including ''Wheels magazine'''s Car of the Year for 2003. In 2004 it was nominated for the ''North American Car of the Year'' award. It was also named on ''Car and Driver'' magazine's Ten Best list for 2004, 2005, and 2006.

==See also==

==External Links==

This page uses content from Wikipedia; see [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mazda_RX-8 Mazda RX-8], which includes these [http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Mazda_RX-8&action=history contributors].

[[Category:Current Models]]
[[Category:Mazda vehicles|RX-8]]
[[Category:Sports cars]]
[[Category:Rear wheel drive vehicles]]

Wikicars - User contributions [en]

Mazda RX-8