Sports Car Blog

Back in 2003, when Mazda introduced the RX8 sports car, everyone thought it was a successor to the RX7. It was but didn’t have a turbo engine or the same performance as a 7. The new revamp of the Mazdao RX8 has more power, lowering gearing to address the torque deficit and a decent six-speed automatic option with sequential shift replacing the awful four-speeder.

Mazda has increased the model range to include a base model at the price of $32,000, the Luxury and the GT. It is the only mass produced rotary-engine car available. Perhaps the most impressive thing about the new model is the adoption of Mazda MX5’s six-speed transmissions.

Mazda added a new dimension to the car, offering slick shifts and improved overall performance. The Renesis twin rotary engine propels the 1474kg car from 0-100km/h in a claimed 6.4 seconds. But it’s a thirsty beast, consuming a claimed 12.9 litres/100KM of high-octane unleaded on the combined cycle. Drive the RX8 hard and this increases alarmingly.

Safety is well looked after with the stability control, six airbags and equipment to avoid a collision and protect occupants. Wheel sizes vary according to the model, with the high-spec GT scoring a set of gorgeous 19-inch items. The spare is a space saver. The sound of the engine is startling and stirring as it wails away. It is fantastic and comfortable to drive especially on a tight, winding road. It is aspiring from behind the wheel to experience such deft handling, manners ad driver feedback.

It makes mug drivers look good and is inherently safe because you can avoid a potential collision by using the handling attributes. So far Mazda has sold 170,000 RX-8s worldwide and Mazda’s plan is to keep true to the original formula and not mess around too much, instead putting more emphasis on performance and styling.