First Impression: Mazda RX-8

Mazda has been using Wankel engines since 1965 when the Mazda Cosmo prototype was revealed. The Wankel engine is a rotary combustion engine. Mazda Wankel engines are known for being small and powerful, but they are not fuel efficient. In 2003, Mazda put a Wankel engine in the RX-8. Production for the RX-8 started in 2003 and will end production at the end of 2011. The Mazda RX-8 is front-engine, rear-wheel drive four-door quad coupe.

I have seen the Mazda RX-8 on the roads of Houston. I like the styling. The rear doors are short and can open only when the front doors are open. The is no pillar between the front and rear door. This design helps give the RX-8 its sleek design. The other coupe I remember with this door configuration is the Saturn Ion, and the RX-8 looks much better than the Ion. 

The Mazda RX-8 is powered by a 1.3L Wankel rotary engine, paired with either a six-speed manual or a six-speed automatic transmission. The engine paired with the manual transmission produces 232 hp and then engine paired with the automatic transmission produces 212 hp. Both engines produce 159 lb-ft of torque. The RX-8 goes from 0 to 60 mph in 6.4 seconds and reaches a top speed of 145 mph. Prices for the RX-8 Sport start at $26,795. The RX-8 Grand Touring starts at $ 32,260. The RX-8 R3 starts at $32,290. That is a great price for a good performing sports car. There is nothing like it on the road.

The Mazda RX-8 has been featured in Car and Driver Television, The Fast and the Furious: Tokyo Drift, X-Men 2, Motorweek, Fifth Gear, and Clarkson: Shoot Out. Top Gear's Jeremy Clarkson reviewed the RX-8 during Series 3, Episode 5.During Series 9, Episode 2, Richard Hammond drove the RX-8 when the boys were comparing three coupes. The Mazda RX-8 is playable in Need For Speed Series, Project Torque, Sega GT Online, Juiced, Juiced 2: Hot Import Nights, Burnout Revenge, Forza Motorsport Series, The Fast and the Furious: Tokyo Drift, Road Burner, and many other racing games.

Final Thoughts: The Mazda RX-8 is affordable, stylish, quick, and unique. There has only been one car with a rotary engine and is a four-door coupe and it is the RX-8. For less than $35,000 you can get a car that gets good acceleration, stylish, and there is no other car like it. Mazda will be ending the production run for the RX-8 with no successor in sight. For the next few years, Mazda will not have a rotary engine road car. Mazda has working on developing a new rotary engine, the 16X, but development has been on hold due to engineering and budgetary reasons.

CarJunkie

Photo taken from a digital camera.

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