Special Feature | Mazda RX-8

MAZDA RX-8 OPENS DOORS TO NEXT BIG THING IN SPORTS CARS

DETROIT, January 9 - Mazda Motor Corporation took a giant step toward bringing to market a revolutionary high-performance, four-door sports car today with the unveiling of the Mazda RX-8 design and engineering model at the North American International Auto Show.

Based on Mazda's RX-EVOLV concept car introduced at the October 1999 Tokyo Motor Show, RX-8 is much closer to an actual production sports car than its predecessor.

"With its four-door freestyle door system, four-passenger comfort and 250-horsepower RENESIS rotary engine, Mazda RX-8 is the next big thing in sports cars," said Mazda President Mark Fields. "I wouldn't be surprised if you see this car - or something very close -- on some of the world's most scenic, most fun-to-drive highways in the not-so-distant future."

Highlights of the car include:

• Mazda's powerful, lightweight and compact RENESIS rotary engine
• Central mid-ship engine layout and 50:50 front/rear weight distribution that dramatically enhance control and handling
• Freestyle door system, with front-hinged and rear-hinged doors and no center pillar, that makes getting into and out of the rear seats faster and easier
• Comfortable seating for four adults
• A unique interior design that mixes the traditional with new contemporary material that appears to "wrap around" the passengers
Overall the RX-8 has a compact-looking body, while providing enough interior room to seat four adults comfortably. The use of a compact rotary engine allows for the low hood, short overhangs, and overall sports car look while providing interior room on par with a sports sedan.

An integral part of Mazda's revolutionary engineering heritage is its 40 years of experience with the rotary engine. Mazda is the only automobile manufacturer in the world that offers a pure rotational internal combustion engine. The RENESIS rotary engine represents the potential that Mazda believes lies within this unique powerplant.

"It all starts with the rotary engine," said Phil Martens, managing director in charge of Product Strategy, Design and Product and Powertrain Development. "RENESIS is naturally aspirated, and it is 30% lighter and more compact than the turbocharged rotary engine (13B-REW) in the current RX-7. The engine's weight, size, low center of gravity, and positioning in the vehicle give the car excellent maneuverability and high-end performance.

"With its side intake and exhaust ports, the RENESIS rotary engine also enhances fuel economy and reduces emissions," he added.

The central mid-ship powertrain layout positions the engine behind the front axle, even closer to the center of the car than with Mazda's typical front mid-ship rotary engine layout.

The engine will have power levels up to 280 horsepower at 9,000 RPM, Martens said, and will meet Stage IV emissions in Europe at launch.

RX-8 structure suppresses bending and twisting of the body and enhances performance by inhibiting vibration and minimizing noise to provide a supremely quiet driving environment.

The RX-8 design and engineering model is the 8th car in Mazda's RX sports car series, following Mazda's RX-7.

Mazda is known worldwide for its heritage of building innovative affordable cars like the MX-5 Miata roadster and the first generation RX-7 sports car that provide a feeling of oneness between car and driver

Article & Pictures Supplied by: Sally @ MAZDA Australia.




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