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By
ALISTAIR KENNEDY
7 July 2008
Mazda has released an updated version of its rotary-powered RX-8
sports car with attractive new styling, optional body kit and some
engine refinements.
In
an era when sameness is the norm in motor vehicle design the RX-8
is a breath of fresh air. Both on the outside and inside the
little Mazda hardtop is delightfully different.
Show
any youngster a photo of the new RX-8 and their reaction will
almost certainly be “It’s Lightning McQueen!” And with its
wide-mouthed grille and prominent front guards there’s no
disputing its likeness to the star of the recent movie ‘Cars’.
My six-year old grandson is already pestering me to get a test car
as soon as possible and drive him to school in it.
Another
major difference between the RX-8 and its rivals is that it has
four doors. This isn’t obvious at first glance because the rear
doors are only half the width of normal doors and don’t have
external handles. They are hinged at the rear and have their
release levers on the inside, meaning that the rear doors can only
be opened when the front doors are also open. This style of door
has traditionally gone by the name of ‘suicide door’, a name
which is not only unflattering but also inaccurate, certainly in
their modern design.
There’s
still not a great deal of space in the back of the RX-8 but at
least it’s much easier to get passengers and/or luggage into and
out of it than in the typical two-door coupe. Add a surprisingly
spacious boot, in particular in its depth, and the little Mazda
sports car makes a practical runabout.
But
the biggest difference between the RX-8 and its competitors lies
under the bonnet. As with all the Mazda RX models over the years
it’s powered by a rotary engine, the latest version of which is
the 1.3-litre Renesis. A compact, lightweight, high-revving unit
it generates 170 kilowatts at 8200 rpm and 211 Nm of torque at
5500 rpm. Although these figures only vary marginally from the
original RX-8 there have been a number of modifications aimed at
improving low to mid-range performance.
While
it still doesn’t have a huge amount of torque the Renesis is an
improvement on previous Mazda rotaries and has been further
improved here. To get the best from the little rotary you do need
to work the gears, but isn’t that half the fun of driving a
sports car?
The
engine is located behind the front wheels, the mid-engined layout
providing excellent dynamic balance. Combine this with excellent
steering and chassis feel, adhesive road grip and you have a car
that’s a delight for the driving enthusiast on their favourite
stretch of road.
Fuel
consumption, rated at 12.9 litres per 100 kilometres, is high for
a vehicle of this type but, again, this isn’t really an issue
for the typical sports car buyer.
Three
variants are offered: RX-8, RX-8 Luxury and RX-8 GT. All three
share the same engine and six-speed manual gearbox with the Luxury
getting the option of six-speed automatic transmission.
Standard
features in all models include ABS brakes with electronic
brakeforce distribution, front, side and curtain airbags,
stability and traction control, climate control air conditioning,
cruise control, six-disc MP3-compatible stereo and leather wrapped
steeering wheel and gear lever.
The
RX-8 Luxury adds leather seat trim, premium sound system, powered
driver’s seat and sun roof. The performance GT model comes with
19-inch alloy wheels (the other models have 18-inch alloys),
firmer suspension and a body kit featuring side skirts, rear
spoiler and lower front bumper with integrated foglamps.
The
entry level RX-8 sells for $49,720, the Luxury for $55,520 ($1645
more for automatic transmission) and the RX-8 GT is priced at
$57,625. Excellent prices for driving enjoyment with a difference.
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Marque Publishing Company
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