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2008 Mazda RX-8
2008 Mazda RX-8
Rotary Club
The Mazda RX-8 is a practical sports car with a unique engine and looks to match.
Performance is often synonymous with a pricey and punishing ride. But the Mazda RX-8 defies convention.
This rear-wheel-drive, rotary-engine-powered car proves that enthusiasts can enjoy admirable performance at a relatively affordable price. What’s more, they don’t have to suffer through a brutally rough ride in unreasonably cramped quarters.
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A 232-horsepower 1.3-liter Renesis rotary engine is mated to a standard six-speed manual transmission. Those who choose the six-speed “Sport AT” automatic gearbox, which is offered as a no-cost option, will get a slightly less powerful 212-hp version of the rotary engine. Models equipped with the manual transmission have some upgrades that are optional on those outfitted with the automatic: a tauter suspension, upgraded brakes, larger wheels (18 inches in diameter, versus 16 inches) and a limited-slip differential to give the wheels more grip in turns. A Sport Package adds these items, in addition to fog lights and Xenon headlamps, on RX-8 Sport AT models.Fuel economy is poor for a vehicle of this size with an engine of such small displacement (1.3 liters). Exhaust emissions are also high.
The Mazda RX-8's rear-hinged half-doors permit easy access to the two backseats but preserve the look of the curvaceous coupe. The car’s interior is surprisingly roomy and comfortable — a welcome relief for those who have suffered from claustrophobia and stiff limbs while sitting in cramped sport-coupe cabins. The trunk is rather small and shrinks even more with the optional spare-tire kit. The Mazda RX-8 comes well-equipped and includes antilock brakes with electronic brake-force distribution for sure stopping abilities and a limited-slip rear axle to help maintain traction on slick surfaces. It has front and side-impact airbags as well as head-protecting side-curtain airbags.Most options are offered only as part of a package, including Xenon headlamps, a keyless entry/start system, fog lamps and stability control. The latter is an effective safety feature: It senses skidding and helps prevent a loss of control by applying the brakes and adjusting engine torque as needed.
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Mazda's Rotary Engine
Like the three generations of RX-7 before it, the Mazda RX-8 has a rotary engine. It’s the foundation of this sports car’s unique driving experience.
It dispenses with traditional pistons and cylindrical combustion chambers found in conventional motors. Instead, two triangular rotors are mounted around the crank shaft with combustion chambers encompassing the surrounding space.
Because their rotors move in a constant circular motion — instead of back and forth like pistons and valves — rotary engines have far less engine vibration than conventional motors, eliminating the need for counterweights, balance shafts, and other systems that minimize vibration but may impair performance. The result is instantaneous throttle response from a free-revving powerplant accompanied by a unique sound — a cross between a car and motorcycle engine.
The rotary engine is also lighter and smaller than conventional combustion engines, helping with weight distribution and enabling the RX-8’s unique and efficient four-door packaging.
But rotary engines do have trade-offs. Although they produce a lot of power for their size, they lack the low-end grunt of a V6 or V8 that’s so useful in accelerating from a standstill. And they’re not particularly fuel efficient or clean burning.
You want a sport coupe that offers the rare combination of style, performance, and comfort, with a useable rear seat; you don’t care about fuel economy.
A hotter coupe that delivers added power, luxury, or exclusivity is on your automotive agenda; fuel economy is a concern; poor reliability on past models scares you.
The front seats are fairly roomy and comfortable; the backseat is useable but cramped; the rear-hinged back doors, while small, allow much easier access than with a conventional two-door coupe.
While not specifically a replacement for the long-departed RX-7 sport coupe when it debuted in 2004, the rotary-engine-powered RX-8 filled that vehicle’s niche in Mazda’s lineup. But it did so in a much different way than its predecessor. Though the last-generation RX-7 offered blazing speed and racetrack-ready handling, it also came at a steep price with a cramped interior and a ride that could be brutally rough at times. The RX-8, on the other hand, proved that enthusiasts could enjoy admirable performance at a more affordable price and not be punished for it in the process.
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