2011 Mazda RX-8 Review

Launched in 2003, the Mazda RX-8 hit the global market in a big bang. RX-8 has won more than 50 awards worldwide since its release including 2003 RJC Car of the year in Wheels magazine's Car of the Year Japan Australia 2003, 2003 International Engine of the Year 2004 Singapore Car of the Year in 2004 U.S. Best Sports Car and UK Car of the Year 2004. It 'was also named Car and Driver magazine top ten list for 2004, 2005 and 2006. Overall, Mazda has sold nearly 167 000 RX-8 around the world.

For 2009, Mazda will promote the development of four-door four-seater sports coupe, giving the Mazda RX-8 a refreshed exterior and interior design, enhanced performance and a new sport package for R3 ultimate driving enthusiasts.

Unchanged is the core of the Mazda RX-8 - a machine of high power, lightweight and perfectly balanced engine powered by the world-renowned twin-rotor rotary RENESIS.

"Dating back to the Cosmo Sport released in 1967, every sports car ever developed by Mazda has had the same fundamental mission - to provide car lovers with a vehicle that is fun-todrive, exciting to watch and easy to own," said Tetsu Nakazawa, Mazda North American Operations "line manager Mazda RX-8 vehicle." The new Mazda RX-8 embodies that mission, to deliver a unique and distinctive Mazda brand DNA to the fullest. "

To improve the success of the Mazda RX-8, Mazda engineers focused on innovation in three key areas of the new Mazda RX-8 style, performance and packaging. "Improvements to the Mazda RX-8's exterior, interior, packaging and performance you need for a new level of visual and driving excitement," Nakazawa said.

The innovative design - design elements refreshed to provide "high quality" EFFICIENCY

Mazda RX-8 is designed with an athletically sculpted exterior that provides a sense of originality that is unique on the market today. The new Mazda RX-8 receives design enhancements that are intended to refresh the style and give the Mazda RX-8 a new look, without compromising the basic design theme. Improvements for the new Mazda RX-8 include restyled front and rear bumpers and front fascia, sporty, before high quality finish and rear lights and larger exhaust pipes (now measuring 90 mm in diameter) . The new Mazda RX-8 also offers a new design five-spoke wheel with a symbolic and sporty design reminiscent of the rotary engine, with different arrangements for each wheel size.

Taut muscular lines give RX-8 the liberating look of an athlete in motion. The style remains the classic sports car proportions while adding muscle a Zoom-Zoom edge that is unmistakably Mazda.

RX-8 is unique "freestyle" four-door design is proof that a true sports car does not need to sacrifice space or convenience for performance. The advanced design of the hinged rear doors provides a large door, so adult-sized passengers easily enter and exit the vehicle. This design is also an advantage in ensuring a baby or toddler in the back. With a spacious rear seat area providing sufficient room for four adults passenger full size and trunk space enough for a weekend worth of luggage, this sports car proves its versatility.

The Mazda RX-8 exterior styling presents a genuine form of sports cars, while the interior has a comfortable cabin and intelligently designed. Small improvements have been made for the new Mazda RX-8 to provide a simple and functional interior design that supports driving pleasure. The form of intellectual property of the center has been redesigned to give a feeling of dynamic movement, a variable red-zone was added to the tachometer that will rise as the engine reaches operating temperature and a new steering wheel and redesigned seats front and rear are also added.

A tiny cabin floor allows the seats to be mounted low in the beginning, which, together with a low instrument cluster and hood, allows a low center of gravity and allows excellent visibility of the passenger. Mazda designers concentrated on the shape of the front seats and rear seat cushions to ensure adequate rear-seat knee room. Front seat slide-rails are positioned like a lot of legroom for rear seat passengers.

Rotary design element is incorporated through the interior of the Mazda RX-8, creatively, appearing in some places. The stylish cabin also provoke a sense of luxury and high-end quality. Mazda's design team examined every aspect and part of the interior and has created an elegant, driver-centric atmosphere. Using advanced ergonomic research, Mazda engineers determined that poor posture is a major cause of driver fatigue and built in optimum support for the front seats to help offset discomfort. In addition to the color of the Mazda RX-8's instrument cluster was developed to reduce eye strain and tension.

Innovation performance - MORE 'Sports Car driving pleasure

Grace-and-through, Mazda RX-8 is a true sports car that gives the driver an exciting and dynamic. For the new Mazda RX-8, engineers improved body rigidity through the addition of structural reinforcements, by adding a trapezoidal strut tower bar tower and improving the local rigidity of the front suspension tower areas. In addition, the rear suspension geometry has been reconfigured for better handling performance and driveshaft rigidity is improved, lowering NVH levels and improving performance.

In addition, differential ratio manual transmission equipped cars are calculated to improve the 4444-4777 off-the-line performance. Although small, these performance changes give RX-8 acceleration and performance, as well as to better respond to the accelerator pedal - always a rotary engine and Mazda RX-8 mark.

To achieve this sophisticated dynamic, Mazda utilizes the advanced RENESIS (Rotary Engine Genesis - or rebirth of the rotary engine) engine. Mazda RX-8 is the only mass produced rotary engine cars in the world. While presenting an exceptionally high power output for a naturally aspirated engine, RENESIS than comparable reciprocating engines in terms of acceleration, the feeling of power in reserve and quick response.

New Mazda RX-8 is available with either a 232-hp model with manual transmission or 212-horsepower sixspeed model with a six-speed Sport / T automatic transmission steering wheel-mounted levers for Formula 1-style driving experience.

Turn the triangular rotor cocoon-shaped combustion chamber, the Mazda RX-8's rotary engine efficiently conduct the trial in four intake, compression, combustion and exhaust. RENESIS engine is very smooth and high speed - at 9000 rpm (7500 rpm Sport / T-equipped models) - and offers a smaller engine footprint than traditional internal combustion engines (some 60 percent smaller and lighter a comparable V-6 powered, and 40 percent smaller and lighter than the four cylinders). In fact, packaging and style that define the Mazda RX-8 would not have been possible if the Mazda engineers chosen a conventional piston engine.

Improvement of 40 years of rotary designs, features RENESIS intake and exhaust side with the inlet port nearly 30 percent more exhaust port and two times more than its predecessors. The savings from shortening intake / exhaust overlapping period and using the large intake ports and exhaust ports in delivering world-class performance.

The Mazda RX-8 1.3-liter normally aspirated engine may seem diminutive to the untrained eye, compared to large displacement V-8 or V-10 V Heavy or 12 years. However, thanks to the incredible efficiency of a rotary engine, an intake system in three stages and advanced electronic throttle control, the RENESIS offers a smooth, linear power on a large scale.

Mazda RX-8 uses a double wishbone front suspension of aluminum, reducing unsprung weight on the use of steel components. By mounting the upper and lower arms on a highly rigid sub-frame, long arms ensure linear alignment changes throughout the bumpers and rebound of the front wheels. All corners are fitted with mono-tube gas-filled shock absorbers designed with large diameter pistons and valves internal, which offer excellent road feedback and a smooth ride.

An electric rack and pinion steering system sends just the right amount of information way back to the driver. Mazda engineers have chosen to pursue their own path by using an electric motor for steering assistance rather than a conventional power steering pump. The electric motor provides additional assistance at low speeds to ease parking and reduces steering assistance at higher speeds to provide greater road feel, responsiveness and feedback. And in line with the rest of the development of the Mazda RX-8, it is much easier and easier to package a conventional power steering rack.

INNOVATIONS PACKIGING - ultimate performance RX-8 R3

In response to the driving enthusiast-conscious, the new Mazda RX-8 R3 will offer a new sport package. Offering the best of the rotary engine car, the R3 back to the R1 and R2 packages offered on the mighty third-generation Mazda RX-7, and adds a sport suspension with Bilstein shock absorbers and front suspension cross filled with foam urethane. Fill the cross allows a smoother ride, minimized NVH and greater suspension control.

The visual appearance of the package, rear spoiler, side skirts, fog lights and sporty front bumper, which gives an aggressive, as well as 19-inch forged aluminum alloy wheels with performance tires. Within the R3 adds 300-watt Bose � audio system with Centerpoint � surround sound and audio-Pilot � noise compensation technology, Bluetooth hands-free, front Recaro sport seats in the leather cushions, leather-wrapped parking brake handle and Mazda Input and advanced keyless start system.

Three trim levels are offered, including: a plate sports a Touring (adds HID headlights, fog lights, auto-dimming mirrors with Homelink � and 6-disc auto changer on top of the Sport trim features and ASN adds 18-inch wheels, a limited slip differential, sport suspension and front disc brakes largest of these items for a car / T, and Bose � audio system, moonroof, SIRIUS satellite radio are offered as an optional package ) and an adjustment Grand Touring (at the top of the Touring features, adds automatic air conditioning, Bluetooth hands-free phone, Bose � audio headlights automatic wipers with rain sensor, driver seat with lumbar support and function poweradjustable memory, -. leather seats and heated front seats, heated outside mirrors and Mazda keyless entry and ignition advanced DVD based satellite navigation unit is available as a stand-alone option and uses a single DVD for mapping throughout the United States and parts of Canada.

In addition, the moon roof and Sirius Satellite Radio is another alternative available.)

All Mazda roadside assistance program to come. When the call is toll-free number, owners can access roadside assistance 24 hours a day, 365 days a year in the United States and Canada. In addition, a large three-year/36 0.000 miles warranty covers every aspect of the vehicle except for normal wear and tear. In addition, all models receive five years / mile powertrain warranty and 60 000 five-year/unlimited-mileage corrosion warranty.

Greater security

In designing the Mazda RX-8, safety was given as much priority as was performance. Mazda, the safety process includes both accident avoidance and accident protection. In practice, this approach to safety means the RX-8 can help the driver avoid various dangers and protect occupants in the unfortunate event of a collision. In a test conducted by the National Highway rollover Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), the Mazda RX-8 achieved an impressive five stars.

Mazda engineers integrated numerous active and passive safety elements throughout the car. Active safety features that require the driver input, such as using large disk brakes on all wheels and ABSequipped precise steering and suspension. Dynamic Stability Control (available on Sport models, the benefits package, standard on Touring and Grand Touring) offers high-quality treatment that can be turned off while driving and the road to allow safe use.

Passive systems, or those that take effect automatically, without operator intervention, are also present throughout the RX-8. Despite the lack of a center B-pillar, Mazda RX-8 body exceptionally rigid, accomplished using the vertical pillars built into the rear doors and a series of locking bolts that hold the doors each door and connect directly into the roof and floor. Integrating the frame components helps disperse crash energy through the vehicle structure.

Other standard passive systems on the Mazda RX-8 include front airbags, seat mounted side airbags and side curtain airbags. In addition, the front engine compartment and have ample crumple zones, the front seats designed to reduce whiplash injuries, the brake pedal is designed to exit in the event of a collision of sufficient force to protect feet and legs and all four seats are equipped with three-point seat belts. Even pedestrian protection was considered as the RX-8 is equipped with Mazda's "shock-cone" hood design that offers more to the consequences of a pedestrian onto the hood of a standard model, but it is strong enough to do not deform in normal use.