2008 Mazda RX-8

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2008 Mazda Miata Overview

It's been 40 years since Mazda released its first rotary-engine production model, a twin-rotor coupe called Cosmo Sport in mid-1967. By the early 1970s, the rotary seemed poised to conquer the automotive world. That never happened for a long list of reasons, but the lightweight rotary engine found a purpose powering a delightful series of light, nimble, high-revving Mazda sports-touring cars. Over the past four decades, Mazda has manufactured more than 1.9 million rotary-engine vehicles. And we're glad it did. The latest model in this series, the ingeniously engineered Mazda RX-8, drives like a sports car, with a high-revving engine and perfect 50-50 weight distribution for balanced handling.

2008 Trims and Design Mazda RX-8

  For 2008, the Mazda RX-8 comes in three trim levels, plus the Anniversary model. All are powered by a 1.3-liter twin-rotor rotary engine.

The base-level RX-8 Sport comes with a choice of six-speed manual or six-speed paddle-shift automatic transmission, both for the same price. Standard equipment includes cloth upholstery; air conditioning; AM/FM/CD stereo with six speakers and steering-wheel mounted controls; cruise control; power windows, mirrors and locks; leather-wrapped steering wheel and shift knob; floor and overhead consoles; rear window defogger; variable-speed intermittent windshield wipers; and an alarm with immobilizer. Automatics roll on 225/55R16 radials on 16-inch alloy rims; manual-shift models get 225/45R18 high-performance tires on 18-inch rims. Manual-shift Sport models also come with a stiffer suspension, bigger brakes, and a limited-slip torque-sensing differential.

The RX-8 Touring also comes with manual or automatic transmission, and adds Dynamic Stability Control (DSC) with traction control; high-intensity discharge headlamps; fog lamps; power sliding glass sunroof; auto-dimming inside rearview mirror with Homelink; and a 300-watt Bose nine-speaker sound system with AudioPilot noise compensation and an in-dash, six-CD changer. Additionally, automatic Tourings upgrade to the manual model's sport suspension; limited-slip differential; and larger brakes, wheels, and tires.

Grand Touring adds leather seating with matching synthetic leather door panels, heated front seats, eight-way power for the driver's seat, heated outside mirrors, and Mazda's advanced keyless entry and start system. As with the Touring level, the Grand Touring automatic benefits from the same chassis upgrades as the manual version.

The 40th Anniversary model, with manual or automatic transmission, will come fully equipped and enhanced with special Metropolitan Gray paint, Cosmo Red leather interior, unique 18-inch alloy wheels, further suspension upgrades, fog lamps, silver engine cover, and special badging. Anniversary models will be available early in calendar-year 2008.

A Performance Package for manual-transmission Sport models adds Dynamic Stability Control (DSC), HID headlamps, and fog lamps. A similar package for automatic Sports adds those items plus the manual model's handling equipment and brakes. A navigation system is offered for Grand Touring only. Optional on all models is Crystal White Pearl paint.

2008 Miata Interior Style

 The Mazda RX-8 cabin is comfortable and surprisingly roomy. The seats are great, a nice fit with good bolstering. Even large adults find the rear bucket seats in the RX-8 comfortable, with plenty of elbow room thanks to the transmission tunnel/console that separates them. Getting into and out of the rear seat is easy. Due to the high front seatbacks, rear-seat passengers can't see much out front without leaning inboard, but they can see out the side windows. The rear side windows don't roll down, but just push outward, so the back seats may not be the best place to spend long periods of time on a hot summer day.

Miata Handling and Driving Style

The Mazda RX-8 handles like a true sports car, with great balance and precise turn-in. Yet the suspension is soft enough for daily comfortable use and not as stiff as that of the Nissan 350Z, which corners like a race car but pays the price with a stiffer ride.

Greatly benefiting the RX-8's handling is its perfect balance, with 50 percent of its weight on the front wheels and 50 percent on the rear. While some conventional, reciprocating-piston sports cars have also achieved this balance, it has usually been at the expense of interior space. The compact size of the rotary engine makes it possible in a four-seater.

  The Mazda RX-8 is a unique sports car. Its four-seat, four-door configuration is an original design that works. The rotary engine is super smooth, simple, high-revving and almost indestructible. It's complemented by a beautiful six-speed gearbox and great brakes. "No other sporting car on the planet sounds and feels anything like any Mazda Wankel-powered vehicle. Mazda's continuous and relentless development has kept the Wankel smog-legal and relevant for 40 years, and there's no foreseeable end in sight." says Motor Trend The RX-8 is a great sports car with an innovative approach and admirable engineering.