Mazda Releases 'Rotary Engine 40th Anniversary' Edition RX-8 in Japan
- Thread starter Antoine
- Start date
Mazda RX8 Special Edition
Frankfurt 2007: Mazda RX-8 Special Edition
Mazda is celebrating 40 years of putting engines inspired by pony kegs in their cars by rolling out a special version of the RX-8 2+2. Mazda's official hyperbole about the RX-8 brags that the car changed customer expectations of what an affordable sports car should be when they launched the four-place coupe in 2003. It sure did; we've now come to expect less than the stated power output from the Renesis Wankel, which also swills oil like a... well, like a Wankel. Now that we've ensured that every single Rotary fan on Autoblog will lambaste us, let's go on to say that we really do like them. Any engine you can mercilessly spin out to 10,000 RPM without aerating the block has significant entertainment value. The fact that there's about three major moving parts is cool, too.
The Special Edition RX-8 has two new colors for its sinewy sheetmetal, Metropolitan Grey and Crystal White Pearl. There's also new ten-spoke wheels, blue tinged foglamps, and the obligatory emblems to dress up the exterior. Open the clamshell doors and the Special Edition greets you with a specially outfitted interior, full of Alcantara, contrast stitching, leather, and silver bits. It's not all just prettying up, either. The suspension crossmembers get shot full of foam for quieter operation, and there are new springs that are held in check by Bilstein dampers. So, while there's been no massive power upgrade to the RX-8, the Special Edition is more than just a glamorization of an affordable, entertaining coupe.
Press release after the jump.
Gallery: Mazda RX-8 Special Edition
PRESS RELEASE
Mazda RX-8 Special Version
Celebrating Mazda's Rotary Tradition
Two special body colours, wheel design and 40th anniversary emblem
Special seat/trim materials, leather stitching and silver shift knob
Foam-filled cross member and sports suspension with Bilstein dampers
As it did with the MX-5 roadster in 1989, Mazda changed customer expectations of what an affordable sports car should be when it launched the Mazda RX-8 in 2003. It redefined the Mazda sports car with a strong and sporty Zoom-Zoom design that visually shows its performance potential. It created a new class of four-seater sports cars by resurrecting the centre-opening door system a feature that is just as fresh and innovative today as it was four years ago. And under the bonnet was the naturally- aspirated RENESIS rotary engine. This engine won the International Engine of the Year award in 2003 along with three other category awards in both 2003 and 2004.
Since Mazda RX-8 came to market, Mazda has dominated sales in the European non-premium sports car segment with a share consistently around 18 percent (combined RX-8 and Mazda MX-5 sales).
The Special Edition RX-8
Based on a special version concept presented at the Goodwood Festival of Speed and following the celebration of the 40th anniversary of the rotary engine, Mazda Motor Corporation is issuing a Special Edition RX-8 (depending on market) that adds components to the chassis and body shell, and exterior and interior features , all of which raise the bar on affordable sports cars once again.
Exterior Special Body Features for Sporty Sophistication
The normal Mazda RX-8 combines classical sports car aesthetics described by its original designers as "athletic tension" that visually communicates performance potential. It is dynamic and sporty with short overhangs, striking fenders and bumpers, and a unique bonnet line. For the Special Edition RX-8, these exterior features are enhanced to celebrate Mazda's rotary engine history with two specially designed exterior colours a newly-developed Metropolitan Grey that gives the RX-8's sporty form a strong touch of sophistication; and Crystal White Pearl that will set it apart on European roads. Enhancing the Special Edition's look of sporty sophistication is also a new ten-spoke, bright- grey wheel design, new blue-light fog lamps and a 40th anniversary emblem at the back of both front fenders .
Interior Special Seat/Trim Materials and Cockpit Enhancements
The Mazda RX-8 is known for having a stylish and premium interior ambience that is both sporty and modern. It has four sport seats with superior long-trip comfort and good side support for sporty driving, and headrests in the form of a triangular rotary. In front of the driver is a leather-covered steering wheel and parking brake lever, a triangular rotary- shape shift knob and a tachometer scaled to 10,000 rpm to reflect the high-revving characteristics of it RENESIS rotary engine. For the Special Edition RX-8, the interior has several enhancements that celebrate the car's premium look and feel. These include seat materials developed for the Special Edition RX-8 with light grey Alcantara * in the centre and black leather at the sides , combined with special trim materials in matching colours. For an extra touch of quality, the steering wheel is black leather to match the sides of the seats with light stitching to match the colours of the seat middle. And the shift lever is covered in the same black leather with light stitching and features a silver shift knob centre .
Special Foam-Filled Front Suspension Cross Members and Bilstein Sports Suspension
The Mazda RX-8 is one of the best handling cars in its class. It features a front-midship engine layout and rear-wheel drive, which results in a perfect 50/50 weight distribution over the front and rear axles. It also delivers outstanding torsional rigidity with a unique transmission tunnel structure where the upper side of the tunnel is a rigid, closed-section high-mount backbone frame that is joined to the mainframe front and back. For the Special Edition RX-8 which comes standard with the High Powered RENESIS engine producing 170 kW/231 PS at 8,200 rpm , maximum torque of 211 Nm at 5,500 rpm, 18-inch aluminium wheels, and the short shifting six-speed manual transmission front suspension cross members are now filled with polyurethane foam for even more quiet operation and sharper handling than the original. And further enhancing the RX-8's acclaimed handling characteristics is a sports front suspension with special springs and Bilstein dampers all around only available for the Special Edition that provides even more sporty driving fun.
Frankfurt 2007: Mazda RX-8 Special Edition
Mazda is celebrating 40 years of putting engines inspired by pony kegs in their cars by rolling out a special version of the RX-8 2+2. Mazda's official hyperbole about the RX-8 brags that the car changed customer expectations of what an affordable sports car should be when they launched the four-place coupe in 2003. It sure did; we've now come to expect less than the stated power output from the Renesis Wankel, which also swills oil like a... well, like a Wankel. Now that we've ensured that every single Rotary fan on Autoblog will lambaste us, let's go on to say that we really do like them. Any engine you can mercilessly spin out to 10,000 RPM without aerating the block has significant entertainment value. The fact that there's about three major moving parts is cool, too.
The Special Edition RX-8 has two new colors for its sinewy sheetmetal, Metropolitan Grey and Crystal White Pearl. There's also new ten-spoke wheels, blue tinged foglamps, and the obligatory emblems to dress up the exterior. Open the clamshell doors and the Special Edition greets you with a specially outfitted interior, full of Alcantara, contrast stitching, leather, and silver bits. It's not all just prettying up, either. The suspension crossmembers get shot full of foam for quieter operation, and there are new springs that are held in check by Bilstein dampers. So, while there's been no massive power upgrade to the RX-8, the Special Edition is more than just a glamorization of an affordable, entertaining coupe.
Press release after the jump.
Gallery: Mazda RX-8 Special Edition
PRESS RELEASE
Mazda RX-8 Special Version
Celebrating Mazda's Rotary Tradition
Two special body colours, wheel design and 40th anniversary emblem
Special seat/trim materials, leather stitching and silver shift knob
Foam-filled cross member and sports suspension with Bilstein dampers
As it did with the MX-5 roadster in 1989, Mazda changed customer expectations of what an affordable sports car should be when it launched the Mazda RX-8 in 2003. It redefined the Mazda sports car with a strong and sporty Zoom-Zoom design that visually shows its performance potential. It created a new class of four-seater sports cars by resurrecting the centre-opening door system a feature that is just as fresh and innovative today as it was four years ago. And under the bonnet was the naturally- aspirated RENESIS rotary engine. This engine won the International Engine of the Year award in 2003 along with three other category awards in both 2003 and 2004.
Since Mazda RX-8 came to market, Mazda has dominated sales in the European non-premium sports car segment with a share consistently around 18 percent (combined RX-8 and Mazda MX-5 sales).
The Special Edition RX-8
Based on a special version concept presented at the Goodwood Festival of Speed and following the celebration of the 40th anniversary of the rotary engine, Mazda Motor Corporation is issuing a Special Edition RX-8 (depending on market) that adds components to the chassis and body shell, and exterior and interior features , all of which raise the bar on affordable sports cars once again.
Exterior Special Body Features for Sporty Sophistication
The normal Mazda RX-8 combines classical sports car aesthetics described by its original designers as "athletic tension" that visually communicates performance potential. It is dynamic and sporty with short overhangs, striking fenders and bumpers, and a unique bonnet line. For the Special Edition RX-8, these exterior features are enhanced to celebrate Mazda's rotary engine history with two specially designed exterior colours a newly-developed Metropolitan Grey that gives the RX-8's sporty form a strong touch of sophistication; and Crystal White Pearl that will set it apart on European roads. Enhancing the Special Edition's look of sporty sophistication is also a new ten-spoke, bright- grey wheel design, new blue-light fog lamps and a 40th anniversary emblem at the back of both front fenders .
Interior Special Seat/Trim Materials and Cockpit Enhancements
The Mazda RX-8 is known for having a stylish and premium interior ambience that is both sporty and modern. It has four sport seats with superior long-trip comfort and good side support for sporty driving, and headrests in the form of a triangular rotary. In front of the driver is a leather-covered steering wheel and parking brake lever, a triangular rotary- shape shift knob and a tachometer scaled to 10,000 rpm to reflect the high-revving characteristics of it RENESIS rotary engine. For the Special Edition RX-8, the interior has several enhancements that celebrate the car's premium look and feel. These include seat materials developed for the Special Edition RX-8 with light grey Alcantara * in the centre and black leather at the sides , combined with special trim materials in matching colours. For an extra touch of quality, the steering wheel is black leather to match the sides of the seats with light stitching to match the colours of the seat middle. And the shift lever is covered in the same black leather with light stitching and features a silver shift knob centre .
Special Foam-Filled Front Suspension Cross Members and Bilstein Sports Suspension
The Mazda RX-8 is one of the best handling cars in its class. It features a front-midship engine layout and rear-wheel drive, which results in a perfect 50/50 weight distribution over the front and rear axles. It also delivers outstanding torsional rigidity with a unique transmission tunnel structure where the upper side of the tunnel is a rigid, closed-section high-mount backbone frame that is joined to the mainframe front and back. For the Special Edition RX-8 which comes standard with the High Powered RENESIS engine producing 170 kW/231 PS at 8,200 rpm , maximum torque of 211 Nm at 5,500 rpm, 18-inch aluminium wheels, and the short shifting six-speed manual transmission front suspension cross members are now filled with polyurethane foam for even more quiet operation and sharper handling than the original. And further enhancing the RX-8's acclaimed handling characteristics is a sports front suspension with special springs and Bilstein dampers all around only available for the Special Edition that provides even more sporty driving fun.
Boosted03MSP
Member
- :
- 2003 Mazdaspeed Protege Black Mica #928
No turbo....why waste the money? Go buy an EVO or WRX for the near ballpark range. Or even an MS3 or a FD RX7 in great shape for the same cost. And altezzas....yuck . The RX is disappointing at best....(butt)
Dragon Queen
Member
- :
- 2006 Mazdaspeed 6
If I were uber rich I'd get one as a collector's item
- :
- 2017 Shelby GT350
.....same. Also, throw on a nice & easy Greddy kit and get close to 300hp. Would be a nice all-around RX-8 with decent power....wouldnt be CARB legal though for you strict emissions states.
you could atleast choose some sporty, RWD cars to compare to. Turbo grocery getters are in an entirely separate class than the sexy RX.
Boosted03MSP
Member
- :
- 2003 Mazdaspeed Protege Black Mica #928
Sorry i didnt include RWD cars.
MSRP of an 08 RX8
MSRP: $31,665* from Mazdausa.com
I dunno lets go with a new G37 since we are discussing RWD sporty cars that are non turbo.
MSRP = $34,250* from Infiniti's site.
RX8 = waste of $. s*** i would get a 350Z( MSRP = 27,900* nissans site) or a Honda S2000 ( MSRP = 34,250* from honda.com). Those are all better performing cars and in the same ballpark range.
Plus you could pruchase older model RWD turbo cars, IE Toyota Supra, RX7, 300ZX TT, MR2 Turbo etc etc in good/great condition at 20,000 and up.
*** Im not picking on RX8 owners, just not something i personally would spend the money on for its underrated power and performance, for a 30K car. ****
That's why you buy a pre-owned model like many people do. I have only purchased a brand new car once in my life and most likely will never again unless it was something very special.
My car new with all the options MSRP $34K
Price I paid $17,500 and it's in perfect condition.
I thought about a G35, STi, GTO, etc. Price still to high for used and I'm personally not concerned about HP or a crazy torque machine.
Alas we are talking new car here, so yea....I agree it's a bit much.
My car new with all the options MSRP $34K
Price I paid $17,500 and it's in perfect condition.
I thought about a G35, STi, GTO, etc. Price still to high for used and I'm personally not concerned about HP or a crazy torque machine.
Alas we are talking new car here, so yea....I agree it's a bit much.
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Well this is hardly newsworthy. Unless it came with more power it's not worth s***. No benefit from balancing the rotating assembly unless the rpm was increased. At least 10thAE's when they came out had special tinted glass and badging all over. What is newsworthy is the 16C rotary engine rumored to come out
- :
- 2008 Mazda5 5MT Sport w/ Popular Package
Stopped by at my dealer today and saw one. For a split second got confused thinking it was an 09 (yeah, the wheels) but then I realized it was an 08. I do friggin' love RX-8s
2008 RX-8 40th Anniv. Edt.
$32,005
232-hp 1.3L Rotary Engine
6-Spd Manual
PACKAGES & OPTIONS
REAR WING SPOILER $360
SIRIUS SATELLITE RADIO $430
APPEARANCE PACKAGE $1,100
ROTARY ACCENT PACKAGE $159
Total MSRP:
$34,054*
http://www.mazdausa.com/MusaWeb/displayPage.action?pageParameter=rx8SE&vehicleCode=RX8
Same color:
Source:
http://reviews.carreview.com/blog/driving-impressions-mazda-rx-8-40th-anniversary-edition/
2008 RX-8 40th Anniv. Edt.
$32,005
232-hp 1.3L Rotary Engine
6-Spd Manual
PACKAGES & OPTIONS
REAR WING SPOILER $360
SIRIUS SATELLITE RADIO $430
APPEARANCE PACKAGE $1,100
ROTARY ACCENT PACKAGE $159
Total MSRP:
$34,054*
http://www.mazdausa.com/MusaWeb/displayPage.action?pageParameter=rx8SE&vehicleCode=RX8
Same color:
Source:
http://reviews.carreview.com/blog/driving-impressions-mazda-rx-8-40th-anniversary-edition/
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