RX-8 "SHINKA" Special Edition

mikeyb

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2005 CHICAGO AUTO SHOW: Mazda Shows RX-8 "SHINKA" Special Edition


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Limited Production RX-8 Combines Enhanced Luxury with Rotary Power

CHICAGO Coinciding with the opening of the 2005 Chicago Auto Show, Mazda today announced its RX-8 "SHINKA" Special Edition is now available at local Mazda dealers. The Mazda RX-8 "SHINKA" Special Edition takes its name from the Japanese word meaning "evolution" or "transformation," and adds design style and performance to the highly successful sportscar. Only 2,150 "SHINKA" Special Edition cars will be produced.

"Weve taken the RX-8 a car already lauded by customers and media alike to a new level of sophistication and exclusivity with the SHINKA Special Edition," said Weldon Munsey, RX-8 vehicle line manager for Mazda North American Operations (MNAO). "Improved ride and handling capabilities, along with interior and exterior refinements, make the SHINKA Special Edition the ultimate RX-8."

The Mazda RX-8 "SHINKA" will be available with either a six-speed manual or four-speed Sport A/T automatic transmission, featuring Formula One-style steering-wheel-mounted paddles for manual gear shifting. Manual transmission-equipped cars are fitted with a 238-horsepower engine that spins to a heady 9000 rpm, while Sport A/T-equipped cars are powered by a 198-horsepower engine tuned specifically to take advantage of the automatics gear ratios.

To further enhance driving performance and ride comfort, the RX-8 "SHINKA" features a uniquely tuned suspension system, upgraded from the standard car. The system offers a foam urethane filled front suspension cross member and specially tuned dampers, while achieving improved body rigidity through reinforcing the top-front portion of the A-pillars and improving the stability of the rear damper mounting points.

The distinctiveness of the RX-8 "SHINKA" extends to both the exterior and interior appointments of the vehicle. The car is offered only in a rich Black Cherry body color offset by a soft Parchment Tan leather interior. Among the exclusive exterior enhancements are semi-gloss bezels for the headlamps and rear combination lamps, as well as dark-silver gloss aluminum wheels. Also standard on the RX-8 "SHINKA" is a 300-watt Bose sound system with in-dash six-disc CD changer. While many Mazda vehicles are pre-wired for SIRIUS satellite radio, "SHINKA" models will be the first to be equipped as standard, as all cars will include a one-year subscription to SIRIUS

Mazda North America Operations is responsible for the sales and marketing, customer parts and services support of Mazda vehicles in the United States. Headquartered in Irvine, Calif., MNAO has more than 700 dealerships nationwide.

http://www.theautochannel.com/F/news/2005/02/09/027634.html

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http://www.worldcarfans.com/news.cfm/newsid/2050210.013
 
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saw one at the dealership yesterday .the color is really nice person..
 
besides the color it looks almost identical to mine, cept i got the factory aero package.

Id be curious to see what the suspension upgrades are
 
I got the brochure for my collection. :D I have yet to see one in person, but the miata is offered in the same Black Cherry Mica, so I have an idea of what it looks like.
 
i actually didnt like it at the auto show. i dont think the color sits well on the rx-8. i hate beige interiors, and there really wasnt much of a noticeable difference other than that.
 
oooh I like...and I love black/beige/tan type interiors like that...

I can't get over RX-8's anymore...I originally thought they were merely ok, and never wanted one to own...Now, especially with some of the appearance mods (the MS front bumper) and the fact that you can fit 10" wide wheels in back without a single modification makes very very interested...

a little off topic, but has anyone read about SRMotorsports RX-8...its supposedly pushing over 210whp with some pulley's, intake and exhaust mods...so basically all bolt-ons for the most part...it looks a little tacky though, at least the aluminum gas cap thing...
 
I liked the color when I saw it at the show. I don't think it offers much though so I'd personally wait for the Speed version. Maybe they needed this special edition to freshen up the RX-8 as the Speed6 comes out. Sort of keep it going until they get the Speed RX-8 on the market. Right now with the Mazda lineup, as sweet as the RX-8 is, I'd get the Speed6 without question.
 
My friend works for car sales at Mazda and I saw one in person. That color which they call Black Cherry is sweet. Salesmen make serious bank from commission on those too.
 
Installshield 2 said:
a little off topic, but has anyone read about SRMotorsports RX-8...its supposedly pushing over 210whp with some pulley's, intake and exhaust mods...so basically all bolt-ons for the most part...it looks a little tacky though, at least the aluminum gas cap thing...

Only 210? I'd rather get the Greddy turbo, or better yet speed force racing's turbo kit.
 
Barney's RX-8

beige interiors suck and age like crap. And the color is just plain boring bla.
paddle shifters sound cool...kinda.

They could have at least stuck some mazdaspeed body parts on it, changed the wheels...anything.
 
shaolin said:
Only 210? I'd rather get the Greddy turbo, or better yet speed force racing's turbo kit.

Well anyone would rather do that...but you would pay 5 times as much...all the mods I mentioned gave a claimed 37whp gain, for just about $1k...There was a full write-up on it in SCC's January issue...
 

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