A 9,000 rpm redline, RENESIS rotary engine, seating for 4, the RX-8 brought Mazda's rotary engine back to life in 2004. The determination of a handful of engineers in Japan kept the rotary engine alive when introducing it into their new concept car, the RX-EVOLV, which became the RX-8.
The RX-8 was designed as a front mid-engine, rear-wheel drive four-seat coupe. The car has a near 50:50 weight distribution, achieved by mounting the engine behind the front axle and the fuel tank ahead of the rear axle. The front wheels feature classic independent double wishbone suspension, while the rear are independent multi-link. Weight is trimmed through the use of materials such as aluminium (hood & rear doors), and a carbon fiber composite driveshaft on the manual gearbox car. All this contribute to reduced rotational mass (Moment of Inertia) connected to the engine. The rest of the body is steel, save for the plastic front and rear bumpers. Power is sent to the rear wheels via a Torsen limited slip differential for improved handling. The RX-8s layout and clever engineering have endowed it with excellent driving dynamics which have garnered much praise and numerous awards. It has also proven popular in Japan among car enthusiasts as well as aftermarket equipment manufacturers and professional tuners.
A prominent feature of the RX-8 is a pair of rear-hinged "freestyle" doors (similar to suicide doors) in order to provide easier access to the rear seats. The RX-8 has no B-pillar between the front and rear doors, with the leading edge of the rear door acting as a "virtual pillar" to maintain structural rigidity. Because of the overlapping design, the rear doors can be opened only when the front doors are open. Although by no means expansive, the RX-8's cabin had been meticulously designed to boast enough room to house four adults, making it a genuine 4-seater. — Wikipedia
Generations of the RX-8
- SE3P (2003- )