Mazda RX-8

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Mazda RX-8

Manufacturer	Mazda
Production	2003–present
Assembly	Hiroshima, Japan
Predecessor	Mazda RX-7 Mazda Cosmo
Class	Sports car
Body style	2+2 coupé
Layout	FMR layout
Engine	Renesis
Transmission	6-speed automatic and manual
Wheelbase	106.4 in
Length	174.2 in (4425mm)
Width	69.7 in (1770mm)
Height	52.8 in (1340mm)
Curb weight	2888-3029 lb (1309-1373 kg) MT 3053 lb (1384 kg) AT
Fuel capacity	15.9 gal.
Similar	Honda S2000 Nissan 350Z

The Mazda RX-8 is a sports car manufactured by Mazda Motor Corporation. It first appeared in 2001 at the North American International Auto Show. It is the successor to the RX-7 and like its predecessors in the RX range it is powered by a Wankel rotary engine.

1 Design
2 Powertrain
3 Models
4 Awards
5 Popular culture
6 Motorsports
7 References
- 7.1 Sources

[edit] Design

The RX-8 was designed as a front mid-mounted, rear-wheel drive 2+2 coupé. The car has a near 50:50 weight distribution, achieved by mounting the engine behind the front axle and the gas tank ahead of the rear axle. Weight is trimmed through the use of materials such as aluminium (hood, rear doors and trunk), and a carbon fiber composite driveshaft on the manual gearbox car. Other than the aforementioned hood, rear doors and trunk, the rest of the body is steel, save for the plastic front and rear bumpers.

The car features 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 only be opened when the front doors are open.

[edit] Powertrain

The RX-8 is powered by a 1.3 L (1,308 cc) naturally-aspirated Renesis rotary engine, which features newly designed side intake and exhaust ports, versus peripheral exhaust ports of its predicesor the 13B-REW. The engine is smaller and lighter than previous rotaries, primarily due to the lack of a turbocharger and associated parts.

The engine is designed in various configurations for different models, but in its most powerful setup develops 250 PS (247 hp, 184 kW) at 8,500 rpm with a sustained redline at 8,500 rpm, peak redline of 9,000 rpm and fuel rev limit/cut-off at 9,500 rpm. It won the International Engine of the Year and Best New Engine awards in 2003 and holds the "2.5 to 3 liter" size award for 2003 and 2004.

The power is delivered to the rear wheels via a five- or six-speed manual gearbox or a four- or six-speed automatic through a torque sensitive limited slip differential (which is standard with manual, and optional for automatic, models). The six-speed automatic was introduced in model year 2006 to replace the four-speed.

In late 2003 Mazda issued a press release stating that the actual horsepower of the RX-8 could be up to 5% less than previously advertised. Mazda offered to buy back any of the affected vehicles sold in the United States. Those who chose to keep the cars were given other incentives such as free maintenance, parts, and accessories.

In August 2006, Mazda announced that a miscalculation with oil metering had led to the engines in a few RX-8s to experience problems with severe power loss and rough idle. Mazda voluntarily recalled all 2004 and 2005 and some 2006 models to test for this problem, and all engines that failed a vacuum test were replaced at no charge, even if the car was out of warranty. The catalytic converter and leading spark plugs were also checked and replaced as needed. Mazda extended all recalled vehicles' drivetrain warranty to 5 years/60,000 miles. Most affected vehicles were in hotter climates, and were exposed to high traffic, low rpm driving and long idle periods. Mazda estimated that less than 1% of engines needed to be replaced. For vehicles that did not require an engine replacement, Mazda updated the PCM to provide more oil injection at idle and under low rpm driving.

[edit] Models

The RX-8 is available in various models in different markets around the world. Standard models include:

6-speed manual "High Power" with an output of between 170 kW (231 hp) and 177 kW (237 hp) and a 9,000 rpm redline. Japanese models produce 184 kW (255 hp).
5-speed manual "Standard Power" tuned to 141 kW (192 hp) with the redline reduced to 7,500 rpm.
4-speed automatic tuned to 141 kW (189 hp) in some markets, while the U.S. automatic is stated to deliver 197 SAE net hp (158 kW)
6-speed automatic (available in the U.S. market as of 2006) developing 212 hp (170 kW) with a redline at 7,500 rpm.

[edit] Shinka / Evolve / Sports Prestige Limited / Mazdaspeed M'z Tune

Mazda introduced a special Shinka edition to the U.S. market in 2005, and to the UK market in 2006 where it was branded as the Evolve. Unique features include Shinka badges on the B-pillars, re-styled mirrors, alcantara-trimmed leather seats on the 2006 MY, stiffer chassis and suspension tuning, and polished wheels. For the 2005 MY, the Shinka was only available in Black Cherry Mica, and in 2006, it was available in Copper Red as well as some of the standard model colors. Power output remains unchanged from the standard models. This model is also offered in Japan as the Sports Prestige Limited RX-8. The Shinka option is not available for 2007. Mazda Japan is working on a Mazdaspeed version of the RX-8 dubbed the Mazdaspeed M'z Tune and will be released as a 2007 model (http://www.rx-8.mazda.co.jp/mz_tune/).

[edit] PZ

In May 2006 Mazda released the RX-8 PZ for the UK market. The car was jointly developed with motorsports company Prodrive. Only available in six-speed manual, it featured custom 10-spoke alloy wheels supplied by Italian F1 team supplier OZ Racing in 'Dark Silver' finish, mirrors developed to reduce drag, front and rear black mesh grilles, and a rear spoiler to provide more stability at higher speeds. Both the alloys and rear wing are badged in carbon fibre with 'Prodrive'. Significant revisions were also made to the suspension to improve the handling: Dampers from Bilstein and coil springs from Eibach are used in addition to reducing the ride height by 15mm and an increase in spring rate of 60%. Finally the car is supplied with a unique upgraded twin exhaust system, with exhaust tailpipes branded 'Prodrive'. Only 800 were made at an MSRP of £ 25,995. It was available in two colours, Galaxy Grey(320) and Brilliant Black(480).

[edit] Hydrogen RE

At the 2004 North American International Auto Show, Mazda unveiled the RX-8 Hydrogen RE concept car, designed to run on either hydrogen or gasoline. In February 2006, Mazda revealed that it would start leasing a dual fuel RX-8 to commercial customers in Japan, and in March 2006 announced its first two customers, claiming the first fleet deliveries of a dual hydrogen/gasoline production car.

[edit] Future revisions

Mazda had initially planned to release a two-seat coupé version of the RX-8, but the development costs were deemed too expensive and the model was cancelled. A second generation Renesis engine is currently under development, with a planned release by 2010.^[1]
2007 / 2008 Mazda RX-8 Mazdaspeed M'z Tune (http://www.rx-8.mazda.co.jp/mz_tune/)

[edit] Awards

As of October 2006 the RX-8 has won at least 37 international motoring awards including 2003 International Engine of the Year, the 2003 Japanese Car of the Year, Australia's Wheels magazine's Car of the Year for 2003, the 2004 Singapore Car of the Year, the 2004 U.S. Best Sports Car, and several UK Best Car Awards. It was also named on Car and Driver magazine's Ten Best list for 2004, 2005, and 2006.

[edit] Popular culture

In the movie X2 - X-Men United, X-Men Scott Summers (Cyclops), owns a modified RX-8 in the film X2. It's commandeered by Wolverine along with Rogue, Iceman and Pyro, when Stryker's forces attack Professor Xavier's mansion. This RX-8 was made especially for the movie, it cost Mazda approximately $8 million USD for product placement.
A blue turbocharged RX-8 is used by Neela in The Fast and the Furious Tokyo Drift.
It is featured in the beginning of the Britney Spears' video "Me Against The Music"
It is featured in the beginning of Ludacris' video "P Poppin".
The Mazda RX-8 is featured in the Electronic Arts video game Need For Speed Most Wanted.
It is available in the video game Gran Turismo 4.
A Velocity Red RX-8 is shown drifting on the side of a building in the movie Day Watch.
The popular Transformers character "Jazz" was reimagined as an RX-8 in the Alternators/Binaltech toy line, appearing in white in the Alternators line, and in separate white and red versions in the Binaltech line. Due to naming issues, he appears as "Meister". The figure was remolded into the Mazdaspeed Version II RX-8 variant to depict the character "Shockblast" (nee Shockwave), known in Japan as Laserwave. The mold used for Jazz/Meister was used a third time for the Kiss Players AI drone, Autorooper.

[edit] Motorsports

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The car is used in the Formula Woman racing series in the United Kingdom which started in 2004, Mazda uses one of its cars to compete in the Britcar championship. Drag racer Abel Ibarra uses a 4-rotor powered spaceframe version of the RX-8 to compete in the NHRA Sports Compact series and is used in drifting events by Kouichi Yamashita and Rod Millen for the D1 Grand Prix and Formula D series.

[edit] References

Wikimedia Commons has media related to:

Mazda RX-8

2006 RX-8. Mazda USA. Retrieved on May 23, 2006.
Mazda RX-8. Mazda UK. Retrieved on May 23, 2006.
RX-8 Overview. Mazda Australia. Retrieved on May 23, 2006.
Mazda RX-8 Hydrogen rotary engine. Ford Media. Retrieved on May 23, 2006.
Mazda Adds 6-Speed Automatic and New Shinka Package for 2006 RX-8. Fast-Autos.net. Retrieved on September 8, 2006.
Future Products - Mazda. AutoWeek. Retrieved on August 16, 2006.
Design awards and honours. Mazda Australia. Retrieved on July 31, 2006.

[edit] Sources

^ Mazda to Introduce New Rotary Engine. Speedtv. Retrieved on March 30, 2007.

Mazda Wankel rotary timeline v • d • e
Type		1960s					1970s										1980s										1990s										2000s
		5	6	7	8	9	0	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	0	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	0	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	0	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9
Compact	Familia/R100				R100
Mid-size	Capella/RX-2						RX-2
	Luce/RX-4					R130			RX-4							Legato			HB				HC
Full-size	Roadpacer											RP
GT	Cosmo/RX-5	L10A				L10B						CD							HB								JC
Sports	Savanna/RX-3/RX-7/RX-8								RX-3						SA			FB					FC						FD											FE
Pickup	Proceed/REPU										REPU