Mazda RX-8

• Spirited driving dynamics: The RX-8 delivers an unparalleled driving experience with its RENESIS rotary engine, 6-speed manual or 6-speed Sport mode automatic transmissions, an in-wheel type double wishbone front suspension, front and rear stabilizer bars and an available Limited-Slip Differential (LSD).
• Innovative design: Its unique, assertive design both inside and out conveys the powerful image of the Mazda brand DNA thanks to its short overhangs, high wheel arches, well-defined roof line, contoured rear deck and a driver-focused cockpit.
• Clever packaging: The RX-8 offers an unprecedented level of value as a freestyle-door, 4-seat sports car with a high level of standard equipment and luxurious upscale options.
• Quality craftsmanship: RX-8 designers and engineers focused on fundamental build quality and functional elegance that is evident from every angle.
• Comprehensive safety package: The RX-8 represents a perfect union of safety and performance, with a safety package that includes Triple-H body construction, 4-wheel ventilated disc brakes with ABS/EBFD, available Dynamic Stability Control (DSC) with traction control system (TCS), dual-stage advanced driver and front passenger airbags, driver and front passenger seat mounted side impact airbags and front and rear side air curtains.

Other key reasons for buying the RX-8:

• The RX-8 is a direct descendent of genuine race cars. Mazda is the only Japanese automaker to win the prestigious 24-hours at Le Mans, with an ancestor of the RX-8 RENESIS engine.
• RENESIS won Ward´s International Engine of the Year award.
• The RX-8 is built on design innovation as seen in the freestyle doors that allow easy access to all four seating positions.
• The RX-8´s interior has the cockpit feel of a genuine sports car.
• Electrically-assisted rack and pinion steering provides smooth, responsive manoeuvring.
• The compact size of the RENESIS engine permits four person capacity and luggage space while keeping the overall dimensions of a sports car.
• The RX-8´s Power Plant Frame, Dynamic Stability Control (DSC) and near perfect 50/50 front-to-rear weight distribution combine with a sophisticated suspension to deliver true sports car handling.
• 18" 5-spoke alloy wheels feature high-performance rated tires that grip the road.
• The powerful RENESIS engine generates smooth and immediate power across a wide rpm range.

• 18" 5-spoke aluminum alloy wheels (GS and GT) and the 19-inch lightweight forged alloy wheels (R3) project an athletic image Bold front grille, prominent fender flares and a sleek, sculpted body complete the RX-8's assertive good looks.
• Unique complex curves and headlamp and tail lamp design is definitively Mazda.
• Tight, uniform gaps between body panels reduce noise and show quality craftsmanship.
• Rear lip spoiler and Raised rear spoiler (R3) showcases a sporty, athletic look while the mud guards (GS and GT only) protect against debris.

• Four sculpted bucket seats, including front Recaro seats (R3), provides occupant comfort and adds to the sports car experience.
• Rotor-shaped aluminum seat bezel motif.
• Rotor-shaped manual transmission shift knob.
• Premium Bose® audio system and with 6-disc in-dash CD changer, nine speakers and steering wheel mounted controls.

The RX-8 features true sports car cockpit design with wraparound style bucket seats, illuminated sport gauges, smooth and subtly grained dash and control surfaces, and comfortable four-person seating.

The GS model is outfitted with high-grade cloth upholstery and a leather-wrapped steering tilt steering wheel and shift knob; GT models get the rich feel and smell of leather-trimmed heated seats, as well as an 8-way power adjustable driver´s seat with lumbar support. Additional comfort and convenience features include air conditioning with outside temperature display, cruise control, and power windows, mirrors and door locks.

A first-class, 9-speaker Bose® audio system is standard on all models, and includes an AM/FM stereo with 6-disc in-dash CD changer and convenient steering wheel mounted audio controls. The system also features an auto-leveling control to automatically adjust volume according to vehicle speed.

The Bose® system's two 9-inch Nd® woofers feature Neodymium Iron Boron magnets, which exhibit approximately ten times the energy density of conventional ferrite speaker magnets. In addition, the system incorporates:

• 2" tweeters (x2)
• 80 mm front tweeter (x1)
• 2" rear tweeters (x2)
• 6x9" mid-range speakers (x2)

The Bose® music system also includes an AUDIOPILOT® automatic sound field compensator that compensates for noise in the cabin.

The freestyle doors of the RX-8 give four adults easy, unrestricted access to all four seats without adding unwanted weight and size to the vehicle body. The rear doors of the RX-8 are nearly invisible when closed; they are hinged in the back and open and close only when the front doors are opened first. There is no stationary centre pillar between the doors so getting into the back seat is extremely easy. This provides ample room for four but keeps the vehicle body small and nimble. The freestyle door configuration provides convenience without sacrificing safety.

In a class where trunk space is often sacrificed in the quest for sports car packaging, the RX-8 is unique in its cargo carrying ability. The trunk´s cargo area is free from typical structural bracings and ideal for weekend luggage or two sets of golf clubs.

• Two versions of the RENESIS rotary engine provide 212 hp and 232 hp for impressive performance.
• 6-speed manual transmission for ultimate driver control.
• Optional 6-speed Sport mode automatic transmission provides steering wheel mounted paddle shifters to combine the convenience of an automatic with an interactive driving experience.
• Electric-assist rack and pinion power-steering system transmits just the right amount of road information back to the driver.
• Available Dynamic Stability Control (DSC) with traction control system (TCS) works with ABS to provide improved handling in the widest variety of driving (and stopping) situations.
• Aluminum double wishbone front suspension and rear multi-link suspension with front and rear stabilizer bars (GS and GT) and the R3's Sport suspension, including Bilstein dampers and urethane foam filled front suspension cross members deliver both sports car driving dynamics and a comfortable ride.
• Smart keyless entry system with push button and panic alarm.

The Mazda RENESIS rotary engine offers significant customer benefits:

• High-revving power for genuine sports car performance.
• Greater fuel economy and reduced exhaust emissions.
• Improved vehicle balance for better sports car handling.

The 1.3-litre, 2-rotor, in-line, RENESIS rotary engine has two rotor sections sandwiched between front, intermediate, and rear side housings. An eccentric shaft connects the two rotors, which are balanced 180 degrees out of phase. As the rotors orbit within their housings, power is transmitted to the eccentric shaft, which acts like the crankshaft in a conventional piston engine. Each rotor section forms three working chambers, which work simultaneously to move the engine´s entire displacement on each turn of the eccentric shaft. That is why rotary engines have twice the combustion capacity of a conventional piston engine of identical displacement.

Conventional piston engines use a 4-stroke cycle to complete the combustion process: intake, compression, power, and exhaust. Rotary engines use a four-phase cycle. The major difference between a piston engine cycle and a rotary engine cycle is that each rotary engine combustion cycle extends over 270 degrees of eccentric shaft rotation versus 180 degrees of every other crankshaft rotation in the piston engine. This longer combustion cycle produces more torque at higher engine speeds.

Intake ports in rotary engines are typically run through the side housings, in what is called a side-port intake configuration, while the exhaust ports are traditionally run directly through the rotor housings, which is referred to as a peripheral-port exhaust configuration. An important difference between rotary and piston engines is the lack of a complicated valvetrain to control the intake and exhaust ports. Instead, the ports are opened and closed by the movement of the rotors. A variable intake manifold is also employed to deal with different engine speeds, enhancing the RX-8´s driveability by boosting low- to mid-range torque without compromising fuel efficiency or high-end power. Rotary engines have fewer moving parts than comparably powered piston engines.

The key technology of the RENESIS is its side exhaust port configuration, with the exhaust ports relocated to the rotary chamber side housing, where the intake ports are also located. The chief advantage of this layout is that it allows elimination of intake/exhaust port timing overlap. This measure ensures that exhaust is not retained and carried over to the next intake cycle, thereby promoting more stable combustion and better fuel economy.

The side-intake/side-exhaust port RENESIS gains 30% in intake port area over the previous engine, and this combined with the delayed intake port close timing makes for a sizable increase in charging volume, resulting in greater power output.

The engine also has two exhaust ports per rotor chamber, giving RENESIS almost twice the exhaust port area of its predecessor. With ample exhaust port area assured, delaying the opening of the exhaust ports gives RENESIS a longer expansion cycle for improved thermal efficiency, power output and fuel economy.

The front midship layout places the substantial weight of the engine behind the centre line of the front wheels and is part of Mazda´s sports car heritage that has been applied over the years in such cars as the RX-7 and MX-5. The aim of this unique layout is to place the engine close to the centre of the vehicle to achieve uniform weight distribution over all four wheels, and to minimize the RX-8´s yaw inertia movement by reducing the weight on the car´s front end. With the RX-8, Mazda has taken the evolution of its sport-dedicated layout a step further with the advanced front midship configuration made possible by the RENESIS rotary engine.

The use of the front midship layout and locating the plastic fuel tank in front of the rear wheels work with other measures to assure an ideal fore-aft weight split, as well as a 5% lower yaw inertia moment than the RX-7.

The RENESIS engine also allowed Mazda engineers to maximize passenger volume while still providing an approximate 50/50 front-to-rear weight distribution regardless of the number of passengers. The engine rests behind the front axle and closer to the centre of the car than previous rotary-powered vehicles. This position enables the use of long control arms in the double wishbone front suspension for exceptional sports car handling.

When paired with the 6-speed manual transmission, the RENESIS rotary engine creates 232 hp @ 8,500 rpm and 159 lb-ft of torque @ 5,500 rpm, and when mated to the optional 6-speed Sport mode automatic, it generates 212 hp @ 7,500 rpm and 159 lb-ft of torque @ 5,500 rpm. The engine requires premium unleaded fuel for optimum performance.

The RX-8 is available in both a 6-speed manual overdrive transmission (6MT) with short throw shifter, and a 6-speed Sport mode automatic transmission (6AT) with steering wheel mounted paddle shifters - available at no additional charge on both models. The 6-speed manual gearbox has a rotor-shaped shift knob, and includes a push-to-activate reverse gear selection mechanism, which prevents accidental selection of reverse gear while shifting from 5th to 6th gear. The 6-speed automatic transmission with Sport mode adds another dimension to the RX-8´s driving personality; paddles mounted behind the steering wheel allow responsive clutch-free manual shifting for a more interactive driving experience.

• Advanced dual front airbags, side impact seat mounted airbags and side impact overhead curtain airbags complete the supplemental restraint system (SRS).
• Triple-H architecture helps deflect crash energy away from passengers by providing multiple paths for the force to travel.
• 4-wheel disc brakes with ABS and EBFD standard on all models.
• Available Dynamic Stability Control (DSC) with traction control system (TCS) helps the RX-8 handle predictably in a wide variety of driving situations.
• Crushable pedal design deploys away from the driver´s foot in the event of a collision to help prevent injury to the driver´s foot and lower leg.
• Anti-theft alarm system sounds an audible alarm when the vehicle is tampered with.
• Xenon HID headlights (GT and R3) and automatic on/off front headlamps provide optimum visibility in all kinds of driving conditions.

The RX-8 structure incorporates H-shaped structures in the floor, cab, sides and roof to enhance body rigidity. Triple-H architecture provides multiple paths for impact force to travel in the event of a collision, helping to preserve the integrity of the passenger compartment, and contributes to better handling stability, quietness and enhanced crash protection.

To allow a completely new kind of driving excitement - one that combines genuine sports car styling and performance with the practicality and functionality to accommodate four adults - Mazda developed a body structure without centre pillars that incorporates a centre-opening Freestyle door configuration.

Essential to Mazda's Freestyle door system is a standard of side impact safety comparable with the typical 4-door sedan that includes conventional centre pillars as part of its body structure. The Mazda RX-8 unquestionably achieves this goal with world-class passive safety performance through extensive reinforcement of the inside of the rear doors and significantly improved body side strength. This reinforcement creates a virtual centre pillar system.

Active safety systems on the Mazda RX-8 include ABS with EBFD, and available Dynamic Stability Control (DSC) with traction control system (TCS). All of these systems work to provide optimal control in a wide variety of conditions and driving situations.

An example of a passive safety feature on the RX-8 is the unique crushable brake pedal design that helps to protect the driver´s foot, ankle or lower leg in a collision. In the event of a collision severe enough to force the lower body structure into the footwell, the pedals will deploy away from the driver´s foot.

The front seat headrests are optimally located with respect to the occupant´s head, while the seatback features whiplash-reducing construction designed to reduce the effect of impacts on the upper body and minimize the force exerted on the occupant´s neck during a rear-end collision.

The Mazda RX-8 unquestionably achieves this goal with world-class passive safety performance through extensive reinforcement of the inside of the rear doors and significantly improved body side strength. This reinforcement creates a virtual centre pillar system.

Mazda Dynamic Stability Control (DSC) with traction control system (TCS) offers a number of customer benefits, including:

• Increased vehicle stability when cornering or during emergency avoidance maneuvers.
• Improved low-speed traction on slippery surfaces.
• Flexibility of a DSC OFF button for full driver control during advanced driving techniques, such as drift maneuvers on a racing circuit.

A traction control system (TCS) is standard on the RX-8 GT R3 with Dynamic Stability Control (DSC). Electronic traction control senses excessive wheelspin and then varies the engine power to the driving wheels to regain traction:

• Using the wheel-speed sensors of the ABS, the TCS can detect wheelspin at the driving wheels and determine any cornering forces.
• Once the system detects wheelspin, the control module signals the engine to reduce torque.
• By reducing the engine torque, wheelspin stops and the tires are then able to regain their grip, maintaining vehicle control.

Mazda electronic traction control offers a number of customer benefits:

• Improved low-speed traction on slippery surfaces.
• Flexibility of a TCS OFF button for when slip is needed.
• Fail-safe mode that defaults to normal operation in case of malfunction.

New on the GT and R3 this year, the Bluetooth® Hands-Free Phone system allows drivers to keep both hands on the steering wheel while talking on the phone, giving them more control of the vehicle while driving, as well as maintaining concentration on traffic and road conditions while talking on the phone.

• Advanced dual front airbags, side impact seat mounted airbags and side impact overhead curtain airbags complete the supplemental restraint system (SRS).
• Triple-H architecture helps deflect crash energy away from passengers by providing multiple paths for the force to travel.
• 4-wheel disc brakes with ABS and EBFD standard on all models.
• Available Dynamic Stability Control (DSC) with traction control system (TCS) helps the RX-8 handle predictably in a wide variety of driving situations.
• Crushable pedal design deploys away from the driver´s foot in the event of a collision to help prevent injury to the driver´s foot and lower leg.
• Anti-theft alarm system sounds an audible alarm when the vehicle is tampered with.
• Xenon HID headlights (GT and R3) and automatic on/off front headlamps provide optimum visibility in all kinds of driving conditions.