A midlife makeover brings a fresh three model range to the only rotary-powered production car in the world. 
 

MAZDA is the only car maker to persist with rotary engines, despite their high use of petrol and oil.

Strangely, the face-lifted version of the RX8 is slower and thirstier than its predecessor.

Mazda says this is because the six-speed manual has shorter gearing to combat the lack of torque down low and requires a third gear change to reach 100km/h, increasing the time from 6.2 seconds to 6.4 seconds. The manual uses an average of 12.9L/100km instead of 12.6 of the old model while the six-speed automatic is thriftier, using 12.1L/100km.

Despite this Mazda says the RX8 is quicker on the track than the original RX8.

The first four-door, four-seater RX8 was launched in July 2003. It is the only mass production car with a rotary engine, the only sports car with rear-hinged rear doors (dubbed suicide doors) and there is no direct four seat sports coupe competitor.

Almost 5400 Mazda RX8s have been sold in Australia since 2003 and worldwide sales of the RX8 topped 170,000 in April, 2008. Mazda has produced 1,981,283 rotary engines from the first in 1967 to March 2008.

The RX8 is available in three models: The $49,720 RX8, the $55,520 RX8 Luxury and the $57,625 RX8 GT. The auto is $1645 extra on the Luxury.

Mazda says major modifications to the Renesis 1.3 litre engine improve low end pulling power and smoothness. Power is an unchanged 170kW at 8200rpm with the six-speed manual  while power is up in the six-speed auto by 17kW to 158kW at 7500rpm. Torque of  211Nm at 5500rpm is the same on both manual and auto versions. The six-speed manual adopted from the MX5 is standard on all models.

Mazda Australia managing director Doug Dickson said: “The evolved Mazda RX8 is a welcome breath of fresh air for Mazda’s most iconic model.

“The careful maturation of the RX8 proves the skill and craftsmanship of our engineers in enhancing the RX8’s multifaceted appeal without diluting its essence,’’ he said.

“More than any other, the RX8 sports car embodies Mazda’s core tenets of stylish, insightful and spirited. And even after five successful years it remains unchallenged, without rival. The Mazda RX8 truly is a sports car like no other.”

RX8 program manager Noboru Katabuchi said the quest to reinvigorate the Mazda RX8 followed the theme of “sophisticated dynamism” driven by function. He said Mazda further enhanced the car’s dynamic presence and overall feeling of quality, with the aim of further maturing its values as a sports car for adults.

Mr Katabuchi said headline changes to the drivetrain, chassis and styling heightened the no compromise appeal of the RX8 as Australia’s only four door, four seat sports coupe under $60,000. The chassis has been further strengthened to bolster rigidity and give the engine and suspension a tauter platform.

“This highly rigid body and modified suspension enables sharp and linear vehicle response to steering inputs and delivers the handling of a genuine sports car as well as the high grade ride comfort expected of a refined four seater,’’ he said.

Mazda says in the current atmosphere of spiralling petrol prices the engineers chose not to increase the Renesis engine’s peak power figure, but instead focused on improving low to mid-range engine response and torque delivery.

They say the result is the RX8 is more responsive at lower revs and is equally happy to explore the stratospheric reaches of its 9000rpm redline. All RX8 models come with a comprehensive list of equipment including climate control airconditioning, cruise control, a six-disc, MP3-compatible CD player with six speakers (nine on Luxury grade) and aux jack, and a leather wrapped steering wheel and gear knob.

There are front and side airbags for driver and front passenger and curtain airbags for all occupants. Dynamic Stability Control (DSC), Antilock Braking System (ABS) and Electronic Brakeforce Distribution (EBD) are standard.

The RX8 rides on 18in alloy wheels and high performance Bridgestone Potenza 225/45R18 tyres. The RX8 Luxury adds leather seat trim, eight-way electric driver’s seat adjustment with three-position memory, a premium Bose sound system with 300 Watt amplifier and nine speakers, a power sliding sunroof and front fog lamps.

The RX8 GT has lightweight 19in alloy rims with Bridgestone Potenza 225/40 aspect 19in tyres with Bilstein shock absorbers. All manual models get a special trapezoidal double front strut brace.

The GT goes one step further with a urethane-filled front suspension cross member designed to hone its steering attack and provide greater feedback.

The GT’s striking sports body kit consists of side skirts, a ground hugging front bumper with integrated fog lamps and a rear decklid spoiler.

The RX8 GT is also lighter than the RX8 Luxury. Careful attention to detail outside and in has saved 23kg. Despite the increase in features and equipment over the standard RX8, the RX8 GT weighs just 5kg more than the base model.

Mazda Australia expects to sell 75 RX8s a month. The standard RX8 is expected to account for 10 per cent of demand, the GT for 40 per cent and the Luxury for 30 per cent (manual), 20 per cent (Activematic).

There are eight exterior colours, including white, silver, red, blue, grey and two blacks. RX8 Luxury buyers will have a choice of interior colours including red or black leather trim.

Cairns dealer Westco Mazda has a GT on display in their Mulgrave Rd showroom and another is due next week.

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