Mazda RX-8
Mazda RX-8
Overview
| Manufacturer | Mazda |
| Production | 2003-present |
| Body Style(s) | 2+2 Coupe |
| Layout | FMR layout |
| Engine(s) | Renesis NL |
| Transmission(s) | Auto or Manual |
| Wheelbase | 2703 mm (106.4 in) |
| Length | 4425 mm (174.2 in) |
| Width | 1770 mm (69.7 in) |
| Height | 1340 mm (52.8 in) |
| Curb Weight | Manual: 1309�1373 kg (2888�3029 lb) Auto: 1384 kg (3053 lb) |
Specifications
| Engine(s) Specs | 1.3L Renesis NL |
| Power | 6-speed manual "High Power" = 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" = 141 kW (192 hp) 4-speed automatic = 141 kW (189 hp) 6-speed automatic = 212 hp (170 kW) |
| Torque | Manual = 159 lb⋅ft @ 5500 rpm Automatic = 164 lb⋅ft @ 5000 rpm |
| Redline (RPM) | 6-speed manual "High Power" = 9,000 rpm 5-speed manual "Standard Power" = 7,500 rpm 4 and 6-speed automatic = 7,500 rpm |
| Transmission(s) Specs | 4- or 6-speed automatic and 6-speed manual |
| Drag Coefficient | Cd of 0.31 |
Rated Performance
| Top Speed | 241 km/h (150 mph) |
| Acceleration | 0-100 km/h (0-62 mph) in 6 seconds |
| Standing 1/4 Mile | 14.5 at 96 mph |
History
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 Renesis rotary engine. The RX-8 began North American sales as 2004 model year car.
Current Production
The RX-8 was designed as a front mid-mounted, rear-wheel drive 2+2 coup�. 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 a carbon fiber composite driveshaft on the manual gearbox car; designed to reduce rotational mass connected to the engine. 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.
Other
Motorsport
The RX-8 is currently in use in the KONI Challenge Series and the Rolex GT Series. 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.
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.
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.
Future
Mazda had initially planned to release a two-seat coup� version of the RX-8, but the development costs were deemed too expensive and the model was canceled. A second generation Renesis engine is currently under development, with a planned release by 2010.
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.
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Source: Wikipedia under the GNU Free Documentation License