CoupeMazda84% by Neofiliac Team80% by External Reviewers

Mazda RX-8

Sports Car

Product Gallery

Product Overview

Mazda RX-8 is a compact sports car in production from 2003 to 2012. It was available with several tunes of a two-rotor 1.3L RENESIS rotary engine that displaced 1.3 liters.

The last commercially available passenger car with rotary engine, the RX-8 has quickly become a modern classic. Its ultra-compact rotary engine allows the relatively affordable vehicle to feature a front-mid engine layout, while the double-wishbone + multi-link suspension setup further improves handling.

The one weakness of all rotary engines, durability, has been improved but remains an issue. Fortunately, the compact engine is easy to rebuild, though technicians familiar with this design are few and far between.

Ratings

What we found

Neofiliac score 84%

Pros

Compact engine and lightweight chassis
Glorious 9000rpm redline
Great weight distribution
Double-wishbone + multilink suspension setup
Great handling characteristics

Cons

Not a thoroughbred

What external reviewers found

External score 80%

Pros

Fun to drive
Powerful twin-rotor engine

Cons

Noisy gearbox
Not the most fun to drive

Your rating:

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Specifications

Variants shown:

Renesis 2003

40th Anniversary

Revolution High-Power

Challenge High-Power

Type S

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100 km/h","Fv":"7.2 sec"},{"Ft":"Performance","Fn":"Acceleration | 0 - 60 mph","Fv":"6.8 sec"},{"Ft":"Performance","Fn":"Braking | 100 km/h - 0","Fv":"36.0 m / 118.1 ft"},{"Ft":"Performance","Fn":"CO2 Emission","Fv":"267 g/km"},{"Ft":"Performance","Fn":"Coefficient Of Drag","Fv":"0.30"},{"Ft":"Performance","Fn":"Fuel Economy","Fv":"10.6 L/100km / 22.2 MPG (combined) | 14.9 L/100km / 15.8 MPG (urban) | 8.1 L/100km / 29.0 MPG (highway)"},{"Ft":"Performance","Fn":"Top Speed","Fv":"222.0 km/h / 137.9 mph"},{"Ft":"Performance","Fn":"Towing Capacity","Fv":"695 kg / 1532 lbs (w/o brakes) | 1200 kg / 2646 lbs (w/ brakes @ 12% gradient)"},{"Ft":"Powertrain","Fn":"Drivetrain Layout","Fv":"Front-engine (longitudinal), Rear-wheel drive"},{"Ft":"Powertrain","Fn":"Engine","Fv":"13B"},{"Ft":"Powertrain","Fn":"Engine | Compression Ratio","Fv":"10.0:1"},{"Ft":"Powertrain","Fn":"Engine | Displacement","Fv":"1.3 L / 79.8 cu-in / 1308.0 cc"},{"Ft":"Powertrain","Fn":"Engine | Power","Fv":"192.0 hp / 143.2 kW @ 7000 rpm"},{"Ft":"Powertrain","Fn":"Engine | Redline","Fv":"7500 rpm"},{"Ft":"Powertrain","Fn":"Engine | Specific Output","Fv":"146.8 hp/L / 2.4 hp/cu-in"},{"Ft":"Powertrain","Fn":"Engine | Torque","Fv":"216 Nm / 159.3 lb-ft @ 2500 rpm"},{"Ft":"Powertrain","Fn":"Engine | Type","Fv":"Naturally-aspirated multi-port injected petrol rotary2 engine"},{"Ft":"Powertrain","Fn":"Transmission | Gears","Fv":"5-speed"},{"Ft":"Powertrain","Fn":"Transmission | Type","Fv":"Manual"},{"Ft":"Production","Fn":"Availability","Fv":"2003 ~ 2009"}],[{"Ft":"Capacity","Fn":"Cargo Capacity","Fv":"290 L / 10.2 cu-ft"},{"Ft":"Capacity","Fn":"Coolant Capacity","Fv":"8.7 L / 9.2 qt"},{"Ft":"Capacity","Fn":"Engine Oil Capacity","Fv":"6.1 L / 6.4 qt"},{"Ft":"Capacity","Fn":"Fuel Capacity","Fv":"61.0 L / 16.1 gal"},{"Ft":"Capacity","Fn":"Passengers","Fv":"4"},{"Ft":"Capacity","Fn":"Payload","Fv":"353 kg / 778 lbs"},{"Ft":"Chassis","Fn":"Brakes | Front","Fv":"Ventilated discs"},{"Ft":"Chassis","Fn":"Brakes | Rear","Fv":"Disc"},{"Ft":"Chassis","Fn":"Power Steering","Fv":"Hydraulic Steering"},{"Ft":"Chassis","Fn":"Suspension | Front","Fv":"Double-wishbone"},{"Ft":"Chassis","Fn":"Suspension | Rear","Fv":"Multi-link"},{"Ft":"Chassis","Fn":"Tire Size","Fv":"225/55R16"},{"Ft":"Chassis","Fn":"Turning Circle","Fv":"10.6 m / 34.8 ft"},{"Ft":"Construction","Fn":"Body Style","Fv":"4-door Coupe"},{"Ft":"Dimensions","Fn":"Ground Clearance","Fv":"140 mm / 5.5 in"},{"Ft":"Dimensions","Fn":"Size | Height","Fv":"1340 mm / 52.8 in"},{"Ft":"Dimensions","Fn":"Size | Length","Fv":"4427 mm / 174.3 in"},{"Ft":"Dimensions","Fn":"Size | Width","Fv":"1770 mm / 69.7 in"},{"Ft":"Dimensions","Fn":"Track Width | Front","Fv":"1500.0 mm / 59.1 in"},{"Ft":"Dimensions","Fn":"Track Width | Rear","Fv":"1505.0 mm / 59.3 in"},{"Ft":"Dimensions","Fn":"Weight","Fv":"1395.0 kg / 3075.4 lbs"},{"Ft":"Dimensions","Fn":"Wheel Size","Fv":"16 in"},{"Ft":"Dimensions","Fn":"Wheelbase","Fv":"2700 mm / 106.3 in"},{"Ft":"Performance","Fn":"Acceleration | 0 - 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100 km/h","Fv":"6.4 sec"},{"Ft":"Performance","Fn":"Acceleration | 0 - 60 mph","Fv":"6.1 sec"},{"Ft":"Performance","Fn":"Braking | 100 km/h - 0","Fv":"36.0 m / 118.1 ft"},{"Ft":"Performance","Fn":"CO2 Emission","Fv":"284 g/km"},{"Ft":"Performance","Fn":"Coefficient Of Drag","Fv":"0.30"},{"Ft":"Performance","Fn":"Fuel Economy","Fv":"11.2 L/100km / 21.0 MPG (combined) | 15.6 L/100km / 15.1 MPG (urban) | 8.7 L/100km / 27.0 MPG (highway)"},{"Ft":"Performance","Fn":"Top Speed","Fv":"234.0 km/h / 145.4 mph"},{"Ft":"Performance","Fn":"Towing Capacity","Fv":"695 kg / 1532 lbs (w/o brakes) | 1200 kg / 2646 lbs (w/ brakes @ 12% gradient)"},{"Ft":"Powertrain","Fn":"Drivetrain Layout","Fv":"Front-engine (longitudinal), Rear-wheel drive"},{"Ft":"Powertrain","Fn":"Engine","Fv":"13B"},{"Ft":"Powertrain","Fn":"Engine | Compression Ratio","Fv":"10.0:1"},{"Ft":"Powertrain","Fn":"Engine | Displacement","Fv":"1.3 L / 79.8 cu-in / 1308.0 cc"},{"Ft":"Powertrain","Fn":"Engine | Power","Fv":"231.0 hp / 172.3 kW @ 8200 rpm"},{"Ft":"Powertrain","Fn":"Engine | Redline","Fv":"9000 rpm"},{"Ft":"Powertrain","Fn":"Engine | Specific Output","Fv":"176.6 hp/L / 2.9 hp/cu-in"},{"Ft":"Powertrain","Fn":"Engine | Torque","Fv":"211 Nm / 155.6 lb-ft @ 5500 rpm"},{"Ft":"Powertrain","Fn":"Engine | Type","Fv":"Naturally-aspirated multi-port injected petrol rotary2 engine"},{"Ft":"Powertrain","Fn":"Transmission | Gears","Fv":"6-speed"},{"Ft":"Powertrain","Fn":"Transmission | Type","Fv":"Manual"},{"Ft":"Production","Fn":"Availability","Fv":"2003 ~ 2012"}]]

External Reviews

carmagazine^[1]

Reviewer score 80% (normalized by Neofiliac)

Reviewers from carmagazine have found:

elift emerging as the RX8 R3. It's got the latest RENESIS twin-rotor engine in which, after donkeys years of development, most of those problems have been licked. Externally, there's a standard Sports Styling Pack with new front bumper, side skirts, rear wing. But as you discover from the driving seat in the first half mile, there have been a few changes under the skin. The bodyshell has been stiffened and dampers, springs, bushes and anti-roll bars revised.

Pros

Powerful twin-rotor engine
Fun to drive

Cons

Noisy gearbox
Not the most fun to drive

Also Check

Product ComparisonProducts in CoupeProducts by MazdaKeyword double-wishboneKeyword manual-transmissionKeyword multi-linkKeyword rwd

References

^ Mazda RX-8 R3 (2008) review. [carmagazine].

Mazda RX-8

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Product Overview

Ratings

What we found

What external reviewers found

Your rating:

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Specifications

Related Products

External Reviews

carmagazine[1]

Also Check

References

carmagazine^[1]