Mazda RX8

The RX8 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 rotary engine. The RX8 sports car began North American sales as 2004 model year car.  The RX8 has a near 50:50 weight distribution, achieved by mounting the engine behind the front axle and the fuel 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 (Moment of Inertia) connected to the engine. The rest of the car body is steel, except for the plastic front and rear bumpers. The RX8 features a pair of rear-hinged freestyle doors (similar to suicide doors) in order to provide easier access to the rear seats. The RX8 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. The RX8 sports car is designed less for drag racing and straight line speed, and more for superb handling; in line with the traditional Japanese and European sports car line of thought.

The RX8 is available in various models in different markets around the world. Standard car models include:

•     6-speed manual High Power with an output of between 231 hp and 237 hp and a 9,000 rpm redline. Japanese RX8 models produce 247 hp.
•     5-speed manual Standard Power tuned to 192 hp with the redline reduced to 7,500 rpm.
•     4-speed automatic tuned to 189 hp in some car markets, while the U.S. automatic RX8 is stated to deliver 197 hp.
•     6-speed automatic (available in the U.S. car market as of 2006) developing 212 hp with a redline at 7,500 rpm.