MAZDA RX-8
The Mazda RX-8 is a sport 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 RX-8 began North American sales in the 2004 model year.
Development and Design:
Development of the RX-8 can be traced to as far back as the 1995 Mazda RX-1 concept car, which featured an early iteration of the 13B-MSP engine. Naturally aspirated with side exhaust ports, this engine produced 220 hp (160 kW). As prohibited by Mazda's financial state at the time and the growing market interest in SUVs, the RX-01 never saw further development or production. However, a "Skunkwork project" engineering team within Mazda kept the development of the 13B-MSP alive using MX-5 Miata chassis, eventually catching the attention of management, which at this time had come under heavy influence from Ford. Development of the 13B-MSP advanced and eventually led to the RENESIS moniker debuting along with the RX-EVOLV concept car which began to bear semblance to the production RX-8 with the "lambo" doors. Styling was developed via design competitions in Mazda tradition among its design studios in Japan, the US, and Europe. The project obtained official approval from management, and eventually the RX-8 concept car (design/engineering model) was produced and shown in 2001, closer resembling the production version. A near-production "reference exhibit" RX-8 was shown shortly thereafter at the 2001 Tokyo Motor Show, pending final approval for production. Production RX-8 closely resembles this vehicle save for minor trim details, and "job 1" began in February 2003 at Mazda's Hiroshima plant in Japan.
The RX-8 was designed as a front mid-engine, rear-wheel drive four-seat coupe. The car 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. The front wheels feature classic independent double wishbone suspension, while the rear are independent multi link. Weight is trimmed through the use of materials such as alumunium (hood & rear doors), and a carbon fiber composite driveshaft on the manual gearbox car. All this contributes to reduced rotational mass (moment of inertia) connected to the engine. The rest of the body is steel, save for the plastic front and rear bumpers. Power is sent to the rear wheels via a Torsen limited slip differential for improved handling. While not quite in the league as the last RX-7 in terms of raw performance, the RX-8 is considered its successor as Mazda's rotary engine sports car. Its layout and clever engineering have endowed it with excellent driving dynamics which have garnered much praise and numerous awards. It has also proven popular in Japan among car enthusiasts as well as aftermarket equipment manufacturers and professional tuners.
A prominent feature of the RX-8 is 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-pilliar 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 be opened only when the front doors are open. Although by no means expansive, the RX-8's cabin had been meticulously designed to boast enough room to house four adults, making it a genuine 4-seater.
Manufacturer : Mazda
Production : 2003-present
Assembly : Hiroshima, Japan
Predecessor : Mazda RX-7
Mazda Cosmo
Class : Sport Car
Body Style(s) : 4-door quad coupe
Layout : FMR layout
Engine(s) : 1.3L Renesis (wankel) NL
Transmisions(s) : 4- or 6- speed automatic and 5- or 6- speed manual
wheelbase : 2004-08: 2,703 mm (106.4 in)
2009-: 2,700 mm (106.3 in)
Lenght : 2004-08: 4,425 mm (174.2 in)
2009-: 4,470 mm (176.0 in)
Widht : 1,770 mm (69.7 in)
Height : 1,340 mm (52.8 in)
Curb Weight : Manual: 1309–1373 kg (2888–3029 lb)
Auto: 1384 kg (3053 lb)
Fuel Capacity : 60 L (16 US gal; 13 imp gal)
The Mazda RX-8 is a sport 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 RX-8 began North American sales in the 2004 model year.
Development and Design:
Development of the RX-8 can be traced to as far back as the 1995 Mazda RX-1 concept car, which featured an early iteration of the 13B-MSP engine. Naturally aspirated with side exhaust ports, this engine produced 220 hp (160 kW). As prohibited by Mazda's financial state at the time and the growing market interest in SUVs, the RX-01 never saw further development or production. However, a "Skunkwork project" engineering team within Mazda kept the development of the 13B-MSP alive using MX-5 Miata chassis, eventually catching the attention of management, which at this time had come under heavy influence from Ford. Development of the 13B-MSP advanced and eventually led to the RENESIS moniker debuting along with the RX-EVOLV concept car which began to bear semblance to the production RX-8 with the "lambo" doors. Styling was developed via design competitions in Mazda tradition among its design studios in Japan, the US, and Europe. The project obtained official approval from management, and eventually the RX-8 concept car (design/engineering model) was produced and shown in 2001, closer resembling the production version. A near-production "reference exhibit" RX-8 was shown shortly thereafter at the 2001 Tokyo Motor Show, pending final approval for production. Production RX-8 closely resembles this vehicle save for minor trim details, and "job 1" began in February 2003 at Mazda's Hiroshima plant in Japan.
The RX-8 was designed as a front mid-engine, rear-wheel drive four-seat coupe. The car 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. The front wheels feature classic independent double wishbone suspension, while the rear are independent multi link. Weight is trimmed through the use of materials such as alumunium (hood & rear doors), and a carbon fiber composite driveshaft on the manual gearbox car. All this contributes to reduced rotational mass (moment of inertia) connected to the engine. The rest of the body is steel, save for the plastic front and rear bumpers. Power is sent to the rear wheels via a Torsen limited slip differential for improved handling. While not quite in the league as the last RX-7 in terms of raw performance, the RX-8 is considered its successor as Mazda's rotary engine sports car. Its layout and clever engineering have endowed it with excellent driving dynamics which have garnered much praise and numerous awards. It has also proven popular in Japan among car enthusiasts as well as aftermarket equipment manufacturers and professional tuners.
A prominent feature of the RX-8 is 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-pilliar 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 be opened only when the front doors are open. Although by no means expansive, the RX-8's cabin had been meticulously designed to boast enough room to house four adults, making it a genuine 4-seater.
Manufacturer : Mazda
Production : 2003-present
Assembly : Hiroshima, Japan
Predecessor : Mazda RX-7
Mazda Cosmo
Class : Sport Car
Body Style(s) : 4-door quad coupe
Layout : FMR layout
Engine(s) : 1.3L Renesis (wankel) NL
Transmisions(s) : 4- or 6- speed automatic and 5- or 6- speed manual
wheelbase : 2004-08: 2,703 mm (106.4 in)
2009-: 2,700 mm (106.3 in)
Lenght : 2004-08: 4,425 mm (174.2 in)
2009-: 4,470 mm (176.0 in)
Widht : 1,770 mm (69.7 in)
Height : 1,340 mm (52.8 in)
Curb Weight : Manual: 1309–1373 kg (2888–3029 lb)
Auto: 1384 kg (3053 lb)
Fuel Capacity : 60 L (16 US gal; 13 imp gal)
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