Few vehicles automotive journalists test out truly stand out from the pack, despite what the marketing arms of the car makers would lead one to believe.
Mazda, the Hiroshima-based Japanese automaker, one-third owned by Ford Motor Co., offers one such product standing tall (or small) above the crowd: the only rotary-powered, mass-produced, passenger car in the world; the four-seat RX-8.
The RX-8 catch-phrase "A Sports Car Like No Other" actually has a ring of truth. If you're in the market for a sports car starting in the neighborhood of $30,000 with unique power and ride, check out the RX-8.
This is an image car for Mazda, similar to the MX-5 Miata. These are not volume leaders, but both add to Mazda's sporty, youthful corporate image. Sales of RX-8 in 2007 totaled 9,343, down 36 percent from the previous year while MX-5 Miata sales jumped to 16,897, up 72 percent from 2006.
According to Jim O'Sullivan, Mazda's President and CEO, Mazda boasts the second lowest median age of buyers at 43. Only Toyota's youth-oriented Scion Division has a lower median age. The two-seat MX-5 Miata can be had for around $20,000 and comes in a soft or hard top convertible version, it's the sharp-looking, four-cylinder choice. To experience more power with sportier handling, get behind the wheel of the RX-8.
Despite its compact size, RX-8 packs a wallop under the hood thanks to the rotary engine. Developed by German Engineer Felix Wankle in the 1950s, the compact rotary engine utilizes a triangular rotating rotor in an oval-shaped housing to intake, compress, combust and exhaust the air-fuel mixture.
Rotary engines benefit from lighter weight when compared to conventional piston-driven four-stroke engines (thanks to only three basic moving parts) and tremendous horsepower for its size. A rotary engine is 40 percent smaller and lighter than a four-cylinder engine. This car provides a different drive feel from the get go.
The downsides to the rotary engines in the past include reduced fuel efficiency and higher pollutant discharge. Also, low-end torque, the force that snaps cars to attention when pushing the pedal to the metal from a standing start, is slightly compromised.
Mazda has addressed the pollutant issue. The current rotary engine in the 2008 RX-8 (which Mazda coins RENESIS; a Rotary Engine Genesis) meets all U.S. federal emission standards thanks to improvements in the port design.
When Rotary engines began being mass produced in the early 1970s, timing could not be worse. The oil embargo of the time sent the price of a gallon of gasoline soaring to new records highs for the time. Long lines formed at the corner gas stations and suddenly, good fuel economy became paramount. General Motors, Mercedes-Benz and Mazda were all working on rotary engine developments. Mazda took the lead in mass marking the rotary engine in the early 1970s and it nearly bankrupt the company.
Mazda's rotary engine sales date back 1967 when the company introduced the Cosmo sport. This car is now quite a collector's item with comedian Jay Leno recently purchasing one for his massive car collection. The Rotary engined RX-8 debuted in the 2004 model year. Its predecessor, the rotary-powered RX-7 was available in the U.S. from 1979 to 1995.
While the subcompact
2008 Mazda RX-8 has an unimpressive EPA fuel estimate of 16 mpg city and 22 mpg highway, (keep in mind 2008 fuel economy standard are calculated differently than pre 2007 figures, resulting in an average 2-to-3 miles per gallon less in each category), the 1.3-liter rotary engine delivers 232 horsepower with a six-speed manual transmission (212 horses with six-speed automatic).
Rear-wheel drive and a nearly 50/50 weight distribution, thanks in part to the lighter weight rotary engine, provide a sporty balance. Hard-core sporting enthusiasts will notice a comparitively lackadaisical first and second gear, but once this car moves into third gear, the quiet power of the Rotary engine kicks in. Opt for the six-speed manual transmission which helps compensate for the lack of low-end torque. Take note; premium fuel is required.
Mazda dropped off a red, top-of-the-line Grand Touring edition for a week of driving. The starting price checked in at $31,070 and ended at $34,254 when calculating $430 for optional satellite radio, $2,000 for the navigation system, $159 in accent packaging and 595 for destination. Front, side and curtain air bags are standard as are anti-lock brakes and traction control. Two other trim levels are available in 2008 including Touring and Grand Touring.
While the RX-8 sports four seats, the two back seats are best left for the pre-teen set. Maneuvering into the back is made easier thanks to clam shell designed rear half-doors with hinges at the outer edge rather than on center "B" pillar (a design also found in club-cab type pick-up trucks). Since RX-8 has no interference from a "B" pillar, more wiggle room is available when entering. Keep in mind when opening a rear door, the front door must first be opened to gain access to the handle (located on the side of the door) to open the rear doors.
Rear windows push open slightly for increased ventilation. Most sports cars of this ilk settle for static, non-opening back side windows. The side windows are sized enough to provide drivers with adequate perception on the sides, not great but better than most. Many compact and subcompact coupes with narrow windows have more pronounced blind spots
The test Grand Touring edition comes with leather seating standard. Sport and Touring have cloth surfaces. The power driver's seat was supportive and snug with side bolsters. The fuel door release lever is on the floor left of the driver's seat. Headroom may be an issue for those over six-feet, four-inches in front. If positioned in the rear two seats height should not exceed five-feet, eight inches for best comfort.
The instrument panel consists of three independent, deep set circular gauges. The center gauge includes tachometer encompassing the outer portion and a digital speedometer tucked inside. Headlights monitor from the steering column stalk while windshield wipers activate from a right-side stalk. At night, red backlighting adorns the dashboard as is the case with many other Mazda vehicles. Another Mazda design is cruise control functions and secondary sound system functions on the face of the steering wheel. In place of an ignition cylinder on the right-side steering column is a twist knob. Simply move this knob a quarter turn forward to start the engine, providing the flat, square electronic key fob is on your person or in a purse. Storage areas are limited with small map pockets in the front doors, a very small pull down drawer on the bottom far left dash board under the interior light dial. Side-view mirror, power window and lock buttons are at a 45-degree angle on the driver's door. Between the front bucket seats are dual inline beverage holders which is probably the best place to stash a cell phone, unless the ash tray nearby fills the bill. Also in the area is hand-operated parking brake. A shallow, flip-top storage bin, hinged on the right side is behind the cup holders and a stretch for front passengers to reach.
Outside, pronounced wheel wheels surround the front wheels while slightly less arched wheel are stationed in the rear. RX-8 retains the sharp look of a coupe with easier rear access than just about any sports coupe competitor thanks to the clam-shell design of the rear doors. It's one of the slickest looking four doors available. Front doors are larger than other four-door sedans (thanks to diminutive rear doors) and swing out wide enough for easy front seat entry. Decorative air vent slits are on both front fenders just aft of the wheel arches. Wide and narrow headlight housing and a long hood minimize the traditional front grille. The gold turn signal lights wrap around the front fender. A short deck lid contributes to a diminutive back end. The radio antenna is mounted into the rear window. The 2008 retains the same design of the past several years, yet remains an eye-catcher.
The trunk includes a rather diminutive luggage capacity of 7.6 cubic feet of room with shock-absorber type hinges outside the cargo area. It's not a low liftover design so when stowing items, one must hoist up over the lip. A tire repair kit and lift jack are found in the trunk, but no spare of any kind. Below the tail lights are a dual exhaust and a center RX-8 triangular icon with smoothed edges representing the rotary engine. Strap-like doors are body colored.
Not much changes for RX-8 in 2008 (from 2007), save for a special limited-edition 40th-anniversary model with unique color scheme. In the next couple years, look for a second-generation RX-8 makeover. RX-8 comes with a five-year, 60,000-mile powertrain warranty (whichever comes first).
Rotary engines just might experience a second coming of sorts as the industry experiments with new fuel sources. Mazda is utilizing hydrogen power as a fuel source powering the Rotary engine and currently leases seven hydrogen rotary engine vehicles in Japan for commercial use. Stay tuned.