RX8

The Mazda RX-8 is a four-seat sports car produced by Mazda from 2003 to 2012. It was designed as the successor to the RX-7 and emphasized a rotary engine in a practical chassis. The car uses a front-mid, rear-wheel-drive layout and is notable for its “freestyle” door arrangement, featuring two conventional front doors and two rear-hinged rear doors for rear-seat access.

Power and performance: The RX-8 is powered by Mazda's Renesis 13B-MSP rotary engine, a two-rotor design displacing about 1.3 liters. Depending on year and market, output is around 238 to 250 horsepower, paired with a six-speed manual transmission as standard; an automatic option was also offered in some markets. The engine revs highly, with a redline near 9,000 rpm, delivering strong response and a distinctive, high-revving character. The chassis emphasizes balance, contributing to agile handling.

Design and features: The interior seats four in a 2+2 layout, with a driver-focused cockpit and a compact rear area. The RX-8 frequently included performance options such as upgraded brakes and suspension. The Renesis engine included refinements over earlier rotary designs to improve efficiency and emissions for its time, though rotary engines generally consume more fuel and can incur higher maintenance costs.

Production and legacy: The RX-8 launched in the mid-2000s and was in production until 2012, after which Mazda ceased rotary-powered sports cars for a time. It was praised for handling, balance, and the rotary engine’s character, while criticized for fuel economy and reliability concerns tied to the rotary design. The RX-8 remains notable as Mazda’s most prominent rotary-powered production car and a reference for fans of unconventional engineering.