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Anticipation is building over the revitalised Mazda RX-8
sports car range arriving in Australia early in the second half of 2008. The new
RX-8 employs a myriad of mechanical upgrades under its sharp new clothes, all
designed to enhance the exhilarating reputation and iconic status of the world's
only rotary-powered, four-door sports car.
"The Mazda RX-8 is a special car, both to us and in the
automotive world, and there's a palpable excitement in the lead-up to the new
model," said Mazda Managing Director Doug Dickson. "It's like one long night
before Christmas!"
Mazda Australia can now confirm that the new RX-8 range will
consist of three models – one of which will wear the storied GT moniker.
The new Mazda RX-8 GT will spearhead Mazda's charge into the
next decade of rotary exhilaration when it hits Australian dealerships in July.
Specially tuned sports suspension with light-weight 19-inch wheels and a wide
range of modifications to the RX-8's RENESIS rotary engine will raise handling
and dynamic prowess to new levels.
The original Mazda RX-8 redefined the sports car genre when it
debuted in production form at the 2003 North American International Auto Show in
Detroit. It was a sports car only Mazda could make – A Sports Car Like No
Other.
The Mazda RX-8's curvaceous lines and compact proportions
incorporated an innovative four-door body with room for four adults. This
combined with the RX-8's unique RENESIS rotary power-plant capable of revving to
9,000rpm to captivate car buyers and critics alike.
The original Mazda RX-8 has won more than 50 automotive awards
around the globe, including 2003 International Engine of the Year, and
Australia's most prestigious; 2003 Wheels Car of the Year.
The popularity of the Mazda RX-8 is beyond question; more than
170,000 have been sold around the world.
When setting the goals for the new Mazda RX-8, Mazda's
engineers chose not to mess with the original's successful formula; instead all
efforts were focused on further honing its performance and styling. Mazda RX-8
Program Manager Noboru Katabuchi named this the pursuit of "Sophisticated
Dynamism".
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