Monday 6th February 2006

Mazda updates rotary RX-8

Sports coupé gets tweaks but no more power

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Mazda RX-8 Evolve

Mazda is introducing its first-ever special edition model of the RX-8. It's no quicker, but it does have a fancy paint job and some design tweaks.

The 228bhp rotary powered four-door sports coupé special edition, the RX-8 Evolve's exterior features:

• Two exclusive colours -- copper red mica and phantom blue mica
• Dark silver 18 x 8J alloy wheels
• A polished aluminium rotary crest on the front air dam
• Dark silver bezel headlamps
• Sports door mirrors
• Polished aluminium side air outlet fins
• Rotary branded B-pillar trims
• Chrome exhaust surrounds
• ‘Evolve’ badging.

Inside, the Evolve features leather and Alcantara seat trim, plus black leather-wrapped steering wheel, gear knob and hand-brake lever.

It costs £23,900, the same price as a standard, 'high-power' Mazda RX-8 model with leather trim.

Sounds like a lost opportunity to give it some more welly -- and just possibly a bid to boost flagging sales...

[paulie-mafia]

Much ado about nothing IMHO.. Still prefer the RX-7...

[paulie-mafia]

suryade said:

The look of the car is ok. But the power seems very anemic IMHO. I thought Rotary engines were the way to go...cant they like up the displacement or anything? Isnt it like a litre and a half or something the engine size?!

To be honest I'm not sure why they still use a rotary engine, bar the obvious link to the RX-7. They're low in torque and (PH'ers correct me if I'm wrong!), need a fair bit of maintenance compared to a traditional internal combuston engine. On the plus side they do weigh less than engines with similar power outputs, so there must be handling benefits?