Wednesday 27th September 2006

Mazda RX-8 gets mid-life tweak

Limited edition includes Prodrive tuition

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Mazda RX-8 Nemesis

Mazda is introducing a mid-life kicker model of its Mazda RX-8 rotary-powered four-door sports coupé -- and it includes a day's hooning at Prodrive's test facility.

Called the 'Mazda RX-8 Nemesis' the limited edition model features unique paint colours and interior trim, plus an exclusive accessory package, for £22,995 (on-the-road), which according to Mazda is £330 less than the model on which it is based when similarly specified. Mazda said it'll only build 350 of them.

Taking the standard 189bhp version of Mazda RX-8 with leather and a five-speed transmission as its foundation, the Nemesis offers a choice of two exclusive colours (Copper Red Mica and Stormy Blue Mica). The model gets a polished aluminium rotary crest on the front air dam, polished aluminium side air-outlet trims behind the front wheel arches, special B-pillar trims with a Rotary crest and ‘Nemesis’ badging.

Inside, these special edition models feature unique stone leather seat trim, plus Nemesis branded luxury carpet mats and Mazda RX-8 branded aluminium door scuff plates.

Like other standard RX-8s, the Nemesis has front fog lights, heated front seats, electrically-operated driver’s seat, climate control air-conditioning, nine-speaker BOSE premium audio system with 6-CD auto-changer, plus a black leather-wrapped steering wheel, gear knob and hand-brake lever, plus six airbags.

Each Nemesis buyer will also get a free Prodrive experience day "to learn how to get maximum enjoyment from their new car".

[Dakkon]

Wow, different paint and leather, not really much of a special edition, how about some more power....

[Rory3186]

And in what way is it different from the 'Evolve' limited edition ? As far as O can tell the paint job just has a different name.

[beasto]

Now what I would like to see is an RX-8 that ditches its oil-hungry ways.

How about eco-friendly power from a turbodiesel hybrid or an H2 gas-burner.

[nickwilcock]

And still no cruise control......??

Does the RX-8 yet have an oil tank to sate its prodigious thirst for the black stuff?

[astec815]

whats its oil consumption like? litre every 1000 miles?

[ED965]

Looks nice, but they all do.
As my missus owns one, my only gripe is its thirst for all liquids.
As a drivers car they are second to none forget the TT.
It's only competition is the Nissan 350Z but that has not got the practicalities of the RX.
Great cars but the drink.

[thanuk]

astec815 said:

whats its oil consumption like? litre every 1000 miles?

Just under that on mine. My wife's BMW needs topping up almost as often, for some reason the RX-8 has developed a reputation for oil consumption though.

[PhantomPH]

The Mazda Limited Edition machine continues! Look at the bazillion MX-5 'editions' that were done on the MkII. Mazda are shocking for it.

New door handles! Lets call it the RX-8 Mega-boobie!!

Truth is, it's the low-power model anyway, which means it's slower than the Evolve limited edition, which in itself was identical in almost every way to the standard high-power model, but with a vomit-inducing interior colour and a couple of the cheaper options pre-ticked in the catalogue.

The PZ is another dodgy excersize. Was able to compare one to my standard 230 at the weekend and to be honest, as there is absolutely ZERO power difference, I will keep my standard 230. I just think the PZ loses some of it's 'split personality' by being more track focused.

Until Mazda offer better fuel consumption (the oil is not an issue - gets better after 5000 miles anyway) and more power, they are not getting another penny from me...my money is going on a used 911.

P~

[R998]

beasto said:

Now what I would like to see is an RX-8 that ditches its oil-hungry ways.

How about eco-friendly power from a turbodiesel hybrid or an H2 gas-burner.

There is a Hydrogen version on limited sale in Japan.

[mc_blue]

I would've thought the demand for the car is still strong so why come out with another limited edition?

[mackie1]

I didn't think the PZ claimed to have any more power...

[arfur]

How about some torque ? Would be a nice addition !!

[itsallyellow]

nope the pz does not have more power and they never claimed it did. The handling is far superiour however. Im a salesman for mazda and none of us here have even heard of this nemisis edition. Looks like an evolve but with the lower bhp output...
mike

[rchadd]

I need some of those Mazda RX-8 branded aluminium door scuff plates!!!

The grade of plastic they have used in the standard model is not durable and scrapes quite badly and looks bad. hope they are available as extra.

hmmm...but doesnt seem that great difference to me - new colour and trim and a few free accessories.

if they could improve the MPG whilst maintaining the performance that would be much better idea! rotaries seem to love drinking fuel and oil

phantom you got the same idea as me! ...a nice used 911 i think

Edited by rchadd on Wednesday 27th September 11:50

[PhantomPH]

I never said it was supposed to have more power - I said "as it has no more power, I will keep my 230". Meaning the 'better handling' trades against the appealing side of the standard 230...it's fantastic standard handling and it's ability to remain comfortable.

Would like the PD back box tho....

I am still yet to see an impartial comparison between the PZ and the standard 230. I would like to see a genuine lap done in a PZ and then one in a 230. I bet the difference is not that much. Plus, I imagine that difference to be even less when on the trip to work instead of a track environment.

Mazda need to very seriously address the fuel consumption of the vehicle before any MkII version is launched.

IMHO, cynical marketing exersizes like 'limited editions' simply de-value the thousands of rx-8's already sold. It also smacks of an 'end of life' sales ploy.

P~

Edited by PhantomPH on Wednesday 27th September 11:54

[astec815]

mpg is something like 21 right?

i mean thats high consumtion for the engine size (is it 1.3 or 2.6?), id expect that from a high perfomance V8 pushing out 400 bhp at least

[mackie1]

That's one of the reasons I decided to get a V8 - much more power and torque but about the same MPG. As much as I like the idea of the wankel engine I just don't think if offers any real advantages over a normal piston engine apart from size and weight. They could stick the 2.3 turbo from the 6 MPS in it and instantly make it faster and more economical (whether the engine bay can accomodate it is another matter).

Edited by mackie1 on Wednesday 27th September 12:30

[PhantomPH]

In the early days, I was seeing 17mpg. I am not a crazy driver or anything - regular commutes and the odd foot-down moment. Shorter journeys make things worse, as I discovered.

Used more oil, too.

If you want to get a few more MPG, keep the revs between 3000 and 5500. Change up at about 5000. Its a complete fricken waste of the car tho, as it will rev to 9500! Why buy it to never do that? Its ever recommended to use the full rev range ('hit the beep') at least once a journey once the car is warm, to burn off any carbon deposits.

Anyway, I have had the car a year and done 5500 miles in this one (1000 miles in the first which expired at 2 months old!) and the oil useage has got better and the MPG has improved.

I have genuinely not worked out my mpg (I dare not!), but I think 19-20mpg would seem a very reasonable guess.

Its a real shame, as it spoils the enjoyment of what is a very, very good car. I am scared to put my foot down as I know its costing me an extra few miles before fillups every time I do it.

I could go to a 911 and actually SAVE money on fuel.

I am not hoping for a flaming from other 8 owners or anything like that - just my experiences of owning the car.

P~

[Graham]

Im sure i read somewhere, possibly to do with endurance racing that if you keep the motor flat out its fuel consumption is as good as anything else its just that at part loads and low rpm its crap ?

[PhantomPH]

That could be the best excuse I have ever heard! No more gentle driving for me!