Fortunately, the corner has broad paved shoulders so we could have a long, extensive line, allowing the RX - 8 drift easily throughout the monitor as it barreled on the straight.

Because the speed creeps up, so does the strength of the sound, shifting from the flat ripping notice to an upset drone as it reaches for the 8500-rpm power peak. An almost indiscernible shaking in the controls grows to some trembling, as though the automobile were firing an ultralight - recoil machine-gun.

For a while there we believed green zealotry had killed off the sole feasible gasburning alternative to the omnipresent reciprocating engine. But a brilliantly simple change to the rotary engine's style has improved fuel-economy by 20-percent, based on Seiji Tashima, the engineer responsible for the so-called Renesis engine job, and cleaned-up emissions in order that they fulfill LEV-II and Euro 4 requirements.

Mazda engineers just transferred the exhaust ports (there aren't any valves in a rotary engine) from where they'd been in the peripheral face the rotor housing and put them in the side plates. In a stroke, that decreased the overlap between inlet and exhaust ports, reducing the number of airfuel mixture dropped immediately from the exhaust port.

Consequently, this change created cleaner exhaust emissions and gave lower gas consumption. Within the procedure Mazda created the naturally-aspirated 13B twinrotor Renesis engine about turbo motor. previousgeneration as strong (at a provisional 247 hp) while the. Among the tweaks is increase in port dimensions. Other additions are a varying-volume intake system and an electronic accelerator. The remainder is Mazda magic.

However, before you start emotionally calculating how much more power a turbo variant of the Renesis motor will punch-out, we must let you know that relatively cool exhaust gas from turbo-charged rotary motors prevents effective catalytic conversion, which makes it unlikely we'll find one soon, if.

But never-say never. And inside this new RX - 8, an unusual concept is embodied by it: the fourseat sports-car. Yeah, we understand that Nissan once known as the Maxima a fourdoor sports-car, but let us get real here. This RX - 8 directs and really runs and feels like a persuasive spiritual successor to the quickwitted but slowselling RX - 7.

It is simple to express fourseat sports-car, but what exactly does this mean? In this scenario, it means turning in as a race-car, feeling nimble and light, and resisting roll in corners. (A stabilitycontrol function is currently incorporated for the faint of heart.) This means a sleek sixspeed shifter, rearwheel drive, plus after the rotary hits nine grand a warning buzz.

And as there are really no handles in the back doors, the picture is not compromised by four protrusions. A system of interlocking vertical and lateral beams forms decent side-impact protection to be provided by a tough skeleton inside the door skins. Along the way, additionally they give a whole lot to the interlaced doors of rigidity.

The shortage of a centre column helps keep the wheelbase comparatively short. Based on Mazda's engineers and stylists, a centre column might have added nearly six inches to the auto's length. At a relatively brief 174.6 inches, the RX-8 is just the same size as a Honda Civic fourdoor.

After studying the bridge which joins the gearbox and differential device and also the powerful shocktower braces front and back, as well as two under-floor tunnel braces, we could consider it.

Anyway, the uni-body itself has beefy front frame rails that split to attach a backbone frame within the centre and longitudinal rails in the sides. A roof gusset and flooring crossmembers form a cage round the passenger compartment, to help protect occupants. All these characteristics helped the RX - Japanese newcar assessment program tests and 8 ace national with maximum scores.

Despite all this support and buttressing, the RX-8 is likely to weigh just over 3000 lbs.

Along with the highpowered sixspeed model we'll see here as a main within the spring of '03, there'll be a lowerpowered (about 207 hp) variant with a fivespeed automatic transmission. An activity suspension will probably be provided as an option on each version, with 22545R and 18inch wheels - 18 Bridgestone Potenza RE040 tires changing the 22555R and conventional 16inch wheels - 16 tires.
Thirteeninch front brake rotors are also to become a choice within the stock 12inch models. The vehicle can include Tokico monotube shocks and Bosch-furnished ABS and equilibrium control as standard equipment. And also the cost? At an estimated base of $27,000, the RX-8's worth harks back to the beginning of the RX-7.

That begs the question: Is a fourseat sports-car an oxymoron?

VEHICLE TYPE: front-engine, rear-wheel-drive, 2+2-passenger, 2+2-door coupe

ESTIMATED BASE PRICE: $27,000-$28,000

ENGINE TYPE: two-rotor Wankel, aluminum rotor housings with iron liners and end plates, Mazda engine-control system with port fuel injection
Displacement: 80 cu in, 1308cc
Power (SAE net): 207-247 bhp
Torque (SAE net): 159-164 lb-ft

TRANSMISSIONS: 6-speed manual, 5-speed auto

DIMENSIONS:
Wheelbase: 106.3 in Length: 174.6 in Width: 69.7 in Height: 52.8 in
Curb weight: 3000-3050 lb

C/D TEST RESULTS:
Zero to 60 mph: 6.3 sec
Zero to 100 mph: 16.5 sec
Standing 1/4-mile: 14.9 sec @ 95 mph
Top speed (drag limited): 150 mph

FUEL ECONOMY:
EPA city driving: 19-20 mpg
EPA highway driving: 28-30 mpg