Something strange happened back in 2003 that completely revolutionised the sports coupe segment. Mazda zoomed into the showrooms with their latest creation the RX-8. Breaking all boundaries in terms of exceptional styling, unprecedented driving dynamics and of course, their unique rotary engine, this four seater, four door coupe was simply sensational. Now the Mazda RX-8 has had its first make over and defying all probability, the exterior has just got better.
Just one version is now available that of the R3. Decked out in the Sports Styling Pack, which comprises of a body coloured sport front bumper, side skirts and rear wing the RX-8 R3 is more powerful and muscular looking than before. The air-extractor vents behind the wheel arches have been binned in favour of the turn-repeater light while the new front bumper design sees a larger five-point grille and oil cooling openings below the front fog lights, that are nearly twice as large as on the original model. Along with new front headlamps, new front fender designs, new twin round LED rear lamps and a redesigned rear bumper with larger 90 mm diameter exhaust pipes plus the humongous wheel arches covering 19 inch alloy wheels, this car caused more heads to turn and accounted for more neighbours suffering from lockjaw than I have witnessed in years.
Sliding into the RX-8 R3 and the interior has seen a revamp too, with half leather Recaro bucket seats that are quite narrow and an updated dashboard. The ‘free-style’ rear doors are in tact, which, I have to admit, the children loved and certainly made it easier for them to clamber in and out of. The only flaw with the doors is that they are incredibly wide so the children could not reach out to close them, nor, in fact, could my passenger. The alloy pedals are slightly offset with the driver’s footrest being where the clutch should be.
The RX-8 R3 is equipped with a host on equipment all standard. The leather height adjustable steering wheel is home to the remote audio controls for the Premium BOSE MP3 compatible nine speaker 6-CD integrated changer. Keeping all the occupants cool is the automatic climate control air conditioning. Aiding and abetting the driver is cruise control, rain sensing wipers and Xenon headlights with automatic levelling and washer jets. The front windows are electric while the rear windows are manually operated. The body coloured door mirrors are electrically adjustable and heated.
Powered by an improved version of the 231ps twin-rotary engine, the new RX-8 R3 claims faster steering, chassis and engine responses plus more refinement. The latest generation RENESIS rotary engine has technology that allows an immense rev range, is more compact and weighs less that a conventional engine hence the ability to behave as a high performance sports coupe. The rotary engine is unique, as it has no cylinders, pistons nor valves. As a result, the cubic capacity cannot be calculated in the same way as a traditional engine. Mazda have their own way of working this out and cite it to be the equalivant of 1.3 litre petrol. This then makes it the fastest 1.3 litre engine that I know of taking just 6.4 seconds to sprint from 0-62mph with a top speed of 146 mph. That will also see you racing to the nearest petrol station for fuel consumption is a costly 24.6-mpg on a combined cycle, that I also believe, is the most un-economical 1.3 litre engine known to man. It gets worse as you will also be hit hard at the VED department for this RX-8 R3 comes into the highest band for road fund licence - F equating to £400 per annum set to rise to £440 next April, as CO2 emissions are an outrageous 299g/km. the insurance group is 16E. However, with the low initial price tag of £24,995, money saved from buying a competitor’s equalivant sports coupe will be put to good use paying for the running costs of this RX-8 R3.
The sports suspension has been redefined to give a smoother ride and handling. While the handling was great the ride was back breakingly painful being as hard as Ayres Rock with every bump and pothole ricocheting into the cabin. So brace yourself and sit deeply into the seats otherwise you are in for a seriously bumpy ride. A six speed manual transmission is standard along with the speed sensitive electric power steering that will glide you effortlessly into those parking bays despite the wide dimensions of the car.
Shop to you drop in the RX-8 R3 for it certainly is an accommodating practical car with a luggage capacity of 290 litres including a ski-hatch for longer items plus numerous storage solutions. The front armrest hides a deep binnacle, there are cup holders, the illuminated glovebox is lockable, the sunglasses holder is located in an overhead console while the children have door pockets and a rear centre storage box with two-cup holders for their bits and pieces.
The RX-8R3 is also a very safe place to be in thanks to the all disc braking system with ABS, Electronic Brakeforce Distribution, Limited Slip Differential, Dynamic Stability Control and Traction Control System. If all that lot does not keep you safely on the tarmac you have driver and passenger airbags, front side airbags and full-length airbags as a back up, along with front seatbelt pre-tensioners with load limiters. However, Mazda were not content with that so have added the MAIDUS touch that is Mazda Advanced Impact Distribution and Absorption System which helps prevent cabin deformation by absorbing the force of a collision over the entire car so all occupants are protected.
Securing the RX-8 R3 is a Thatcham Category 1 anti theft alarm, immobiliser and remote central locking with dead locks. At under £25,000, the new RX-8 R3 offers incredibly good value for a sportscar. It has to be one of the best looking cars that adorn our roads today. It is a shame about the unforgiving ride and the bad timing of launching a car with such preposterous CO2 emissions and outlandish fuel consumption when everyone but everyone is battening down the hatches against the spiralling costs of motoring.
Jackie Violet - Female First
Something strange happened back in 2003 that completely revolutionised the sports coupe segment. Mazda zoomed into the showrooms with their latest creation the RX-8. Breaking all boundaries in terms of exceptional styling, unprecedented driving dynamics and of course, their unique rotary engine, this four seater, four door coupe was simply sensational. Now the Mazda RX-8 has had its first make over and defying all probability, the exterior has just got better.
Just one version is now available that of the R3. Decked out in the Sports Styling Pack, which comprises of a body coloured sport front bumper, side skirts and rear wing the RX-8 R3 is more powerful and muscular looking than before. The air-extractor vents behind the wheel arches have been binned in favour of the turn-repeater light while the new front bumper design sees a larger five-point grille and oil cooling openings below the front fog lights, that are nearly twice as large as on the original model. Along with new front headlamps, new front fender designs, new twin round LED rear lamps and a redesigned rear bumper with larger 90 mm diameter exhaust pipes plus the humongous wheel arches covering 19 inch alloy wheels, this car caused more heads to turn and accounted for more neighbours suffering from lockjaw than I have witnessed in years.
Sliding into the RX-8 R3 and the interior has seen a revamp too, with half leather Recaro bucket seats that are quite narrow and an updated dashboard. The ‘free-style’ rear doors are in tact, which, I have to admit, the children loved and certainly made it easier for them to clamber in and out of. The only flaw with the doors is that they are incredibly wide so the children could not reach out to close them, nor, in fact, could my passenger. The alloy pedals are slightly offset with the driver’s footrest being where the clutch should be.
The RX-8 R3 is equipped with a host on equipment all standard. The leather height adjustable steering wheel is home to the remote audio controls for the Premium BOSE MP3 compatible nine speaker 6-CD integrated changer. Keeping all the occupants cool is the automatic climate control air conditioning. Aiding and abetting the driver is cruise control, rain sensing wipers and Xenon headlights with automatic levelling and washer jets. The front windows are electric while the rear windows are manually operated. The body coloured door mirrors are electrically adjustable and heated.
Powered by an improved version of the 231ps twin-rotary engine, the new RX-8 R3 claims faster steering, chassis and engine responses plus more refinement. The latest generation RENESIS rotary engine has technology that allows an immense rev range, is more compact and weighs less that a conventional engine hence the ability to behave as a high performance sports coupe. The rotary engine is unique, as it has no cylinders, pistons nor valves. As a result, the cubic capacity cannot be calculated in the same way as a traditional engine. Mazda have their own way of working this out and cite it to be the equalivant of 1.3 litre petrol. This then makes it the fastest 1.3 litre engine that I know of taking just 6.4 seconds to sprint from 0-62mph with a top speed of 146 mph. That will also see you racing to the nearest petrol station for fuel consumption is a costly 24.6-mpg on a combined cycle, that I also believe, is the most un-economical 1.3 litre engine known to man. It gets worse as you will also be hit hard at the VED department for this RX-8 R3 comes into the highest band for road fund licence - F equating to £400 per annum set to rise to £440 next April, as CO2 emissions are an outrageous 299g/km. the insurance group is 16E. However, with the low initial price tag of £24,995, money saved from buying a competitor’s equalivant sports coupe will be put to good use paying for the running costs of this RX-8 R3.
The sports suspension has been redefined to give a smoother ride and handling. While the handling was great the ride was back breakingly painful being as hard as Ayres Rock with every bump and pothole ricocheting into the cabin. So brace yourself and sit deeply into the seats otherwise you are in for a seriously bumpy ride. A six speed manual transmission is standard along with the speed sensitive electric power steering that will glide you effortlessly into those parking bays despite the wide dimensions of the car.
Shop to you drop in the RX-8 R3 for it certainly is an accommodating practical car with a luggage capacity of 290 litres including a ski-hatch for longer items plus numerous storage solutions. The front armrest hides a deep binnacle, there are cup holders, the illuminated glovebox is lockable, the sunglasses holder is located in an overhead console while the children have door pockets and a rear centre storage box with two-cup holders for their bits and pieces.