Vehicle Overview

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2011 RX-8

2011 MAZDA RX-8: THE RENOWNED ROTARY-POWERED SPORTS CAR

Launched in 2003, the Mazda RX-8 hit the global market with a serious bang and has since gone on to win 48 global vehicle awards, including 2003 Japanese Car of the Year, Australia’s Wheels magazine’s Car of the Year, the 2004 U.S. Best Sports Car and the UK Car of the Year 2004. It was also named on Car and Driver magazine's Ten Best list for 2004, 2005, and 2006. In addition, the RENESIS Rotary Engine has won nine awards since 2003. All of these awards and accolades have helped Mazda sell nearly 191,000 RX-8s around the world.

Significantly updated in 2009 with a refreshed exterior and interior design, enhanced performance and the introduction of the R3 model, and refined for 2010, the RX-8 remains unchanged for 2011. Available in three trim levels – Sport, Grand Touring and R3, the RX-8 was specially designed with the enthusiast in mind. At the core of the RX-8 remains a high-powered, lightweight and perfectly balanced machine powered by the world-renowned twin-rotor RENESIS rotary engine.

Unique Sports Car Performance

Through-and-through, the RX-8 is a pure sports car that gives the driver an exciting and dynamic experience. With its superior body rigidity and structural reinforcements, the rear suspension geometry was reconfigured for the 2009 model year for better handling performance and improved driveshaft rigidity.

To achieve this sophisticated dynamic, Mazda utilizes the advanced RENESIS (Rotary Engine Genesis – or rebirth of the rotary engine) engine. The RX-8 remains the only mass-produced rotary-powered passenger car in the world. While exhibiting unusually high power output for a naturally-aspirated engine, RENESIS outstrips comparable reciprocating engines in terms of acceleration, the feeling of power in reserve and quick response.

The 2011 RX-8 is available as either a 232-horsepower model fitted with a six-speed manual transmission or a 212-horsepower model fitted with an optional six-speed automatic and steering-wheel-mounted paddle shifters for a Formula 1-style driving experience.

By turning a triangular rotor within a cocoon-shaped combustion chamber, the RX-8’s rotary engine efficiently performs the four processes of intake, compression, combustion and exhaust within a single rotation. The RENESIS engine is remarkably smooth and high revving – all the way to 9,000 rpm redline (7,500 rpm in six-speed Sport automatic-equipped models) – and offers a smaller engine footprint than traditional internal combustion engines (some 60 percent smaller and lighter than a comparably powered V-6, and 40 percent smaller and lighter than a four cylinder). In fact, the packaging and styling that define the RX-8 would not have been possible had Mazda engineers chosen a conventional piston engine.

Improving upon 40 years of rotary designs, the RENESIS engine features side intake and exhaust ports with nearly 30 percent more intake area and twice as much exhaust area than its predecessors. The efficiencies gained through larger intake and exhaust ports exclude the need for forced induction.

The 2011 RX-8’s normally aspirated 1.3-liter engine might appear diminutive to the untrained eye when compared to larger displacement V-8s or heavyweight V-10s or V-12s. However, through the incredible efficiencies of a rotary powerplant, an advanced three-stage intake system and an electronic throttle, the RENESIS engine delivers smooth, linear power on a grand scale.

The use of an aluminum double-wishbone suspension reduces unsprung weight over the use of steel components. By mounting the upper and lower arms on a highly rigid sub-frame, the long arms ensure linear alignment changes through the jounce and rebound of the front wheels. All wheels receive mono-tube gas-filled shock absorbers designed with large diameter internal pistons and valving, which offer excellent road feedback and a smooth ride.

An electric rack-and-pinion power-steering system transmits just the right amount of road information back to the driver. Mazda engineers have chosen to pursue their own path by using an electric motor for steering assistance rather than a conventional power-steering pump. The electric motor provides additional assistance at low speeds to ease parking and reduces steering assistance at higher speeds to provide greater road feel, responsiveness and feedback. And, in keeping with the rest of the development on RX-8, it is far lighter and easier to package than a conventional power-steering rack.

Exceptional Safety

When designing the 2011 RX-8, safety was given as much a priority as was performance. For Mazda, the safety process incorporates both accident avoidance and accident protection. In effect, this approach to safety means the RX-8 can help the driver avoid various dangers and protect occupants in the unfortunate event of a collision. In rollover tests performed by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), RX-8 achieved an impressive five-star rating. Mazda engineers integrated numerous active and passive safety elements throughout the car. Active safety features, which require input from the driver, include the use of large ABS-equipped disc brakes on all wheels as well as precise steering and suspension systems. Dynamic Stability Control with TCS (standard on Grand Touring and R3) delivers a superior level of handling that can be disabled when driving and road conditions allow safe operation.

Passive systems, or those that take effect automatically without the driver’s involvement, also are present throughout all RX-8 models. Despite the absence of a fixed center B-pillar, the RX-8 has an exceptionally rigid body, accomplished through the use of a series of locking pins, which hold the doors together and bind each door directly into the roof and floor. Integrating the frame components helps dissipate crash energy through the vehicle’s structure.

Other standard passive systems include front airbags, seat-mounted side-impact airbags and side-curtain airbags. Additionally, the front end and engine bay have ample crumple zones; the front seats are designed to reduce whiplash injuries; the brake pedal is designed to break away in the event of a collision of sufficient force to protect feet and legs; and all four seating positions are fitting with three-point seatbelts. Even pedestrian protection was considered as the RX-8 is fitted with Mazda’s “shock-cone” hood design that yields more to the impact of a pedestrian onto the hood than a standard design, yet is strong enough to not deform in normal use.

Styling With Originality

The 2011 RX-8 was designed with an athletically-sculpted exterior that provides a sense of originality that’s unrivaled in the marketplace today. Carrying over design enhancements from the 2009 model year, the 2011 RX-8 features a high-class look without impairing the basic design theme. Taut muscular lines give RX-8 the liberating look of an athlete in motion. The muscular styling maintains classic sports car proportions while adding a Zoom-Zoom edge that is unmistakably Mazda.

Key design elements include aggressive front and rear bumpers and front fascia, sporty high-quality finish front headlights and rear LED taillights and larger exhaust pipes. The RX-8 also offers a new 10-spoke wheel design featuring a symbolic and sporty design in the motif of a rotary engine with different arrangements for each wheel size.

The RX-8’s unique “freestyle” four-door design also is proof that a true sports car does not need to sacrifice space or convenience for performance. The advanced design of the rear-hinged rear doors provides a large door opening, allowing adult-sized passengers to easily enter and exit the vehicle. This design also is advantageous when securing a baby or a child in the back seat. With ample passenger room for four adults and enough trunk space for a weekend’s worth of luggage, this sports car proves its versatility.

The vehicle’s exterior styling presents a genuine sports car form while the interior boasts a comfortable and intelligently designed cabin. A simple, yet functional, interior design supports driving pleasure. Interior highlights include an athletic steering wheel, front and rear sports seats, an ergonomic center IP and an LCD touch-screen navigation system.

A variable red zone was also added to the tachometer. An extremely low cabin floor also allows the seats to be mounted low in the chassis, which, along with a low instrument cluster and hood, enhances driver visibility. Mazda designers concentrated on the shape of the front seat backs and the rear seat cushions to ensure adequate rear-seat knee room. Front seat slide-rails are positioned to allow maximum leg room for rear-seat passengers.

The rotary design element is incorporated through the interior of the RX-8 in creative ways, appearing in the seats, center console, shift knob and emergency brake. The stylish cabin also evokes a sense of luxury and high-end quality. Mazda’s design team examined every aspect and component of the interior and has created an elegant, driver-centric atmosphere. Through the use of advanced ergonomic research, Mazda engineers determined that improper seating posture to be a cause of driver fatigue and built in optimum support in the front seats to help offset discomfort. In addition, the soft blue lighting used in the RX-8’s instrument cluster was found to reduce eye fatigue and strain.

Packaging Innovations – The Ultimate Performance R3

To cater to the driving enthusiast, the RX-8 offers an R3 model. Providing the very best in rotary-powered motoring, the R3 model adds a sport-tuned suspension with Bilstein shock absorbers and front suspension crossmembers filled with urethane foam for better ride comfort. A rear spoiler, side sills, fog lights, Xenon headlights and a sporty front bumper are added to enhance the already aggressively athletic appearance along with 19-inch forged aluminum-alloy wheels with high performance tires. Inside, the R3 model adds a Bose® audio system with Centerpoint surround sound and AudioPilot® noise compensation technology, a Bluetooth® hands-free phone system, front Recaro sport seats with leather side bolsters, a leather-wrapped parking brake and Mazda’s Advanced Keyless Entry and Start system.

Two other trim levels are also offered – Sport and Grand Touring. The entry-level Sport is equipped with a six-speed manual overdrive transmission with short-throw shifter or an available six-speed Sport automatic transmission with paddle shifters and Adaptive Shift Logic. Also standard on the Sport model are front and rear stabilizer bars; independent front and double-wishbone suspension/rear multi-link suspension; sport-tuned suspension and torque-sending Limited Slip Differential (for manual transmissions only). Exterior highlights include 225/45R high-performance tires mounted on 18-inch aluminum alloy wheels, dual chrome tailpipe garnish, dual power mirrors and rear LED taillights.

Standard interior features include air conditioning, AM/FM/CD stereo with six speakers, auxiliary audio input jack, cloth-trimmed upholstery and door panels, cruise control, passenger seat one-touch walk-in function, steering wheel-mounted cruise and audio controls, a leather-wrapped steering wheel and shift knob as well as power windows and door locks.

Standard safety features include dual front, side and curtain airbags, an alarm with immobilizer, an Anti-Lock Braking System (ABS) with Electronic Brakeforce Distribution (EBD) and a Tire Pressure Monitoring System (TPMS).

A step up to the Grand Touring trim adds Xenon headlights, fog lights, auto dimming mirror with Homelink®, Dynamic Stability Control (DSC) with Traction Control System (TCS), a limited-slip differential (on automatic transmission models), auto on/off headlights, Bose® audio with six-disc CD auto changer, auto A/C, three-position driver seat memory, power-adjustable driver’s seat with lumbar support, leather-trimmed seating with heated front seats and outside mirrors, Mazda’s Advanced Keyless Entry & Start system, rain-sensing wipers and Bluetooth® hands-free capability. A DVD-driven satellite navigation unit also is available as a standalone option. All Grand Touring models are equipped with a moonroof and Sirius Satellite Radio® (with a six-month complimentary subscription).

Finally, Mazdas come with a roadside assistance program. With a call to a toll-free number, owners can access roadside assistance 24 hours a day, 365 days a year throughout the United States and Canada. In addition, a comprehensive three-year/36,000-mile warranty covers every part of the vehicle (except those subject to normal wear). Also, all models receive a five-year/60,000-mile powertrain warranty and a five-year/unlimited-mileage corrosion warranty. In addition, warranty coverage for the 2011 RX-8 includes extended coverage of the rotary engine to eight years/100,000 miles (whichever comes first).

Mazda North American Operations is headquartered in Irvine, Calif. and oversees the sales, marketing, parts and customer service support of Mazda vehicles in the United States, Canada and Mexico through nearly 900 dealers. Operations in Canada are managed by Mazda Canada, Inc., located in Ontario; and in Mexico by Mazda Motor de Mexico in Mexico City.

For more information on Mazda vehicles, visit the online Mazda media center at www.mazdausamedia.com. Product B-roll may be ordered online by visiting The News Market at www.thenewsmarket.com/mazda.