The two key elements of the RX8 are its rotary engine and its rear opening 'freestyle' doors and they both make the RX8 a unique proposition.
We've had the MX5 SP and the Mazda6 to show us that Mazda knows what performance and handling are all about (and who could forget the RX7!) and the RX8 is the new high point in Mazda's comeback.
There have been over 1.8 million rotary-engined cars built by Mazda since 1967, but this is the most significant (and there's no doubt in my mind the best) development of the rotary engine yet.
The rotary is Mazda's 'Halo' and they are the only manufacturer (it nearly bankrupted them in the 1970s and 1980s) that has perservered with it and the rotary has never had a better mount than the outstanding RX8.
The all-new Renesis (it stands for Rotary Engine geNISIS) rotary develops 177kW@8200rpm and a surprisingly flexible and usable 211Nm of torque @ 5500rpm without the aid of a turbocharger.
It's seven kilowatts down on the Japanese market version, which is again due to our lousy fuel.
This new iteration of the rotary spins (or should I say rotates?) as easily to 9000rpm (with warning buzzer) as it potters around town at low revs.
The perfectly matched gear ratios and orgasmic gearshift make driving the RX8 a sensual experience, there really is nothing like a Rotary for smooth seamless power. In third gear it pulls strongly from 40km/h around town and out on e the open road it cruises restfully in sixth for good fuel economy and the absence of drive train snatch is a first for a performance rotary.
This is one very quick car with a 0-100kph time in the six-second bracket and a top whack two and a half times the legal limit.
It never feels out of breath and in this price range only the Honda S2000 is as eager to search for the redline as this car.
The RX8 does like a good drink of Premium Unleaded (Optimax preferably) if you use the available power. On my 300km punt it averaged about 16L/100kms.
On those rare occasions when you can resist the intoxicating performance you'll do a lot better!
The chassis provides sublime precise feedback, predictability and gut churning grip that make the posted speed limits on some corners a joke.
With two on board during some spirited driving over undulating roads the RX8 bottomed a couple of times, but no more than any other sports car would have under the same conditions.
I mentioned this to RX8 platform manager, Noboru Katabuchi and he said they would assess whether further suspension travel was necessary.
Katabuchi san has spent the last four years of his life on the RX8 and the passion he shows for the car was matched by the intensity with which he valued the feedback.
The unobtrusive electronic stability control works so well that it actually enhances the driving experience (you don't notice it) and it is one of the few cars I felt no need to turn off.
If you do overstep the mark the fat 323mm front and 302mm rear discs pull you up powerfully and without fade all day long.
The compact size of the rotary allows it to be mid-mounted behind the front axle line to achieve the ideal 50/50 weight distribution.
Team this up with the standard six-speed manual transmission and perhaps the best chassis out of Japan in a long time and you've got an absolute screamer of a car that costs only $56,170 or $62,610 for the top of the range Leather Pack RX8 I punted over some very challenging roads.
There is an optional (around $800) four-speed auto available, but it is rev-limited to 7500rpm (Mazda couldn't find a suitable auto that will spin to 9000rpm!) and offers up only 141kW@7000rpm, but a smidge more torque with 220Nm@5000rpm.
The four door Coupe styling of the RX8 works even better in the flesh than it does in pictures, the rear opening doors offer a simple solution to the age-old problem of rear seat access in a Coupe.
They won't open unless the front door is open for obvious safety reasons, and access to the rear seats is reasonable and once you're in, there is actually sufficient room.
The quality of the plastics and leather used around the cabin are first rate and streets ahead of the new Nissan 350Z which some see as its closet competitor.
A stunning mix of red and black leather sets off the hip hugging bucket seats and chunky wheel beautifully.
The attention to detail that Mazda have lavished on their new flagship is evident everywhere (as is the Rotary symbol) and no where is it more apparent than in the dashboard which proudly displays the rev counter dead centre in true sports car fashion.
The length of the equipment list makes options obsolete and every luxury and convenience feature you could want is standard.
The only option available is the Leather pack ($6440) which includes leather trim, Xenon headlights, front fog lamps, 300 Watt BOSE sound system with an in dash six stacker CD with nine speakers, and an 8 way electric drivers seat.
The premium 225/45R18-91W tyres are mounted on chunky 18x8 inch alloys on both models.
Think of the RX8 as a superb sports car with an intoxicating engine and a sublime and poised chassis that is just as happy in peak hour as it is on the Black Spur is reason enough to buy it.
The fact that it has a stunningly different look outside and a character filled cabin that wraps around you inside make the RX8 the must have car of 2003.
It impresses on every level and it's a truly stunning car for its asking price. If you have $60k to spend on a car and you don't look at the RX8 then you are missing out on the kick arse car of 2003, or you are a bit of a badge snob.
The RX8 can be just about anything you want it to be and for around $60K it's a bargain. I got into a Porsche Boxter S immediately after the RX8, it was intoxicating, but it's more than twice the price but it's not twice the car.
The RX8 really does not have any direct competitors (how many four door coupe's can you name?) and the obvious cross shopping alternatives like the 350Z and Monaro fall short of the RX8's excellence overall. It's sex on wheels.
The two key elements of the RX8 are its rotary engine and its rear opening 'freestyle' doors and they both make the RX8 a unique proposition.
We've had the MX5 SP and the Mazda6 to show us that Mazda knows what performance and handling are all about (and who could forget the RX7!) and the RX8 is the new high point in Mazda's comeback.
There have been over 1.8 million rotary-engined cars built by Mazda since 1967, but this is the most significant (and there's no doubt in my mind the best) development of the rotary engine yet.
The rotary is Mazda's 'Halo' and they are the only manufacturer (it nearly bankrupted them in the 1970s and 1980s) that has perservered with it and the rotary has never had a better mount than the outstanding RX8.
The all-new Renesis (it stands for Rotary Engine geNISIS) rotary develops 177kW@8200rpm and a surprisingly flexible and usable 211Nm of torque @ 5500rpm without the aid of a turbocharger.
It's seven kilowatts down on the Japanese market version, which is again due to our lousy fuel.
This new iteration of the rotary spins (or should I say rotates?) as easily to 9000rpm (with warning buzzer) as it potters around town at low revs.
The perfectly matched gear ratios and orgasmic gearshift make driving the RX8 a sensual experience, there really is nothing like a Rotary for smooth seamless power. In third gear it pulls strongly from 40km/h around town and out on e the open road it cruises restfully in sixth for good fuel economy and the absence of drive train snatch is a first for a performance rotary.
This is one very quick car with a 0-100kph time in the six-second bracket and a top whack two and a half times the legal limit.
It never feels out of breath and in this price range only the Honda S2000 is as eager to search for the redline as this car.
The RX8 does like a good drink of Premium Unleaded (Optimax preferably) if you use the available power. On my 300km punt it averaged about 16L/100kms.
On those rare occasions when you can resist the intoxicating performance you'll do a lot better!
The chassis provides sublime precise feedback, predictability and gut churning grip that make the posted speed limits on some corners a joke.
With two on board during some spirited driving over undulating roads the RX8 bottomed a couple of times, but no more than any other sports car would have under the same conditions.
I mentioned this to RX8 platform manager, Noboru Katabuchi and he said they would assess whether further suspension travel was necessary.
Katabuchi san has spent the last four years of his life on the RX8 and the passion he shows for the car was matched by the intensity with which he valued the feedback.
The unobtrusive electronic stability control works so well that it actually enhances the driving experience (you don't notice it) and it is one of the few cars I felt no need to turn off.
If you do overstep the mark the fat 323mm front and 302mm rear discs pull you up powerfully and without fade all day long.
The compact size of the rotary allows it to be mid-mounted behind the front axle line to achieve the ideal 50/50 weight distribution.
Team this up with the standard six-speed manual transmission and perhaps the best chassis out of Japan in a long time and you've got an absolute screamer of a car that costs only $56,170 or $62,610 for the top of the range Leather Pack RX8 I punted over some very challenging roads.
There is an optional (around $800) four-speed auto available, but it is rev-limited to 7500rpm (Mazda couldn't find a suitable auto that will spin to 9000rpm!) and offers up only 141kW@7000rpm, but a smidge more torque with 220Nm@5000rpm.
The four door Coupe styling of the RX8 works even better in the flesh than it does in pictures, the rear opening doors offer a simple solution to the age-old problem of rear seat access in a Coupe.
They won't open unless the front door is open for obvious safety reasons, and access to the rear seats is reasonable and once you're in, there is actually sufficient room.
The quality of the plastics and leather used around the cabin are first rate and streets ahead of the new Nissan 350Z which some see as its closet competitor.
A stunning mix of red and black leather sets off the hip hugging bucket seats and chunky wheel beautifully.
The attention to detail that Mazda have lavished on their new flagship is evident everywhere (as is the Rotary symbol) and no where is it more apparent than in the dashboard which proudly displays the rev counter dead centre in true sports car fashion.
The length of the equipment list makes options obsolete and every luxury and convenience feature you could want is standard.
The only option available is the Leather pack ($6440) which includes leather trim, Xenon headlights, front fog lamps, 300 Watt BOSE sound system with an in dash six stacker CD with nine speakers, and an 8 way electric drivers seat.
The premium 225/45R18-91W tyres are mounted on chunky 18x8 inch alloys on both models.
Think of the RX8 as a superb sports car with an intoxicating engine and a sublime and poised chassis that is just as happy in peak hour as it is on the Black Spur is reason enough to buy it.
The fact that it has a stunningly different look outside and a character filled cabin that wraps around you inside make the RX8 the must have car of 2003.
It impresses on every level and it's a truly stunning car for its asking price. If you have $60k to spend on a car and you don't look at the RX8 then you are missing out on the kick arse car of 2003, or you are a bit of a badge snob.
The RX8 can be just about anything you want it to be and for around $60K it's a bargain. I got into a Porsche Boxter S immediately after the RX8, it was intoxicating, but it's more than twice the price but it's not twice the car.
The RX8 really does not have any direct competitors (how many four door coupe's can you name?) and the obvious cross shopping alternatives like the 350Z and Monaro fall short of the RX8's excellence overall. It's sex on wheels.