Following its debut at the Goodwood Festival of Speed and the celebration of the 40th anniversary of the rotary engine, Mazda Motor Corporation is marketing a special version of the RX8 that promises sharper handling, more refinement and unique exterior and interior features, the ‘Mazda RX8 40th Anniversary Limited Edition’.
The Mazda RX8 is acknowledged as one of the best handling cars in its class, with its perfect 50/50 weight distribution. The new limited edition model, which comes with the 231ps High Powered RENESIS engine and a six-speed manual transmission as standard, delivers even sharper handling thanks to sports front suspension with special springs and Bilstein dampers front and rear. Owners of this particular RX8 model will also enjoy a more refined drive as the chassis’s front suspension cross members are now filled with sound-deadening polyurethane foam for even quieter operation.
The original Mazda RX8 combined classical sports car aesthetics, described by its designers as ‘athletic tension’, with short overhangs, striking fenders and bumpers, and a unique bonnet line to visually communicate its powerful performance potential.
For the new RX8 40th Anniversary Limited Edition, these exterior features are enhanced with two specially designed exterior colours, a newly-developed Metropolitan grey that gives the RX8’s sporty form a strong touch of sophistication; and Crystal White Pearl that will set it apart on British roads. These new colours are set against new 10 spoke, bright grey 18 inch alloy wheels, new blue-light front fog lamps and a 40th anniversary emblem at the back of both front fenders.
The interior has several enhancements that celebrate the car’s premium look and feel. These include seat materials developed especially for this model in light grey Alcantara in the centre and black leather at the sides, combined with special trim materials in matching colours. For an extra touch of quality, the steering wheel is black leather to match the sides of the seats, with light stitching to match the colours of the seat centre panel. And the shift lever is covered in the same black leather with light stitching and features a silver shift knob centre.
It was on 30 May 2007, Mazda celebrated a unique anniversary, 40 years ago to the day, that the first rotary-engine car, the Mazda Cosmo Sport, went on sale. Since 1967, the Japanese company has manufactured 1.97 million rotary vehicles (to end of April 2007) and is the only car maker in the world to still mass produce rotary engined (RE) vehicles. This tradition received a major boost in 2003 with the launch of Mazda’s sports coupe icon, the RX8, which features the revolutionary RENESIS rotary engine under the bonnet.
For more information on Mazda RX8 New or Used please call Mazda Darlington on 0845 112 5006 or Mazda Durham on 0845 112 5009 (local rate)