July 14, 2008 10:00 PM by Brian Potter Filed Under: Mazda
Mazda announced today the facelifted RX-8 R3 which is distinguished by a Sports Styling Pack comprised of a sport front bumper, side skirts, rear wing and 19-inch alloy wheels. Elsewhere, an up-rated suspension, lower gearing, enhanced aerodynamics and new Recaro sports seats. At under £25,000, the 231ps twin-rotor engined RX-8 R3 hits 146mph with the ability to reach 62mph (100km/h) in 6.4 seconds, and available in dealerships from late August 2008.
New Mazda RX-8 R3 delivers faster responses and even more driving fun
Single, highly-specified £24,995 model on sale from late August 2008
New Styling Pack, 19-inch wheels and Recaro seats boost driver appeal
Later this year Mazda is introducing a new version of its unique rotary-engined, four?seater, four-door coupe – the Mazda RX-8 R3. Powered by an improved version of the 231ps twin-rotor engine, the new R3 will offer drivers a heightened experience with faster steering, chassis and engine responses, more refinement, more equipment and even greater value.
On sale from late August, the new Mazda RX-8 R3 will be priced at £24,995 (on?the?road) and, together with the Mazda MX-5, is sure to maintain Mazda’s position as ‘Britain’s favourite sportscar brand’ with a 25 per cent share of that market sector.
“New Mazda RX-8 R3 is the ultimate expression of Mazda’s brand DNA, demonstrating our determination to do things differently,” enthuses Mark Cameron, Mazda UK Marketing Director.
“The R3 delivers an even more focused and even more sporty driving experience, while retaining the original model’s many uniquely attractive technical innovations and adding numerous premium features.
“Thanks to its Sports Styling Pack, stiffer body shell, up-rated suspension, lower gearing, enhanced aerodynamics and new Recaro sports seats, the new Mazda RX-8 R3 is a truly exciting sportscar with immense driver appeal. It remains the perfect ‘flagship’ model for Mazda in the UK,” adds Cameron.
“The changes made for R3 have not detracted in any way from the unique selling points that made the Mazda RX-8 such a stunning car at its 2003 launch. RX-8 is still the world’s only rotary-engined production car, and that very rare creation, a genuine four-seater coupe. The free-style doors ensure good access and the car has the typical Mazda functionality, practicality and reliability that also make it a ‘use-me-every-day’ kind of car. With the new-look Sports Styling Pack for the RX-8 R3, Mazda is taking a step back towards its sportscar heritage, giving its coupe the appearance of a Japanese racing car,” declares Cameron.
The standard-fit Sports Styling Pack comprises a sport front bumper, side skirts and rear wing all finished in body colour. The new model’s front wings no longer feature the air-extractor vents behind the wheel arches and accommodate the turn-repeater light instead.
Mazda RX-8 has always had the appearance of a classic sportscar with a powerful?looking and dynamic exterior design. The new R3 version enhances this with a new front bumper design that has 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 for an even stronger look and improved cooling. Added to this are new front headlamps, new front fender designs, new twin round LED rear lamps and a redesigned rear bumper with larger exhaust pipes (now 90mm in diameter) – all executed with a beautiful attention to detail and a superb build quality that Mazda drivers have grown to expect.
The more aggressive appearance created by the revised styling is complemented by the all-new larger diameter 19-inch alloy wheels with ultra-low profile 40 section tyres. These extra-light wheels have five ‘rotor-shaped’ spokes and are finished in dark titanium.
At under £25,000, the new RX-8 R3 is still incredibly good value for a 146mph sportscar with the ability to reach 62mph in just 6.4 seconds. A previous model RX-8 of equivalent power, with leather trim and metallic paint would actually have cost more than the highly specified new RX-8 R3.
The new Mazda RX-8 R3 will be available in four new body colours – Aurora Blue mica, Crystal White pearlescent, Diamond Grey metallic and Sparkling Black mica – and two carry-over colours, Sunlight Silver metallic and Velocity Red mica. A solid paint finish is not available and whatever colour customers choose, there is no additional charge.
Rotary Powertrain – Enhanced Sports Car Performance
The uniquely high-revving RENESIS engine of the new RX-8 is evolved to deliver sharper responses and even more driving fun, although the outright power and torque are unchanged. Maximum power is 231ps at 7,500rpm and maximum torque is 211Nm at 5,500rpm.
Several measures have been taken to enhance engine lubrication in the new R3. The metering oil pump drive is now electromagnetic, rather than mechanical, and the pump is now mounted semi-directly at the supply position. The oil capacity is enlarged to 7.0-litres and a larger oil cooler air intake generates a 6°C drop in oil temperature at maximum engine speeds.
The rotary engine’s acclaimed smoothness and cultivation is enhanced by the introduction of a two knock sensor system, a first for Mazda, which improves the detection and prevention of knock. Drive shaft torsional rigidity has been increased by 30 per cent improving driving performance and reducing NVH.
The new RX-8 R3 also features variable ‘red-zone’ technology which limits revs at a cold start to protect the engine and allows full use of the car’s uniquely broad 9,000rpm rev-band when it is fully warmed.
Using a 700ps race-tuned four-rotor rotary engine, Mazda won the Le Mans 24 Hours race in 1991, beating hot favourites Porsche along the way. Mazda was the first and is still the only Japanese manufacturer to have achieved this classic motorsport feat.
Every new Mazda RX-8 R3 comes with a new six-speed manual gearbox developed from the transmission fitted in the smooth-shifting third-generation MX-5. This unit has better overall shift feel, making the new R3 even more fun to drive. It is fitted with a higher top ratio (0.787:1) for quieter, relaxed and fuel-efficient cruising – and R3 is fitted with a lower final drive ratio (4.777 compared to 4.444 for the previous model) for a sharper getaway from standstill and improved performance feel.
Improved Ride and Handling
The new RX-8 R3 continues to feature the front-midship engine, rear-wheel drive configuration of the original, delivering an ideal 50/50 weight distribution between the front and rear axles for fantastic handling characteristics. This acclaimed attribute is taken to a new level with improved overall body shell rigidity, steering feel and handling stability.
Mazda engineers have stiffened the body shell so that torsional (twisting) and flexural (bending) rigidity have been increased by 5.4 and 8.7 per cent respectively.
Revised steering and suspension deliver even better steering feel and driving stability. New damper, spring, suspension bush and stabiliser settings are introduced for enhanced ride comfort, while Bilstein® sports suspension and a urethane foam filled front suspension cross member ensure a more linear steering feel with a quieter and smoother ride for optimal comfort. The multi-link rear suspension geometry is fine tuned for increased stability.
Also contributing to the evolved handling of the new Mazda RX-8 is its exterior design, which is updated for improved aerodynamic performance and reduced lift, enhancing performance feel and high-speed stability. Underbody airflow is optimised as well by a redesigned and extended floor covering. All these modifications do not harm the aero Cd which remains a highly competitive 0.30.
Maximised premium equipment, maximised value
Marketed as a single model, the new R3 is so highly specified that no factory-fitted options are available and each car is fitted with more than a dozen items of equipment not previously available on an RX-8.
The interior of the new RX-8 is just as sporty and sophisticated as its predecessor, and adds new trim materials for a further improvement in quality look and feel. For the driver, the cockpit is even sportier with new Recaro sports front seats, a tachometer that now has a variable red-zone that rises as the engine comes to operating temperature, an instrument cluster with a newly developed colour to help minimise eye strain, and a new-style steering wheel.
In addition to the Sports Styling Pack, larger 19-inch diameter alloy wheels and Recaro front seats, every R3 comes with 12 new items such as cruise control, automatic light-sensing xenon headlamps, automatic rain-sensing wipers, an integrated Bluetooth® system and special R3-badged carpet mats.
Buyers will also enjoy the new BOSE® premium audio system with Centerpoint® surround sound and AudioPilot® noise compensation technology exclusively designed for R3 with an eight-channel digital amplifier. A 6-CD autochanger, nine speakers and an AUX auxiliary jack (for connecting an MP3 player), complete the audio system.
Enhanced ownership benefits
As well as benefiting from hyped performance feel and significantly improved NVH (Noise, Vibration and Harshness), new RX-8 R3 owners will find it easier to live with as an ‘everyday’ car.
Checking the oil level in the R3 is now easier. The oil dip-stick has been moved from the side of the engine to the top of the engine cover, for quick and easy checking of the oil level. Engine oil capacity has been increased to 7.0-litres. And owners can now enjoy driving the new Mazda RX-8 longer between fuel fill ups. It has a larger 65.4-litre petrol tank holding 3.6-litres more fuel.
Goldfinger
July 14, 2008 10:16:38 PM
I saw about 5 of these coming out of Millbrook test centre in bedfordshire last friday , they really sounded high reving and looked really quick as they pulled away.
Is it me or does this car look too high off the ground. If I were to get it I think thats the first thing I would do and Ive never lowered a car before.
A mechanic buddy of mine who worked at a Mazda dealership tells me they routinely dropped new engines in these. Dunno if that's still the case, but it's worth mentioning.
Is it because they break down or because they want more HP from a Jap spec engine. I know that you do have to maintain that engine more than a regular car.
what do you mean 0-100 of 6.4 is bad? the TT 2.0 TFSI only does it in 6.6 seconds! you name something else that offers better performance for similar money?
350z, My Nissan Altima 06 (0-60 5.9), Impreza WRX, Lancer Ralliart, Dodge neon srt4, Toyota Camry, 2 dr honda accord, 2dr altima, Mitsubishi Eclipse, Civic si, Nissan Sentra SE-R. Shall I go on.
All of the cars I mentioned before the Eclipse on can do 0-60 in less than 6 seconds are 25k or less. The three cars that are at the end are a little bit above 6 seconds but equal the 0-60 you mentioned.
WoW. Does that make the Audi TT look a little impractical and over priced?
Good looking car for under 30k. Has the look of a performer but why didnt this get a mazdaspeed treatment? or perhaps it did and i missed it. I agree with the power issues though, probably would of had some other companies considering rotaries if they would of made this car a bit faster. Wasnt the rx-7 praised for its rotary? or maybe it was the tuning results achieved. Either way it is a looker and some people dont mind if the engine doesnt pair with the styling. Enjoy UK.
Rotary engines are compact and lightweight(good for the car's handling/balance/weight distribution) but have poorer fuel economy and are more expensive to maintain than conventional engines.
More expensive because you have to do oil changes more than a regular engines. You can let your engine run to like 5-6k miles until you need to do another oil change on a regular engine. On a rotary you need to change oil at like 2000-3500 miles.
This one is slower getting 0-100km/h than the old one, but due to the shorter gearing you have to change to 3rd gear just before 100km/h which explains the slower time.
The problem with the rotary engine configuration is the low torque output,this problem was solved in the rx-7 with the addition of turbos, however in the case of the rx-8 a lower gearing ratio can increase the torque but detrimentally reduce the acceleration.
A friend of mine has an RX-8, and ive rented an S2000, the RX-8 is far more practical. im about 6 feet tall and i fit very comfortably in the back seat given its a sports car. Those Suicide doors only making in and out of this spacious, VERY practical sports car easier. Thus while they might not look great, the doors here are a key part of this cars great overall appeal. Im tempted to buy a used one, even if they do burn alotta gas.
it's a truly great car but it's been around for some time, these facelifts help the image but i think it's about time Mazda would release another pure sport model like the legendary RX7
I saw about 5 of these coming out of Millbrook test centre in bedfordshire last friday , they really sounded high reving and looked really quick as they pulled away.