AIM OF DEVELOPMENT

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New Model Concept

•  The Mazda RX-8 is an entirely new concept in a state-of-the-art sports car, combining unique sports car styling and excellent driving performance, together with the comfort and practicality of a four-door, four-passenger layout.

Outline

Exterior design

•  The dynamic styling, from front to back and along the body sides, creates a sense of “motion”.

•  A compact cabin supported by pronounced overfenders, lowers the visual center of gravity, emphasizing a sense of “stability”.

•  A pared-down body shape and a boldly contoured form gives the Mazda RX-8 an aggressive appearance.

External view

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Interior design

•  Modern, high-quality design

―  Vibrant styling from the dashboard to the rear.

―  Tight and compact dashboard emphasizes lightness and sophistication by adopting new textures, coloring, and metallic-look materials that add to its unique style.

―  Rotor-motif shift-lever knob and sunvisors employing mesh texturing demonstrate the value and attention to detail.

•  Comfortable interior

―  Front and rear console boxes with cup holders.

―  Door pockets are provided for road maps or a small bag.

―  Sunvisors are equipped with illuminated vanity mirrors.

―  Premium audio system with nine Bose^® speakers is available, offering an acoustic space of high quality.

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•  Center pillarless freestyle doors providing unhindered access to the cabin have been adopted.

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•  Trunk compartment with a practical capacity

―  A storage capacity of approx. 290 L {306 US qt, 255 lmp qt}, sufficient for two golf bags or two size-67 Samsonite suitcases, has been realized by lowering the floor thanks to the emergency puncture repair kit which requires no spare tire.

Engine - the “RENESIS” - a new-generation rotary engine

•  Engine

―  13B-multi side port (MSP)(High power and Standard power), new-generation rotary engine has been adopted.

―  Side exhaust system has been adopted with side intakes and exhaust ports.

―  Intake air resistance has been reduced are intake-port closing timing delayed for higher output with increased air intake.

―  Cut-off seals have been provided between the oil seals and the side seals of the rotors, preventing combustion gas from flowing into the intake air process.

―  Keystone-shaped (wedge-shaped) side seals have been adopted for increased sealing performance.

―  Ribs in the side housing and rotors have been decreased in thickness and weight while maintaining high rigidity.

―  Spark plugs with iridium tips have been adopted for improved heat resistance and durability.

―  Flank cuts on the corners of the rotors provide improved exhaust efficiency by delaying the exhaust-port closing timing.

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•  Intake and control

―  Sequential dynamic air intake system (S-DAIS) has been adopted, realizing powerful output at high engine speed provides a wide-range of torque in the low and medium-speed ranges through full use of air intake pulsating unique to the rotary engine.

―  Large, low-resistance air cleaner and variable fresh air duct (VFAD) have been adopted.

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―  New jet air fuel mixing system that promotes atomization, vaporization, and mixing of fuel has been adopted on the intake port unique to the rotary engine, realizing improved combustion and reduced fuel consumption.

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Advanced front-midship layout

•  Combination of state-of-the-art technologies such as a compact rotary engine, a thin engine oil pan, a forward-located air intake system, a compact air-conditioning unit, has produced a small and light powerplant package.

•  Adoption of an advanced front-midship layout, saddle-shaped plastic fuel tank, and an emergency puncture repair kit requiring no spare tire has realized a 50-50 front/rear weight distribution, minimal yaw-inertia moment, and high roll-rigidity.

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Suspension

•  Front suspension

―  In-wheel type double-wishbone suspension has been adopted.

―  Relatively long arms promote linear alignment changes during bounce and rebound, realizing excellent controllability at the vehicle handling limits in diverse road and driving conditions.

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•  Rear suspension

―  Multi-link suspension employing five links per wheel has been adopted.

―  Excellent handling stability, ride comfort, and road noise performance have been realized by optimizing each link arrangement in consideration of geometry and compliance in order to maintain the optimum tire contact area at any time in the optimal condition against external forces during driving.

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Steering

•  Rack assist EPS (Electric Power Steering), with a direct-assist type rack, has been adopted for the steering rack on all models.

•  EPS provides excellent steering feel and smooth handling from low to high speeds due to an electronic control system.

•  Since the electric power assist system does not require a power steering oil pump, engine load has been reduced and fuel economy improved.

L.H.D.

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R.H.D.

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Brake

•  A brake pedal with an intrusion minimizing mechanism has been adopted. As a result, driver safety has been improved.

•  A plunger-type master cylinder has been adopted, improving durability and response.

•  A large diameter, single diaphragm power brake unit has been adopted, improving braking force.

•  A large diameter, ventilated disc-type front brake has been adopted, improving braking force.

•  A large diameter, ventilated disc-type rear brake has been adopted, improving braking force.

L.H.D.

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R.H.D.

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Dynamic stability control (DSC)

•  The DSC HU/CM, integrating both the hydraulic unit (HU) and control module (CM), has been adopted, resulting in a size and weight reduction.

•  A combined sensor, integrating both the yaw rate sensor and lateral-G sensor, has been adopted, improving serviceability.

•  The controller area network (CAN) system has been adopted for the steering angle sensor, improving serviceability and reliability.

•  An enhanced malfunction diagnosis system, used with the Mazda Modular Diagnostic System (M-MDS), has been adopted, improving serviceability.

L.H.D.

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R.H.D.

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Transmission

•  Manual transmission (R15M-D)

―  Five-speed R15M-D manual transmission has been adopted.

―  A linked, triple-cone synchronizer mechanism has been adopted for 1st, 2nd and 3rd gears.

―  A cam-type reverse lockout mechanism has been adopted.

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•  Manual transmission (P66M-D)

―  Six-speed P66M-D manual transmission has been adopted.

―  A linked, triple-cone synchronizer mechanism has been adopted for 1st, 2nd, 3rd and 4th gears.

―  A guide plate type reverse lockout mechanism has been adopted.

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•  Automatic transmission

―  SJ6A-EL type 6-speed AT has been adopted.

―  The Sport AT has been adopted.

―  Newly developed direct active matic control has been adopted.

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Safety

•  Lightweight and highly rigid safe body structure developed uniquely for the Mazda RX-8 has achieved high international standards of crash safety.

•  Reinforcement with high strength has been installed on the area equivalent to the center pillar on the rear doors, realizing strength nearly equal to that of a center pillar of a standard sedan.

•  Dual-inflator type air bags that control deployment of the air bags in two stages by detecting the scale of an impact have been adopted for front-seat passengers.

•  Curtain air bags have been adopted that deploy and cover the front and rear windows and protect the heads of front and rear passengers.

•  Side air bags effective in protecting the upper abdomen of passengers have been adopted and installed in the outboard sides of the front seat backs.

•  Pre-tensioner and load limiter mechanisms have been adopted for the front seat belts.

•  Intrusion minimizing mechanism has been adopted for the brake pedal.

•  ISO-FIX anchors and tether straps have been adopted for installing child restraint systems on the rear seats.

•  Aluminum bonnet with a shock-absorbing cone structure has been adopted in consideration of pedestrian protection.