2008 Mazda RX-8 Review Summary & Specs
Sport Coupe
Four-seat sports car.
Summary & Specs
reviewed by
The Mazda RX-8 is a unique sports car. Its four-seat, four-door configuration is an original design that works. The rotary engine is super smooth, simple, high-revving and almost indestructible. It's complemented by a beautiful six-speed gearbox and great brakes. The RX-8 is a great sports car with an innovative approach and admirable engineering.
NewCarTestDrive.com correspondent Sam Moses filed this report from Irvine, California, with Mitch McCullough reporting from Los Angeles.
Specs
| Vehicle Category |
Sports Cars |
| Editor |
New Car Test Drive |
| Model Lineup |
Mazda RX-8 Sport manual or automatic ($26,435); Touring manual ($29,535); Touring automatic ($30,335): Grand Touring manual ($31,070); Grand Touring automatic ($31,770): 40th Anniversary manual ($31,370); 40th Anniversary automatic ($32,070) |
| Engines (standard) |
1.3-liter twin-rotor rotary |
| Transmissions (standard) |
6-speed manual |
| Engines (optional) |
1.3-liter twin-rotor rotary; 212 hp (automatic), or 232 hp (manual) |
| Transmissions (optional) |
six-speed sequential automatic with steering-wheel paddles; six-speed close-ratio manual |
| Safety Equipment (standard) |
front, side, and side-curtain airbags, seatbelt pretensioners; ABS; EBD; tire-pressure monitor |
| Safety Equipment (optional) |
DSC electronic stability control with traction control |
| Basic Warranty |
4 years/50,000 miles |
| Assembled In |
Hiroshima, Japan |
| Manufacturer Phone |
1-800-222-5500 |
| Manufacturer URL |
www.mazdausa.com |
| Base Price MSRP |
$26,435 |
Specs as Tested
| Model Tested MSRP |
Mazda RX-8 Sport with manual transmission ($26,435) |
| Standard Equipment |
electronic power steering with tilting steering wheel; power four-wheel-disc brakes with ABS and EBD; air conditioning; AM/FM/CD stereo with six speakers and steering-wheel mounted controls; cruise control; cloth upholstery; power windows, mirrors and locks; leather-wrapped steering wheel and shift knob; floor and overhead consoles; rear window defogger; variable intermittent windshield wipers; alarm with immobilizer; 225/45 Bridgestone high-performance tires; 18-inch alloy wheels. |
| Destination Charge |
635 |
| Options as Tested (MSRP) |
Performance Package ($1,300) includes xenon headlights, fog lights, DSC with traction control; in-dash 6-disc CD ($500); Rotary Accent Package ($159) |
| Gas Guzzler Tax |
|
| Layout |
rear-wheel drive |
| Price as Tested |
$29,029 |
| Horse Power |
232 @ 8500 |
| Torque |
159 @ 5500 |
| Fuel Economy |
18/24 |
| Wheelbase |
106.4 |
| Length/Width/Height |
174.3/69.7/52.8 |
| Track Front/Rear |
|
| Turning Radius |
34.8 |
| Seating Capacity |
4 |
| Front Head/Hip/Leg room |
38.2/53.3/42.7 |
| Middle Head/Hip/Leg room |
|
| Rear Head/Hip/Leg room |
36.8/48.1/32.2 |
| Trunk Volume |
7.6 |
| Payload |
|
| Towing Capacity |
|
| Front Suspension |
independent, A-arms, coil springs, tube shocks, anti-roll bar |
| Rear Suspension |
independent, multi-link, coil springs, tube shocks, anti-roll bar |
| Ground Clearance |
4.7 |
| Curb Weight |
3045 |
| Stock Tires |
225/45R18 Bridgestone Potenza |
| Brakes Front/Rear |
vented disc/vented disc with ABS and EBD |
| Fuel Capacity |
15.9 |