Test Drive: 2010 Mazda RX-8
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VOICE OVER: Miranda Lightstone
First introduced at the North American Auto Show in 2001, the Mazda RX-8 was finally brought to market as a 2004 model. After getting a face-lift in 2009, today's Mazda RX-8 is a real looker. Aggressive from the front and in-your-face loud from the back end, this Mazda is a real driver's car. With an even more aggressive look for 2010 and a bit of a surprise under the hood on this particular model, http://www.WatchMojo.com decided to take this number out for a spin and let you in on the fun too.
Design
The overall look of the Mazda RX-8 is aggression through and through. With puffed up front fenders and a beefed up rear end, the car looks crouched low and ready to unleash the madness. With edgy, modern lines the car garners plenty of looks, and not just because of the flashy color. The Mazda RX-8 has always been a looker, but this year's model takes the design element to a new level of cool with unapologetic lines and design elements that very few cars could pull off; but the RX-8 wears it beautifully. And although this model looks like a coupe, the RX-8 actually features "free-style" rear doors that allow for easier access to the rather unusable rear seats.
Interior
Inside the Mazda RX-8 and it's all rather plan and boring. There's not much to the interior as far as gadgets go, and that's just fine by me. The RX-8 doesn't need anything fancy because it's all about the drive, not the driver wanting his car to make him a latte. A simple entertainment system and a perfectly place shifter knob with Recaro racing seats is pure perfection for the Mazda RX-8. It's bare bones, but it's more than enough for this car.
Performance
Mazda introduced the rotary RENESIS engine with the RX-8 and has held the market in the auto industry for the rotary engine since. Why has no one else picked up on their genius engineering? Well, while there are benefits to a rotary engine (it's smooth running, there are no reciprocating parts, there's a better power-to-weight ratio, and improved cooling), the torque often suffers. Even though this car manages to get 232 horsepower out of a 1.3-liter engine (pretty impressive), it's left with a piddly 159 lb.-ft of torque.While this model is unique on its own with Recaro racing seats, Bilstein suspension and 19" alloy wheels; there was more to it than met the eye. Nestled between the front-fender haunches hid a Mazdaspeed cold air intake. And while the intake doesn't really offer much of a performance upgrade, what it does do is make the car sound absolutely phenomenal.
The Mazda RX-8 handles beautifully. It's light on its wheels, nimble around the corners and responsive in the throttle and shifts. Plus, the sound of the exhaust will keep you pushing this car to its limits, not matter how straight or curvy the road gets.
