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April 3, 2008 http://www.thecarconnection.com/fullreview/mazda_rx-8_2004

  TheCarConnection Team
 TheCarConnection Team

by Dan Carney

Rotary engine fans rejoice! Mazda has at long last delivered an engine that fulfills the promise of Felix Wankel’s ingenious concept. The RX-8’s Renesis side-port engine should finally banish the smoking, fuel wasting, spark plug–fouling rotary gremlins that blemished past iterations of this compact and powerful powerplant. And Mazda has wrapped it in an unorthodox four-door sports car package that may open ownership to a group of customers who couldn’t live with a two-seater.

Prospective customers will find not only unexpected space inside this sports car, but a nicely detailed interior too. Mazda wants to emphasize that it went to great lengths to design and execute a sumptuously luxurious interior for the RX-8. “Just because you have to use plastic doesn’t mean you have to use cheap plastic,” sniped Weldon Munsey, RX-8 manager for Mazda USA. So began what will likely be a long, tough battle between Mazda’s new RX-8 and the Nissan 350Z.

Avanti-esque?

The interior was a particular point of criticism when Porsche rolled out the Boxster some years ago, and more significantly, when Nissan debuted the Z-car last year. The RX-8’s luxurious interior stands in stark contrast to the 350Z’s cockpit, which isn’t purposefully spartan, just cheap and plain-looking.

Inside and out the RX-8 exhibits a unity of design, with exterior lines on the hood continued on the dashboard and triangular engine rotor shapes used throughout the car to remind viewers of its unique powerplant. The effect is positive, but then, I thought the same of the Ford Taurus’ much-derided pervasive oval shapes, so maybe I’m generous to designers who may be too clever.

by Dan Carney Rotary engine fans rejoice! Mazda has at long last delivered an engine that fulfills the promise of Felix Wankel’s ingenious concept. The RX-8’s Renesis side-port engine should finally banish the smoking, fuel wasting, spark plug–fouling rotary gremlins that blemished past iterations of this compact and powerful powerplant. And Mazda has wrapped it in an unorthodox four-door sports car package that may open ownership to a group of customers who couldn’t live with a two-seater. Prospective customers will find not only unexpected space inside this sports car, but a nicely detailed interior too. Mazda wants to emphasize that it went to great lengths to design and execute a sumptuously luxurious interior for the RX-8. “Just because you have to use plastic doesn’t mean you have to use cheap plastic,” sniped Weldon Munsey, RX-8 manager for Mazda USA. So began what will likely be a long, tough battle between Mazda’s new RX-8 and the Nissan 350Z. Avanti-esque? The interior was a particular point of criticism when Porsche rolled out the Boxster some years ago, and more significantly, when Nissan debuted the Z-car last year. The RX-8’s luxurious interior stands in stark contrast to the 350Z’s cockpit, which isn’t purposefully spartan, just cheap and plain-looking. 2004 Mazda RX-8Enlarge PhotoInside and out the RX-8 exhibits a unity of design, with exterior lines on the hood continued on the dashboard and triangular engine rotor shapes used throughout the car to remind viewers of its unique powerplant. The effect is positive, but then, I thought the same of the Ford Taurus’ much-derided pervasive oval shapes, so maybe I’m generous to designers who may be too clever. by Dan Carney Rotary engine fans rejoice! Mazda has at long last delivered an engine that fulfills the promise of Felix Wankel’s ingenious concept. The RX-8’s Renesis side-port engine should finally banish the smoking, fuel wasting, spark plug–fouling rotary gremlins that blemished ...