The 2010 RX-8 is Mazda's sporty model. Its defining feature is its rotary Wankel-cycle RENESIS engine which forgoes cylinders in the place of spinning rotors. This engine generates a large quantity of horsepower from a very small displacement although the rotary engine does this at the expense of torque. The RX-8 also offers seating for four and reasonable fuel economy.
Engine and Power Train
The Mazda RX-8 has a unique engine which Mazda calls the RENESIS. A rotary design, it lacks cylinders and instead has two rotors. With only 1.3 liters of displacement, it nevertheless produces 232 horsepower at 8,500 RPM and 159 ft.-lbs. of torque. Achieving a 10:1 compression ratio, the engine uses 91-octane, premium unleaded fuel, and is connected to a six-speed transmission that can be either manual or automatic.
Fuel Efficiency
The RX-8 gets 16 miles per gallon in the city and 22 or 23 on the highway, depending on if it is equipped with a manual or automatic transmission, respectively. It takes 6.7 or 6 quarts of oil, again depending on transmission type, and its fuel tank holds 16.9 gallons.
Wheels, Brakes and Suspension
The RX-8 ships from the factory with 18 by 8-inch wheels and 225/45R18 tires although the R3 edition has 18-inch wheels with 225/40R19 tires. The RX-8 has a four-wheel independent suspension with front and rear stabilizer bars of 26.5 and 10 millimeters in thickness, respectively. The car's ABS/EBD braking system features 12.7-inch vented discs in the front and 11.9-inch vented discs on the drive axle in the rear.
Interior Dimensions
Although the RX-8 has three-point seat belts in all four seating positions, most drivers would treat it as a two-seater. The front seat has 42.7 inches of legroom and either 38.2 or 36.7 inches of headroom, depending on whether the car has a headroom-reducing moonroof installed. The car also offers 53.3 and 54.8 inches of hip and shoulder room in the front seats. As with many sporty cars, though, its trunk is relatively small, with a capacity of just 7.8 cubic feet.
Body Size
The RX-8 is a small, low car. It is only 52.8 inches tall and rides on a 106.4-inch wheelbase. It is 69.7 inches wide and 175.6 inches long. For better handling, it sits close to the ground, with a laden ground clearance of only 4.7 inches. The car is, however, relatively heavy, with a curb weight of 3,064 pounds for a manual RX-8 and 3,111 pounds for an automatic.
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