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Mazda RX8
One major change in
design between the RX-8 and the RX-7 is the
addition of a pair of rear-hinged ('suicide')
half-doors (similar to the 3rd door in the
Saturn coupe), which allow easier access to
the two back seats. The RX-8 has no center
pillars separating the front and rear doors.
The front doors are hinged at the front, and
aluminum back doors are hinged at the rear.
Because of the overlapped design, the rear
doors can only be opened when the front doors
are open.
Mazda’s new Renesis
rotary engine is smaller and lighter than
prior rotaries, primarily due to the lack
of a turbocharger and associated parts. New
to its design are a side-intake and side-exhaust.
The engine produces 210 PS (155 kW) in the
automatic transmission form, and 250 PS (184
kW) in the manual transmission form. Mazda
does, however, plan on eventually releasing
a Mazdaspeed variant of the RX-8 with a different
front facia, upgraded handling, and perhaps
a supercharger.
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