While Phoenix Arizona auto enthusiast may consider Mazda to be a peripheral auto maker, the company has remained in the competitive auto game, not mention the public eye. This is largely due to innovative and daring ventures, such as the 2011 Mazda RX-8, a high performing, yet highly accessible sports car.
Mazda RX-8’s highly responsive performance is due to engineering that has remained very competitive in the sports-car world. Starting with its unique RENESIS rotary engine(one of its kind). Because the engine is more compact and lighter than many conventional engines, Mazda engineers are able to position it below and well behind the RX-8’s front axle. This creates a relatively low center of gravity plus an approximately 50:50 front-to-rear weight distribution. More importantly, this significantly enhances RX-8’s tenacious handling, impressive agility and exceptional stability.
Ultra-quick steering response and flat cornering are givens—courtesy of the sports car’s highly refined, sport-tuned suspension system. Better still,the Grand Touring and R3 feature Dynamic Stability Control with a Traction Control System. Both help maximize rear-wheel traction—and minimize the chance of a spin-out. You can even choose to deactivate it to suit your driving style. As for RX-8 models with a manual gearbox, a lightweight carbon-fiber composite prop shaft and a torque-sensing limited-slip differential team up to deliver a maximum power kick to the drive wheel. And an adrenaline kick to the driver.
The RX-8’s potent 232-hp powerplant is renowned for its turbinelike smoothness, broad powerband and sky-high 9000-rpm redline. And it’s expertly managed by a short-throw, close-ratio 6-speed manual with carbon triple-cone synchronizers for quick, precise gear changes. Also available on all RX-8 models, except the R3, is a smooth-shifting 6-speed Sport AT automatic transmission. Its Adaptive Shift Logic actually learns and adjusts to your personal driving style. It even features a manual-shift mode that invites you to upshift or downshift via its standard shifter or Formula One-inspired steering-wheel-mounted paddle shifters. The RX-8’s advanced, rotary design reflects the countless insights Mazda has gleaned from putting nearly 2 million rotary-powered vehicles on the road. Reflecting four decades of exhaustive research, development and refinement. And of course, as many Phoenix Arizona motor enthusiasts know, racing.
Phoenix Arizona auto enthusiasts can view and test drive the new 2011 Mazda RX-8 at their local Phoenix Valley area Mazda dealer.
