Recently, there have been reports that the Japanese company is planning to revive the RX-8 model with a rotary engine. We decided to imagine what such a car might look like.
The RX-8 coupe was first introduced in 2001 at the North American International Auto Show as a concept, and 2 years later, mass production of the car began. The model replaced the RX-7 coupe, which was produced from 1978 to 2002, replacing three generations during this time. The RX-8, however, so far has only one generation, produced before 2012. Since that time, rumors about a possible successor have repeatedly appeared, but there is still no specifics regarding this car. However, we have the opportunity to imagine what the heir to the G8 might look like in the current style of the company.
Render of the new RX-8 with two front end designs 1/2 Render of the new RX-8 with two front end designs 2/2
One of the characteristic elements of the new Mazda is a large angular grille, visually combined with the headlights, and L-shaped LED marker elements. In a similar style, horizontally elongated lights are also implemented, similar ones are placed on the CX-60 and CX-90 crossovers, made on a new rear-wheel drive platform. The car presented in the renders retained one of the main «chips» of the original RX-8 — four doors, two of which open against the move. Also, the coupe received a new design of the rear pillars, which stylistically intersects with another crossover company — MX-30.
New RX-8 render
Of course, the main feature of the technical part of the sports car is its Renesis rotary engine (13B-MSP Multi-Side Port), which is the development of the previous 13V motor. During its development, they tried to get rid of the main disadvantages of rotary engines — poor indicators of efficiency and environmental friendliness. Unlike the previous twin-turbo 13V rotary engine, the G8 engine was made atmospheric, which also affected power (192-250 hp versus 255-280 hp for the previous RX-7 coupe). As for the possible successor to the RX-8, it can also get a rotary piston engine (RPD), especially since two months ago the Japanese company introduced the MX-30 e-Skyactiv R-EV hybrid cross-coupe with a similar engine. This speaks to Mazda's interest in this technology, which has not faded since 2012, when RPD production was discontinued along with the RX-8.
Mazda RX-8 (2008-2012) 1/3 Mazda RX-8 (2008-2012) 2/3 Mazda RX-8 (2008-2012) 3/3 that Mazda may say goodbye to the popular CX-5 crossover.