Mazda RX-8 lands in comics - no joke
Or rather to be more precise, the Mazda RX-8 will be featured in a series of graphic novels called Revved published by Top Cow Productions. The four-door sports car will be one of four cars depicted that are made with the same metal found in the Holy Grail, Joan of Arc's armor and King Arthur's Excalibur. This metallic cocktail of precious metal imbues the car and its driver with special powers, perhaps even the ability to develop torque at low rpm, something the RX-8's rotary motor seems unable to do without supernatural aid or a supercharger.
The Revved graphic novels are also being licensed into a television series being developed by FOX. Who knows how Mazda got tangled up in making comics, but credit must be given for being creative with the marketing budget. The first Revved book will debut at ComicCon in a couple weeks, though you can check out the first ten pages here.
[Source: Mazda]
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
kanseizm 9:45AM (7/12/2006)
hey now, no need to hate on the wankel. Just listen to it scream and zoom-zoom away!
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Rexi 9:58AM (7/12/2006)
Torque is for fat people.
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epp_b 9:58AM (7/12/2006)
Did anyone look at the 2nd-last page of the comic? The thing has a wimpomatic transmission!
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Gary 10:56AM (7/12/2006)
Hey I have an RX-8 and its a great car, I just was wondering if anyone else is getting close to 200 miles on a tank that takes 16 gallons. I mean wankels are bad at gas milage, but I didnt know that it would be THAT bad lol. Its okay, its a lease so I am giving away in a few more months, but if anyone has any suggestions for getting more that 12.5 mpg, share the wealth man (i mean that literally lol)
Gary
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Bill 11:47AM (7/12/2006)
Because I know that if I found the Holy Grail, Joan of Arc's armor and King Arthur's Excalibur, I would melt them all down and make a Mazda out of it.
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sgursel 12:05PM (7/12/2006)
I had an RX-8, most fun I've had with a car, yet I had to sell it due to pathetic gas mileage and weak AC... But still, it absolutely is the best looking car under $100 grands.
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jstand6 12:35PM (7/12/2006)
Yes, the rotary's fuel consumption has always been an issue with the design, which is why it is much better suited for the racetrack than the street. However, producing 183 hp/liter naturally-aspirated is no small feat, and there's bound to be a downside. A terrific solution (Mazda, are you listening) would be to put this engine in the new Miata. It weighs over 500 pounds less, which would give it much better performance than the RX-8 and better gas mileage to boot!
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tuj 1:06PM (7/12/2006)
Torque is for trucks. The Renesis is the most powerful NA two-rotor engine ever made, matched with a great platform in the RX-8. Just look at the results in B-stock solo2 national competition. The RX-8's cleaned up over the 350Z, G35, turbo MR2's and BMW 3-series.
But yeah it could use more power. And yes, mine get 13 mpg also. The design of the rotary is thermally inefficient in comparsion to a piston because the combustion chamber is so long and flat. But its only got 3 moving parts!
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M 1:18PM (7/12/2006)
Gas mileage problems? I think that getting 21.7 MPG with an '85 RX-7 GSL-SE was pretty darned good (considering how hard I drive it. :)
But I agree on the "wimpomatic" comment. What's the point of owning one, then? sigh
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Jon 2:13PM (7/12/2006)
"Hey I have an RX-8 and its a great car, I just was wondering if anyone else is getting close to 200 miles on a tank that takes 16 gallons."
Seriously time for a tune-up dude. I get 250 a tank and fill up with almost 2 gallons left (rarely put in more than 13.5 gal at a time)
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jstand6 2:48PM (7/12/2006)
"Gas mileage problems? I think that getting 21.7 MPG with an '85 RX-7 GSL-SE was pretty darned good (considering how hard I drive it. :)"
I used to have an '82 RX-7 GS. I would have to rate it as the favorite of all the cars I have owned (although my old Mazdaspeed Miata is a close second). I also got fairly decent mileage out of it. But, you have to remember that my old 12A and your 13B rotaries were outputting a whole lot less power, and the cars weighed a whole lot less.
But, fuel mileage has a lot to do with how you drive it. I was only averaging 19 MPG in my old Mazdaspeed Miata, but what's the fun of driving the car if you're not going to push it? RX-8s can get decent mileage if you keep your foot out of it and the revs down. But again, what's the point? If you like to drive hard, fuel mileage should be a very, very low priority.
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Tirminyl 11:37PM (7/12/2006)
I think any car with a 1.3L NA engine will need supernatural aid to produce torque. If you find another motor of that size in NA form that gives what you call "torgue" then let me know.
MPG- So many things can affect this, driving habits, weather, road conditions, tire pressure, traffic, etc. I get 22mpg out of my RX-8 that includes some redlines. No complaints for me.
It is also great to see the RX-8, and Mazda promoting in this fashion. Great work Mazda, sweet comic. Can't wait to pick it up.
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ZoomZoomin' 11:56PM (7/12/2006)
LOL...oh man, I don't even know what to say about this. I can barely believe it, even after checking the date.
No torque, very true (fortunately you can corner extremely fast, since you seriously can't accelerate in 2nd gear when the revs get low).
In all city driving, 14.5MPG is about my average. Once things swing toward mostly highway driving, I can get around 20MPG.
An old review from when I first got mine...
http://www.halcyoneffect.net/archive/2005/11/mini_vs_mazda.html
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kaman 11:12AM (7/13/2006)
I think all wankel's are different....i had an 88 convert. for 8 years. It went 158K and the only reason i got rid of it was because the body and everything BUT the engine was trashed....i have heard many stories about "lemons" and owners who had their rotaries being repaired almost every other month. You're rolling the dice if you buy one...do it!
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GDUB 12:51PM (7/13/2006)
We love our 2005 RX8. The power delivery is smoothe. The gas mileage sucks ass.
We drive it twice a week and drive our 93 miata the rest of the week "great gasmileage".
RX8 needs a Turbo and about 150hp more to make it crazy.
GDUB luvs RX8's
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Ryan 5:35PM (7/13/2006)
i have an RX-8 and i love the car to death what car can handle like this car can ......who cares about the gas mileage.....just drive it and love it....im never under 100mph in my car......thats why i bought LIGHTNING YELLOW so everyone see's me coming behind them.....dont worry about gas just worry about keeping the car on the road......ill never get rid of my car.....Who wants to race?????????
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VietFC 12:53AM (7/14/2006)
Hey, about the gas mileage. I have an RX7 Turbo and it gets 18 miles per gallon. Great performance and handling in very neutral cars.
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JEFF FERREE 10:00PM (7/17/2006)
MY O5 RX-8 6 SPEED HAS PLENTY OF LOW END TORQUE-- 1ST GEAR IS TO GET A ROLL--HIT 2ND & PUT THE HAMMER DOWN!!THE ONLY CAR THAT COMES CLOSEST TO ME IN A STREET RACE IS ANOTHER RX-8.
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Ryan 6:34PM (8/17/2006)
Whats up everyone......Hows the all the RX'S out there?......Are there any woman who drive Rx8's......If so lets hear from you........See you all soon
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