Rendered Speculation: Mazda RX-8 refresh
Japanese car magazines often use 'chopped photos willy-nilly, so take this with a grainy bit of salt, but it appears that a scan of the face-lifted Mazda RX-8 has hit the web. We'll know for sure if this low-resolution subterfuge is accurate or not when the actual freshened RX-8 has its sheet cleaved away at the NAIAS in Detroit. From what we can see, changes are pretty subtle, with the most visual revisions restricted to the front and rear fascias. There's a new grille treatment up front and the two flanking air intakes changed a bit, with the foglamps moving up to a position at the top of the opening. Mazda-philes will be able to differentiate the early and late RX-8s in a heartbeat, but the rest of the population will notice absolutely nothing. There are substantive changes beyond the styling, the chassis has gotten some attention, acceleration is said to be improved and inside there are supposed to be more upgrades. It sounds like the 2009 RX-8 is this model's mid-cycle freshening, and they're putting more goodies in the car to keep people interested in Mazda's sweet-handling four-place GT.
[Source: 0-60]
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
Jerk Face 12:17PM (12/24/2007)
I Heart RX-8's Four E.
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The Joker 12:50PM (12/24/2007)
I still can't give the RX-8 a pass on looks. The RX-7 just looked (and still does) look much better.
But you can't fault the RX-8 for its dynamics.
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Mike 1:56PM (12/24/2007)
+1
The RX-7 still doesn't have a suitable replacement.
Xcountryflyer 12:51PM (12/24/2007)
Most of the parts on the pictured car can be bought from the Mazda and Mazdaspeed accessories catalog. I don't really buy this rendering.
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Dan 1:45PM (12/24/2007)
saturn sky, anyone?
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Austin 2:35PM (12/24/2007)
What ever it looks like, im sure it will lookk terrific
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garlinski 3:31PM (12/24/2007)
911 turbo had "relations" with an MX-5 and created that face. Not sure I like it.
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E30FTMFW 4:19PM (12/24/2007)
Get rid of that stupid wankle and this would be such a better car. Yea rotarys are "cool" and "different" but they make no torque and suck gas like a dodge viper.
Why not put the turbo 2.3L in there?
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787b 8:02PM (12/24/2007)
'Cause then it would be an MX-8?
Have you ever driven a Mazda rotary in anger? Worth the gas, IMHO.
dothackRAVE 1:28PM (12/30/2007)
Without a rotary, it won't be an RX series car.
I've said this time and again, if you're looking for gas mileage or V8 straight line performance, you're looking at the wrong car. You don't buy a new Corolla for racing, and you don't buy an RX-8 for drag racing or as an econobox.
E30FTMFW 3:48AM (1/03/2008)
Yea listen to Dottie. He's an expert!
Van 2:48AM (12/25/2007)
I believe the original online source of this news was Car Scoop.
http://carscoop.blogspot.com/2007/12/2009-mazda-rx-8-facelift-first-picture.html
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Devin 5:44PM (12/24/2007)
Not enough of an update for me to consider one over an upcoming camaro, challenger, or refreshed mustang - all which play in the same price range. I love mazda cars, but the RX-8 is getting stale, and its just dissapointing that this is all that is done w/ it after all the cool concepts they've shown.
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