As more and more artists' impressions of the anticipated Mazda RX-9 surface online, images have leaked showing us what the interim facelifted version of the current RX-8 will look like. The image, as you can see, comes from a scanned Japanese magazine.
The changes appear to be exclusively cosmetic. Up front, the grille has been revised to feature higher-mounted fog lamps under new, wider headlights. Around back the taillamps have been updated with four round LED rings. That's pretty much the extent of it, although the car pictured is a new RS version featuring 19" wheels, Recaro racing buckets and Bilstein shocks.
The facelift is reportedly targeted mainly towards American customers, and may not even make it to other markets. We'll bring you more from the updated RX-8's anticipated launch at the fast-approaching Detroit auto show.
[Source: Mazda-Madness.nl via World Car Fans]
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)
aman @ Jan 4th 2008 9:09AM
I like the facelift, but wasnt this posted already?
calebe @ Jan 4th 2008 9:10AM
I miss the little aluminum rotory symbol that was on the first years lower front and rear facia.
TBlueMax @ Jan 4th 2008 9:23AM
A handsome update to an interesting car.
When the car was first released, I test-drove a loaded RX-8 Grand Touring with a 6-speed manual in nordic green with black-n-tan leather and really enjoyed the driving experience and absolutely loved the color combination. When it came time to talk price, the dealer wouldn't budge off of MSRP + ADM so I walked. Not surprising given that the car was a new release but I received a call back from the dealer 3 months later begging me to come back in and work on the price. No thanks.
Too bad the only place you can buy a new Mazda in my area is from a Mazda dealer (same for VW and Subaru) - decent cars, crappy dealers.
Lee @ Jan 4th 2008 2:10PM
I had a similar experience. I really wanted the dark grey w/ th burnt sienna leather seats in the GT 6MT and the rotary accent package. All they had was silver w/ black seat w/ no accent package, or anything else I wanted...the fender strakes, etc. Well, dude wouldn't budge on the price, so I walked. Now I see that damn car everyday at least once guaranteed. :(
garlinski @ Jan 4th 2008 9:31AM
Looks good... can't wait for the RX-9!!! Mazda really has a great line-up right now!
Not hating, but why can't FORD learn something from them?
Eric77TA @ Jan 4th 2008 9:48AM
The front fender and front door stampings look significantly reworked to me. The side character line has changed from rising up above the door handle to a more subtle line running from the new horizontal (vs. the old larger vertical) fender vent right through the door handle line.
I like the more aggressive front end. Too bad this itty bitty car is such a gas piggy.
Ahura @ Jan 4th 2008 9:51AM
A RX-9 isn't coming. Because two guys who loves to photoshop made some impressions doesn't mean the car is actually coming...
A new RX-8 and RX-7 are coming and Mazda isn't sure yet about the Kabura. IF that car will go in to production it won't be called RX-9 because the car is smaller (MX-5 based) and probably won't have a rotary engine
I don't like the facelift. The RX-8 was perfect as it was!
Cool to to see a link to my website Mazda Madness though :P
Leaf @ Jan 4th 2008 9:56AM
Nice update, especially the grille. Much less Pokemon-faced now.
syed @ Jan 4th 2008 9:57AM
meh...an ugly car...stays ugly.
akatsuki @ Jan 4th 2008 10:57AM
I hate that Mazda is bloating up their cars for the US market. They should embrace their Euro-Japanese-ness and market them as agile cars for those Americans who don't have fat asses. They would get a lot more sales that way then trying to chase after the Camry.
psarhjinian @ Jan 4th 2008 11:47AM
I'd agree. Mazda did the "chase the Camry" thing with the 626 and all it got them was marginalized.
The problem is the mentality of "we must have quarter over quarter growth". While it's true that increasing sales is a good thing, there's a certain value to maintaining a healthy profit margin on the same sales figures year over year. It's hard, though, for a publicly-traded company to do this: shareholders want more each year.
Take Toyota, for example: they have to grow sales to increase profitability; if they contract, it hurts. If they get too small, they end up in the situation where GM and Ford are now: not enough volume to make margin. It's the curse of the mass market that you'd think a niche (Mazda, BMW) or boutique (Ferrari) manufacturer would try to avoid.
It's even more amusing to see BMW and Mercedes desperately trying to put themselves behind the same eight-ball the Ford and GM are.
Aetius @ Jan 4th 2008 3:44PM
They haven't bloated their cars at all. The RX-8 refresh is cosmetic in nature. Only the new Mazda6 US-spec will ride on a longer/wider wheelbase than the one in Europe. And this makes sense because they have to differentiate the 6 from the 3. I know so many people, including myself who picked the 3 over the 6 simply because they were so close in size but the 3 was better overall. As for the SUVs, every car-maker, including BMW is doing those and both the new SUVs have been hits.
Ford GT @ Jan 4th 2008 11:41AM
I usually like Mazda's designs but this is just sad. They took away all of the character that made the RX-8 what was in my opinion. The front looks terrible, too Porsche-like, and the side vents are gone as well, replaced by something you would find on the side of a new Cadillac. The rear looks awful in a single color, bring back the black trim. It seems Mazda has gone backwards just as Mitsubishi and Subaru have.
Irfan @ Jan 4th 2008 12:10PM
ive got an RX-8.. i like that all red better than the black trim... as long as they throw in a rotary accent somewhere. I always thought the black looked cheap.. especially with its fake black grille in the rear.
I like the new tail lights too.. wonder if they will keep the moisture out tho.
Benfolio @ Jan 4th 2008 12:52PM
I'm sure they already have the updated gaskets. :P
Ugh, I just can't wait to find out if the S/C Mazdaspeed RX-8 rumor is true.
meshies @ Jan 4th 2008 11:43AM
still looks stupid
Noah @ Jan 4th 2008 12:01PM
The car looks great in person, though I think it could look "lower" and more sleek if they just make it a 2-seater. Still, the back looks to be improved a bit (looks a bit frumpy in the current iteration), still a hot car. The real fun is the changes under the hood. When we gonna get specs on the 16x rotary?
JWIL @ Jan 4th 2008 12:45PM
OK, I Love the RX-8. So much so that I almost bought one this summer, but didn't because I lost my job.
I think it is a sexy sexy car....BUT
with all the cool photochops of the RX-9 lately this RX-8 looks boring and bland to me...
And I do not like the new front end, especially the new fogs.
giulio @ Jan 4th 2008 3:59PM
I hope they did something to suppress the RX-8's appetite for fuel and oil.
ethanwood7 @ Jan 4th 2008 4:47PM
Unfortunately, that's Photoshopped, not an actual leaked image. Below is a link (from the autoblog gallery, no less) of the car that was photoshopped.
http://www.blogsmithmedia.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2007/05/rx-8_hi023.jpg