Filed under: Convertibles, Japan, Mazda
Mazda RX-8 Convertible rolled out at shipment ceremony
click above image to enlarge
Mazda held a traditional sending off ceremony yesterday for its first shipment of vehicles to leave its headquarters in Hiroshima, Japan in the new year. This is done at the beginning of every year and all the big execs come out to watch new vehicles like the Mazda2 and CX-7 get loaded onto a shipping vessel and whisked away to markets abroad. Rotarynews.com, however, noticed something particularly interesting in the photos of the event that Mazda released. Decorated in balloons and streamers is a Mazda RX-8 Convertible, a version of the RX-8 that doesn't technically exist and which we've never seen before. Its duties appear to be parade-like in nature, slowly transporting two execs around a parking lot who are seen standing up on the back seat and holding onto a crossbar. It's probably just a one-off vehicle that was made for occasions like this, but at least you now know that an RX-8 Convertible does exist and that it can be done. Thanks for the tip, Walter!
[Source: Mazda, Rotarynews.com]
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
Menice 11:13AM (1/08/2008)
hey thats supposed to ship to me!
get the frig of my seats ya egg rolls!
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Chris 11:16AM (1/08/2008)
Awesome! It's the new Segway Duo RX-8!
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Cyx 11:16AM (1/08/2008)
If Japanese prime minister get it as a national car,i would think...ridiculous!
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sd 11:20AM (1/08/2008)
future popemobile?
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John R 11:28AM (1/08/2008)
i don't know how to feel about this. I don't like convertibles but that car is calling me like the ex-lover that haunts your thoughts.
Its too bad the Miata exists. A great car, no doubt, but it probably negates the possibilty of an RX-8 convertible.
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Richard 11:39AM (1/08/2008)
Who's that on the right?
Looks like Ron Dennis!
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Brad C 11:50AM (1/08/2008)
This has been seen years ago. It was used at a different parade before.
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Steve_S 12:58PM (1/08/2008)
It was made by a customer and is loaned to Mazda for these types of occasions.
I could seriously go for a vert RX8, too bad they won't make one.
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Steve_S 12:59PM (1/08/2008)
It's a one off for a private party loaned to Mazda for things like this.
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tuna 1:25PM (1/08/2008)
For a company that makes zoom zoom, it looked like a after dinner sing-along at a retirement home.
For PR purposes, Mazda did themselves a huge disservice. C'mon, hire some models to pose with the car. Now I can't dissassociate the RX-8 from a box of Depends!
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tuna 1:26PM (1/08/2008)
Before anyone freaks out... I'm kidding!
Kn1ves 1:26PM (1/08/2008)
I really believe that its one of those loaned vehicles to Mazda by a private party for events such as this.
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Leaf 1:36PM (1/08/2008)
This photo has some hilarious photoshopping potential.
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Alex 2:10PM (1/08/2008)
i just wish the Mazda2 was on its way to American shores...
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big L 2:17PM (1/08/2008)
Menice- those guys would be
"cucumber rolls" wouldn't they?
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kae4d 2:25PM (1/08/2008)
uhm..
i have two questions:
1) what happened to the rear doors??
do they still open or are they fixed - they must be fixed, if not, what's the point when you have that rollbar??
2) what's with the japanese?? do all execs wear white gloves on parades or does the car come with body coloured gloves??
i'm really confused, sorry.
by the way, hello everybody :)
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catgirlshyla 6:13PM (1/08/2008)
Nothing new. The Royal Palace has a fleet of Toyota Crowns and Nissan Cedrics with the chop-top.
http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Image:Crown_and_Cedric_opencar.jpg
And the Korean President has a few ute-esque and chopped cars as well.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UxRc9UyLQfE
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Jim 9:00PM (1/08/2008)
Dig the white gloves!
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Xcountryflyer 10:40PM (1/08/2008)
Guess they had to keep a bit rollbar on the thing to keep the B-pillar for the suicide door structure.
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