Page 7 of 07 Mazda RX-8 Brochure by Mazda USA

it s all about creating a sports car like no other well-protected beneath the aggressive slope of the mazda rx-8 s aluminum hood is a hand-assembled high-revving renesis rotary engine lighter less complex more compact and boasting a superior horsepower-to-weight ratio than a piston engine of comparable power the rotary is an ideal engine for sports cars it has no cylinders pistons or valves instead its advanced design has just three moving parts plus an outrageously broad powerband the rotary s compact size also pays off in extra cabin room it even allows the engine to be positioned behind the front axle a front-mid-engine location that pays huge dividends in terms of more responsive handling and agility v6 engine renesis rotary much of the mazda rx-8 s mass including its powertrain and fuel tank is positioned near its center point this gives the rx-8 a low-polar-moment-of-yaw inertia and makes it highly responsive to changes in direction and easier to control cars with more widely distributed masses tend to be less responsive and harder to control since weight distribution directly impacts a sports car s handling the rx-8 is engineered to maintain an approximate 50:50 weight distribution front to rear regardless of passenger load the end result is handling that is more agile predictable and stable v6 engine renesis rotary 50 50 in contrast to a conventional v6 engine of comparable power the rotary engine found in the rx-8 is lighter more compact and provides a superior power-to-weight ratio these inherent engine advantages help endow the rx-8 with a low center of gravity an approximate 50:50 weight distribution excellent handling and spirited acceleration front mid-engine form also beautifully follows function in the rx-8 s cabin design taking full advantage of the rotary engine s more compact size and lighter weight mazda engineers were able to give the rx-8 a more rigid chassis and innovative cabin design that accommodates four full-size adults all within dimensions virtually identical to a porsche 911 high polar moment low polar moment v6 engine rear engine

[close]