Mazda RX-8 R3: time to join the rotary club
This article was originally on a blog post platform and may be missing photos, graphics or links. See About archive blog posts.
Amid the mid-life refreshment given to the 2009 Mazda RX-8 four-door coupe (slight restyle of the front and rear with a little tweaking in the cabin) is a brand-new version: the R3. And because it has an R in its suffix, it is of course a sportier model.
For the sum of $31,930, the R3 comes with a Bilstein sports suspension (this company makes suspension parts for Porsches), and a lightweight carbon fiber driveshaft that sends 232 horsepower and 159 pound-feet of torque to the rear wheels -- via a six-speed manual transmission. Remember, this power comes from a 1.3-liter, turbocharged rotary engine, which is pretty impressive. Even though the car’s body has been stiffened throughout the range, the R3 also gets a front suspension cross-member for even more rigidity and steering precision.
On top of that, the R3 has slightly lower gearing for a greater sense urgency under acceleration, a specially designed front bumper, a rear spoiler, 19-inch alloy wheels and body-hugging Recaro front seats.
A common gripe with rotary engines is that they need oil checks more frequently. Mazda got this message and made the dipstick more accessible. As if this cake needed a cherry on top, Bluetooth connectivity and a Bose audio system are also part of the package.