Mazda RX-7

The Mazda RX-7 is a sports car produced by the Japanese automaker Mazda from 1978 to 2002. The original RX-7 featured a 1200cc twin-rotor Wankel rotary engine and a sporty front-midship, rear-wheel drive layout. The RX-7 was a direct replacement for the RX-3 (both were sold in Japan as the Savanna) and subsequently replaced all other Mazda rotary cars with the exception of the Cosmo.

The original RX-7 was a sports coupé. The compact and light-weight Wankel engine or rotary engine is situated slightly behind the front axle, a configuration marketed by Mazda as "front mid-engine". It was offered in America as a two-seat coupé, with optional "occasional" rear-seats in Japan, Australia, and other parts of the world. The "occasional" rear-seats were initially marketed as a dealer installed option for the North American markets.

Performance Data

Base Engine Size: 1.3L
Base Engine Type: Rotary Turbo Charged
Transmission(s): 5-speed manual
Horsepower: 255bhp
Max Horsepower: 7,000 rpm
Torque: 220ft-lbs.
Max Torque: 5,000rpm
Drive Type: RWD
Maximum speed: 159mph
0-60mph: 5.1s.
1/4 mile: 14.0s @ 100mph

Mazda RX-8

The Mazda RX-8 is a sports car manufactured by Mazda Motor Corporation. It first appeared in 2001 at the North American International Auto Show. It is the successor to the RX-7 and, like its predecessors in the RX range, it is powered by a rotary engine. The RX-8 began North American sales in the 2004 model year. The RX-8 was designed as a front mid-engine, rear-wheel drive four-seat coupé. The car has a near 50:50 weight distribution, achieved by mounting the engine behind the front axle and the fuel tank ahead of the rear axle. Weight is trimmed through the use of materials such as aluminium (hood & rear doors), and a carbon fiber composite driveshaft on the manual gearbox car.

Mazdaspeed, Mazda's in-house tuning and high-performance arm, has produced various after-sale parts and accessories for the RX-8, including full body kits, suspension upgrades, engine upgrades (such as cold air intake kit and catback exhausts), and various interior accessories. In addition, Mazdaspeed has also produced several series of showroom-ready limited-production RX-8s in Japan featuring some of these parts and accessories. To date, however, there has not yet been a full Mazdaspeed-tuned RX-8 along the same line as the Mazdaspeed6 or Mazdaspeed3.

Performance Data

Base Engine Size: 1.3L
Base Engine Type: Rotary (twin rotor)
Transmission(s): 5-speed manual
Horsepower: 232bhp
Max Horsepower: 8,500 rpm
Torque: 159ft-lbs.
Max Torque: 5,500rpm
Drive Type: RWD
Maximum speed: 150mph
0-60mph: 6.0s.
1/4 mile: 14.5s @ 96mph

RX-8 MazdaSpeed Special Edition