Misplaced Pages

#393606

98-532: The model number "B11S" derives from B (for Boxer, referring to Subaru's horizontally-opposed engines), 11 (indicating a premium class), and S (for Sportive). The B11S featured four doors in a quad coupe arrangement, with the rear doors hinged at the rear in a manner similar to the Mazda RX-8 and Saturn Ion . The B11S was styled by a team led by Kiyoshi Sugimoto, with initial guidance provided by freshly-promoted President Kyoji Takenaka. Sugimoto had previously designed

196-505: A leaf-sprung de Dion tube . Unassisted 10 inch (254 mm) disk brakes were found in front with 7.9 inches (201 mm) drum brakes in the rear. Performance in the quarter-mile (400 m) was 16.4 s, with a 115 mph (185 km/h) top speed. The price was lower than the Toyota 2000GT at 1.48 million yen (US$ 4,100). The Series II/L10B was introduced in July 1968. It had

294-772: A manual transmission . Not all two-door 929 models used the FET, most used other variants of the FE engine, either Carburetor or EGI with optional four-speed automatic transmission. The 2.0 L (1998 cc) fuel injected , turbocharged FET version of the FE produced 135 hp (100 kW) and 175 lb·ft (237 N·m). It was a water cooled 8-valve SOHC engine featuring a small turbocharger, and no intercooler . Series I Models for Japan (1981-1983) Coupé and Hardtop: Saloon Series II Models for Japan (1983-1989) Coupé and Hardtop: Saloon (1984-1986): The Eunos Cosmo (loosely based on

392-613: A black leather-wrapped steering wheel, gear knob and hand-brake lever. The Nemesis has a top speed of 139 mph (224 km/h) and accelerates from 0 to 60 mph (97 km/h) in 7.2 seconds. Each Nemesis buyer also qualified for a complimentary Prodrive experience day. Just 350 examples were built, 200 in Copper Red and 150 in Stormy Blue. In December 2006, a new Mazdaspeed RX-8 became available exclusively in Japan. The Mazdaspeed M'z Tune

490-522: A cost that was at the time £330 less than the model on which it is based – when similarly specified. Based on the standard 189 hp (192 PS; 141 kW) version of the Mazda RX-8, it included a unique stone leather seat trim interior and came with a five-speed manual transmission. The Nemesis has several other unique exterior and interior features. Two exclusive colors were available, Copper Red Mica and Stormy Blue Mica, each Nemesis also comes with

588-554: A foam filled front crossmember to improve rigidity. It also came with 19-inch forged aluminum-alloy wheels and high performance tires. On the exterior, the R3 had a different, lower front bumper sporting a splitter, lower side sills, and a standard rear spoiler. There is a pair of special Recaro seats up front, along with the same 300-watt Bose audio system, along with Bluetooth and the Mazda advanced keyless entry and start system. No electric sunroof

686-478: A formal pillared sedan (known in Japan as saloon). The HB Cosmo is the only car in automotive history to offer a choice of gasoline and diesel piston engines, or rotary engines, and this was the last generation Cosmo to be exported. Both the Cosmo sedan and four door hardtops were badge engineered versions of their respective Luce counterparts, with the Cosmo models sold at an exclusive dealership called Mazda Auto , while

784-537: A homage to the Mazda Cosmo Sport, which was initially only available in white. The North American (USA and Canada) version came in Metropolitan Grey Mica exterior color with the interior clad in special Cosmo Red leather. In North America, this special edition was available only in 2008. For Canada – production was limited to 100 cars. The interior had black leather with copper red accented door inserts. For

882-409: A more-powerful 128 hp (95 kW)/103 lb·ft (140 N·m) 0813 engine, power brakes, 15 inch wheels and a 5-speed manual transmission . The wheelbase had been expanded by 15cm for more room and a better ride. This Cosmo was good for over 120 mph (193 km/h) and could accelerate to cover a quarter-mile (400 m) in 15.8 s. Visual changes included a larger grille under

980-575: A new color, Copper Red, and also came in Brilliant Black. It also came with xenon headlights with chrome bezels, while being the first Mazda sold in Australia with keyless entry and start. The 'Nemesis' model is the third special edition model launched as a UK exclusive. It was launched in 2006, although some cars were registered in 2007 due to stock runoff. The 'Nemesis' features unique paint colors and interior trim, plus an exclusive accessory package, at

1078-420: A new five-spoke wheel design featuring a symbolic and sporty design reminiscent of the rotary engine, with different arrangements for each wheel size. A rear spoiler was also added dependent on the trim level selected. There were three trims available to consumers from 2009 to 2012: Sport, Grand Touring, and R3. In 2008, Mazda unveiled a Mazdaspeed RX-8 equipped with racing seats, and a new aerodynamic package for

SECTION 10

#1733085796394

1176-543: A new line of high-quality cars with desirable styling and driving dynamics superior to competitors, beginning with the Mazda6 and followed by the Mazda3 . This paved the way for the arrival of Mazda's next-generation rotary powered sports car. The RX-8 combined two previous products (the internationally sold RX-7, and the Cosmo which was exclusive to Japan), with the exterior dimensions of

1274-634: A polished aluminum Rotary crest on the front air dam, polished aluminum side air-outlet trims behind the front wheel arches, special B-pillar trims with a Rotary crest and 'Nemesis' badging. Inside, these special edition models also featured Nemesis branded luxury carpet mats and Mazda RX-8 branded aluminum door scuff plates. Like other standard 245 hp (183 kW; 248 PS) RX-8s, the Nemesis has front fog lights, heated front seats, electrically operated driver's seat, climate control air conditioning, 9-speaker BOSE premium audio system with 6-CD auto-changer, plus

1372-621: A rate of only about one per day, for a total of 1,176 (343 Series I cars and 833 Series II cars). The car was also featured in the show The Return of Ultraman . Cosmos were built in five batches: In 1968, Mazda went racing with the Cosmo. They selected one of the most grueling tests in Europe to prove the reliability of the rotary engine, the 84-hour Marathon de la Route at the legendary Nürburgring circuit in Germany. Two mostly stock Cosmos were entered, along with 58 other cars. One major change to

1470-454: A rear spoiler to provide more stability at higher speeds. After the Kuro version, Mazda announced that this is the absolute Mazda RX-8 version with a suggested retail price of US$ 60,000/JP¥6,653,550.00. 2008 saw the introduction of a limited edition to celebrate the 40th anniversary of Mazda's rotary engine. It had 10-spoke, 18-inch diameter alloy wheels of a new design that were later incorporated in

1568-416: A rear spoiler to provide more stability at higher speeds. Both the wheels and rear wing are badged in carbon fiber with "Prodrive". Significant revisions were also made to the suspension to improve the handling: dampers from Bilstein and coil springs from Eibach are used in addition to reducing the ride height by 15 mm (0.6 in) and an increase in spring rate of 60%. Finally, the car was supplied with

1666-585: A relatively undistinguished and ordinary product line in the US except for the MX-5 Miata . As popular interest in import tuning and performance cars resurged in the late-1990s, due in part to various popular cultural influences, Japanese automakers waded back into the performance and sports car market in the US and in worldwide markets. Endeavoring to rejuvenate itself around this time, partially with financial and management assistance from its new owner Ford , Mazda developed

1764-427: A set of height and damping force adjustable coil-overs. Mazdaspeed also redesigned the aerodynamics of the car, giving it a new front bumper, with enlarged venting and oil cooler ducting, as well as side skirts, rear under spoiler, and a rear wing. The Mazdaspeed RX-8 was offered in either Strato Blue Mica, or Sunlight Silver Metallic as exclusive colors. A total of 480 factory Mazdaspeed Version RX-8's were built, and had

1862-524: A space for a more powerful piston-engined derivative, as rotary sales were slowing down because of their high fuel consumption, the bigger Cosmo 2000 with 110 PS (81 kW) became available in March 1977. The rotary engine had financial advantages to Japanese consumers in that the engine displacement remained below 1.5 liters, a significant determination when paying the Japanese annual road tax which kept

1960-412: A suggested retail price of JP¥3,650,000.00. Mazda also sold Mazdaspeed accessories worldwide through their dealerships. These accessories included both parts that weren't equipped on factory Mazdaspeed RX-8's as well as nearly all the parts equipped on the factory Mazdaspeed Version. This allowed standard RX-8's to be upgraded to Mazdaspeed standards through dealerships around the world. Mazda introduced

2058-511: A total of 6 lubrication injectors, plus an all-new engine oil pump with higher pressure rating that requires specific oil filter rated for the higher pressure. New catalytic converter was used to reduce clogging that resulted in overheating exhaust stream forward of the catalytic converter and eventual rotor side seal failure, which was responsible for majority of RX-8 engine failures. Ignition coil packs, which suffer reduced performance over time and leads to unburnt fuel and oil that eventually clogs

SECTION 20

#1733085796394

2156-538: A unique upgraded twin exhaust system, with exhaust tailpipes branded as "Prodrive". Only 800 cars were made at an MSRP of £ 25,995. It was available in two colors, Galaxy Grey (380) and Brilliant Black (420). The Revelation was an Australian special edition of the RX-8 with a limited production run of 100 cars. The model incorporated the top specification features of the standard RX-8 with the 9-speaker Bose sound system, sand beige colored leather seats, more piano black accents on

2254-710: Is a further Series II Cosmo in a collection in Alberta, Canada. A 1970 Mazda Cosmo Sport Series II L10B Coupe sold in January 2015 for US$ 110,000 inclusive premium at auction at Bonhams . A 1970 Mazda Cosmo Series II 110S is currently, (September 2024), being fully restored by an English based Company called Yorkshire Car Restorations on YouTube. It has the original Wankel engine (10A) and original 5-speed gearbox. It has been fully stripped to bare metal and new re-fabricated parts and panels fitted, where necessary. The second generation CD Cosmo appeared in 1975 and lasted until 1981. It

2352-616: Is the direct successor to the RX-7 . Like its predecessors in the RX range, it is powered by a rotary Wankel engine . The RX-8 was available for the 2003 model year in most parts of the world. The Mazda RX-8 utilizes a rotary Wankel engine , and the non-reciprocating piston engine uses a triangular rotor inside a near oval housing, producing from 141 kW (189 hp) and 164 lb⋅ft (222 N⋅m) of torque, to 177 kW (237 hp) and 159 lb⋅ft (216 N⋅m) of torque from launch. The RX-8

2450-529: The Cosmo L in Japan, it included an opera window and padded vinyl roof covering. Neither body style found many international buyers; it was, however, an enormous success in Japan where over 55,000 were sold in the first year alone. This new model competed with the Toyota Crown , Nissan Cedric , Nissan Gloria , and the Mitsubishi Galant Lambda coupés newly introduced to Japan. Mazda America used

2548-506: The Eunos Cosmo through its luxury Eunos division in Japan. Mazda chose to use the name " cosmo " , reflecting international cultural fascination with the Space Race , as Mazda wanted to showcase the rotary engine as forward-thinking, with a focus on future developments and technology. The first Mazda to bear the Cosmo name (called the 110S on models intended for export) was (along with

2646-701: The NSU Ro80 ) one of the first production cars to feature a 2-rotor Wankel engine . A prototype was presented at the 1964 Tokyo Motor Show , one month before the 1964 Summer Olympics , and after the introduction of the NSU Spider at the Frankfurt Motor Show ; 80 pre-production Cosmos were produced for the Mazda test department (20) and for dealership testing (60) between 1965 and 1966. Full production began in May 1967 and lasted through 1972, though Cosmos were built by hand at

2744-525: The 13B-MSP advanced and eventually led to the RENESIS name debuting along with the RX-EVOLV concept car which began to bear semblance to the production version of the RX-8 with the "freestyle" rear suicide doors . The styling was further refined, in Mazda tradition, by competition between its design studios in Japan, the US, and Europe. The lead designer was Ikuo Maeda, the son of Matasaburo Maeda (the lead designer of

2842-517: The 1985 MX-03 concept car ) started production in 1990 on the new JC platform . The Eunos Cosmo was the top-line touring flagship of the Eunos luxury channel. It is the only Mazda to use a triple-rotor engine. The car was a 2+2 coupé and was loaded with power amenities and other luxuries. Following the Japanese luxury theme, only an electronically controlled 4-speed automatic transmission was available that could be placed in manual shift mode and would change

2940-538: The 2004 North American International Auto Show , Mazda unveiled the RX-8 Hydrogen RE concept car, designed to run on either hydrogen or gasoline. In February 2006, Mazda announced that it would start leasing a dual fuel RX-8 to commercial customers in Japan, and in March, 2006 announced its first two customers, claiming the first fleet deliveries of a dual hydrogen/gasoline production car. In 2008, 30 RX-8 HRE were delivered to HyNor . In 2005 and 2006, Mazda introduced

3038-424: The 2008 and 2010 24 Hours of Daytona GT-class wins campaigned by SpeedSource Race Engineering. This victory also marks the 23rd endurance race win at Daytona by a Mazda rotary-powered race car. While the cars are powered by the 20B rotary engines, the car is in fact built on a tube frame chassis and not on the production car. Ryan Eversley won both races of the 2010 SCCA World Challenge Mid-Ohio Grand Prix in

Subaru B11S - Misplaced Pages Continue

3136-505: The 2009 facelift. Also added were blue-light front fog lamps, a 40th Anniversary badge on each front wing and an aerodynamic rear spoiler. Exclusive sport-tuned suspension with Bilstein dampers were added along with an enhanced urethane foam injected front cross member intended to improve steering feel. The 40th anniversary limited editions were slightly different in the various international markets. The Japanese version came in Marble White as

3234-502: The 20B-REW version was capable of 255 km/h (158.4 mph) if given a free run. With over 380 N⋅m (280 lb⋅ft) of torque available at just 1,800 rpm, the Cosmo could launch from standstill to freeway speeds quickly; however, this came at the expense of heavy fuel consumption. The JC Cosmo was expensive even by today's standards, as Mazda still has not matched the sales price of this car some 22 years later for anything else in its range. The availability of power and speed in

3332-515: The 929 being the export version (which was not available with the rotary engine options). While the HB Luce and Cosmo Saloon were discontinued in 1986, both Cosmo hardtops remained in production at a trickle until 1989. The Mazda 929 Turbo EGI (Electronic Gasoline Injection) Luxury was available in Australia from 1986 to May 1987 (with these later cars produced in 1986). It used the FET engine and came only with

3430-733: The Australian market, only 200 examples of the 40th Anniversary Edition were produced in 2008 exclusively. It was available in Metropolitan Grey, Dark Blue, or Brilliant Black exterior paint. The interior came with exclusive white Alcantara and black leather seats with contrasting white stitching. In the United Kingdom, this edition was limited to 400 cars which came in two exclusive exterior colors – Metropolitan Grey Mica or Crystal White Pearlescent. Seats were trimmed in black leather with stone Alcantara midsections. In November 2008, Mazda improved

3528-522: The B11S and blur your eyes, that gives an indication of Subaru's future look," elaborating that "innovation, courage and individuality" would inform future Subaru designs. The B11S features a 3.0 L (183 in) flat-6 twin-turbo engine with a peak output of 294 kW (394 hp) at 6,400 RPM and 550 N⋅m (406 lbf⋅ft) from 3,600 to 4,800 RPM. The 6-speed automatic transmission features Subaru's "Variable Torque Distribution" system, where

3626-490: The C pillars, and lightweight forged 19-inch BBS aluminum alloy wheels in a Spirit R exclusive bronze. The automatic transmission model included 10-way adjustable power leather seats with lumbar support and 2-position memory in black with red stitching, and 18-inch lightweight gunmetal grey BBS wheels wrapped in Bridgestone Potenza summer tires. Some models came with red leather seats with white stitching. A tire upgrade

3724-500: The Cosmo appears extravagant in its intended market of Japan once it becomes understood that most of the driving environment consists of two-way streets that are usually zoned at 40 km/h (25 mph) or less, as mentioned in the article Speed limits in Japan The Cosmo was manufactured from February 1990 until September 1995, and gathered a total of 8,875 sales. A split of 60/40 sales between 13B-REW and 20B-REW variants made

3822-648: The Evolve features unique stone leather and alcantara sporty seat trim, plus black leather-wrapped steering wheel, gear knob and hand-brake lever. In May 2006, Mazda released the RX-8 PZ for the UK market. This car was jointly developed with motorsports company Prodrive . Only available with a six-speed manual, it featured custom 10-spoke alloy wheels supplied by Italian F1 team supplier OZ Racing in "Dark Silver" finish, mirrors developed to reduce drag, front and rear black mesh grilles, and

3920-713: The FC series Mazda Savanna RX-7 was introduced in 1986 internationally, this series Cosmo coupe retained its top position as Mazda's largest rotary powered personal luxury car , with a comfortable backseat, trunk, and every luxury amenity available, while adopting the retractable headlights from the RX-7. Mazda offered three different rotary engines for the HB series. A 12A-6PI (for "six-port induction"), 12A-turbo and 13B-RESI, with all using electronic multiport fuel injection. The latter available with automatic transmission only. The 1982 12A-turbo Cosmo coupé

4018-770: The GT series. The car also won the IMSA Continental Tire Sports Car Challenge in 2005. In 2014 the North Island Mazda Rotary Racing Association in New Zealand launched a RX-8 category in its Pro7 racing series which is the oldest MotorSport NZ sanctioned series in NZ. The RX-8's now dominate this racing series and is competed in the North and South Islands as well as a NZ championship. The category

Subaru B11S - Misplaced Pages Continue

4116-628: The Luce was sold at previously established Japanese Mazda dealerships. Later in 1991, Mazda Auto locations were renamed Eunos . The two door HB coupé however was only sold in Japan as a Cosmo. The range was facelifted in October 1983, at which time the fuel injected 13B-SI engine was introduced and the four-door hardtop switched from pop-up to fixed headlights. During 1984, the non-GT coupés also switched to fixed headlamps (domestic Japanese market; export markets differ in specifications and badge combinations). When

4214-629: The Mazda Cosmo name and offered it from 1976 through 1978, fitted with the 13B rotary engine. In the United States, the Cosmo was replaced by the smaller, lighter, and sportier Mazda RX-7 . Due to its poor sales as an export, the Series II version, built from 1979, was not exported and remained a Japanese domestic sale only. In Europe, the RX-5 saw very little competition in the rotary-engine equipped market, with

4312-571: The NR-A kit for the RX-8 Type S in January 2004, approved by the Japan Automobile Federation (JAF). The NR-A kit, sold through Mazda Anfini and other dealers throughout Japan, brings the RX-8 up to specification in terms of eligibility for participation in the one-make Party Race sanctioned by JAF. The kit includes a roll bar, sports radiator, oil-cooler kit, tow hooks, and racing brake pads. At

4410-550: The North American market, Mazda revised the reported output rating of the standard and high power RENESIS soon after launch to 189 hp (141 kW) and 237 hp (177 kW), respectively. With exhaust ports now located in the side housing, the RENESIS boasted improved fuel efficiency and emissions rating over the 13B-REW employed by the preceding RX-7, thereby making it possible to be sold in North America. At launch,

4508-413: The RX-8 body rigidity through the addition of structural reinforcements, by adding a trapezoidal shock tower brace and enhancing the local rigidity of the front suspension tower areas. The rear suspension geometry was revised for better handling, and the final-drive-gear ratio on manual transmission cars was shortened from 4.444 to 4.777 for improved off-the-line performance. While minimal, these changes gave

4606-458: The RX-8 closely resembles this vehicle save for minor trim details, and "Job 1" began in February, 2003 at Mazda's Hiroshima plant in Japan. The RX-8 was designed as a front mid-engine, rear-wheel-drive , four-door, four-seater quad coupé . The car has a near 50:50 front-rear weight distribution and a low polar moment of inertia , achieved by mounting the engine behind the front axle and by placing

4704-472: The RX-8 ended in 2010 in Europe after failing to meet the region's emission standards. The production of the RX-8 ended in 2012 in Japan; Mazda had produced 192,094 units since 2003. Production of the rotary engine ended on June 21, 2012, followed by the end of RX-8 assembly on June 22, 2012, at Mazda's Ujina, Hiroshima plant. Mazda North American Operations extended the engine warranty on all model year 2004–2008 RX-8s. The warranty extension covered only

4802-484: The RX-8 to be slightly smaller than those of the Cosmo. Mazda chose not to install the 2.0 L three-rotor 20B-REW , which was discontinued in 1996 when the Cosmo ceased production. The development of the RX-8 can be traced as far back as the 1995 RX-01 concept car, which featured an early iteration of the 13B-MSP engine. Naturally aspirated with side exhaust ports, this engine has a power output of 210 hp (157 kW). Because of Mazda's financial position at

4900-421: The RX-8 was available in various models in different markets around the world. The variations according to different markets are as follows: Automatic versions all had lower output/lower rpm engines due to the lack of availability of a transmission that would be able to reliably cope with the engine's high rpm limits. In 2003 Mazda announced a factory Mazdaspeed Version of the RX-8 exclusively in Japan. Based on

4998-461: The RX-8, Mazda's engineers were able to achieve a chassis stiffness rating of 30,000 Nm/deg. The earlier models of the RX-8, having chassis codes SE3P, and JM1FE, were produced from the 2003 model year, though the car's U.S. debut was for the 2004 model year. It is powered by the RENESIS 13B-MSP (2-rotor, multi-side-port) Wankel engine displacing 1.3 L (1,308 cc). The 4-port standard RENESIS

SECTION 50

#1733085796394

5096-436: The S (Sport) which offered a firm suspension consisting of control arms in the front and a multilink rear suspension, with a cloth inserts added to leather interior and a full length center console accommodating four passengers, or E (Elegant) which offered a softer-tuned suspension and full leather upholstery. The JC series Cosmo set several firsts in automotive history. Its two rotor 13B-RE and three rotor 20B-REW engines were

5194-590: The Type S and tuned by Mazda's in-house division Mazdaspeed , the car included both mechanical, suspension, and aerodynamic improvements over the standard RX-8's. Mazdaspeed RX-8's were considered the highest performance model of the pre-facelift RX-8. Mechanical and suspension improvements included a new performance exhaust system, upgraded spark plugs, grounding kit, lightweight flywheel, re-balanced eccentric shaft, performance brake pads, stiffer anti-roll bars, four point front strut tower brace, rear strut tower brace, as well as

5292-538: The US in 1971, beginning with the R100 and eventually introduced the RX-2 , RX-3 , RX-4 , RX-5 , and three generations of the RX-7 sports car in the US and worldwide markets. However, due to the lack of conveniences and user-friendliness, coupled with the high price tag and declining interest in sports cars and coupés at the time, Mazda decided to withdraw the RX-7 from most major markets except Japan. After 1995, Mazda suffered from

5390-595: The Year, the 2003 Japanese Car of the Year, Australia's Wheels magazine's Car of the Year for 2003, the 2004 Singapore Car of the Year, the 2004 U.S. Best Sports Car, and several UK Best Car Awards. It was named on Car and Driver magazine's Ten Best list for 2004, 2005, and 2006. It also took home first place on Car and Driver's "Four of a Kind" comparison test. 2010 RX-8 placed third out of seven on Car and Driver's The Best-Handling Car in America for Less Than $ 100,000. It

5488-459: The arcade game series Wangan Midnight : Maximum Tune 1 through 6RR . At the 2002 Tokyo Auto Salon , Mazda presented the Cosmo 21, a retro styled 21st century reinterpretation of the original Cosmo 110s of 1967 to commemorate the 35th anniversary of the Cosmo. Based on Mazda's current generation of MX-5 (NB), the concept was styled and constructed by Mazda subsidiaries M'z IF (styling) and Mazda Sangyo (construction), and closely resembled

5586-494: The car to be used as a daily driver, as well as to and from the race track. The RX-8 has been used occasionally for professional drifting (Formula Drift), with drivers like Masao Suenaga from Japan, "Mad" Mike Whiddett from New Zealand, and Kyle Mohan from the USA choosing the develop the chassis each to suit their own goals. As of October 2006 the RX-8 has won 37 international motoring awards including 2003 International Engine of

5684-439: The cars' 10A engines was the addition of a novel side- and peripheral-port intake system: A butterfly valve switched from the side to the peripheral port as RPM increased. The engines were limited to 130 PS (96 kW) to improve durability. The cars ran together in fourth and fifth place for most of the race, but the all-Japanese car was retired with axle damage in the 82nd hour. The other car, driven by Belgians, completed

5782-516: The catalytic converter, was not upgraded from series 1 RX-8. Due to higher usage cycle that is two to three times higher in Wankel compared to Otto cycle, ignition coil packs on RX-8 can degrade much sooner than Piston engines using similar hardware, and cause unburnt fuel to reach the catalytic converter, clogging it and cause engine overheating leading to side seal springs failure. The updated RX-8 also received design enhancements that were meant to freshen

5880-420: The engine core, consisting of the rotor housing and internal parts, as well as the seals and gaskets. It did not include clutch or drivetrain (transmission or differential). An extended engine warranty for emissions was not offered in any other RX-8 markets. The RX-8 has been campaigned and used in various racing series by privateers. It has seen a considerable amount of success, the most prominent of which being

5978-406: The engine. Power is sent to the rear wheels through a torque-sensing conical limited-slip differential for improved handling. While underpowered in comparison to the final variant of the RX-7, the RX-8 is considered its successor as Mazda's rotary engine sports car . A prominent feature of the RX-8 is its rear-hinged "freestyle" doors (similar to suicide doors ) that provide easier access to

SECTION 60

#1733085796394

6076-496: The first Japanese-built, series production twin sequential turbo systems to be offered for sale on a rotary engine car. The internationally known FD series RX-7 didn't receive the twin turbo 13B-REW engine until early 1992. The Eunos Cosmo was the first production car to have a built-in GPS navigation system , and the first in Japan to use the "Palmnet" serial data communication system for ECU-to-ECAT operation. The fourth generation Cosmo

6174-423: The first special edition of the RX-8 called "Sports Prestige Limited" in Japan and "Shinka" in North America. The Shinka takes its name from the Japanese word meaning "transformation" or "evolution". Marketed as a more luxurious grand touring model, it came with Black Cherry in 05 and Various Special exterior colors in 06. Sand color parchment leather and suede interior along with subtly chromed 18-inch wheels. Out of

6272-558: The first-generation Subaru Legacy before heading the Subaru Design Department. Fuore Design International, led by Erwin Leo Himmel , was retained in a consulting design role. Design elements created for the B11S, including the airplane-inspired grille, were intended to be carried into production vehicles. Andreas Zapatinas , Chief Designer of Advanced Design for Subaru, stated in an interview that "if you were to step back from

6370-541: The front bumper with two additional vents to each side of this "mouth". Only 833 were ever made, and fewer than six Series II models were initially imported into the United States . The price was up a bit to 1.48 million yen (US$ 4,390). Comedian and former talk show host Jay Leno owns a 1970 Series II Cosmo which was featured on the North American Speed Channel series My Classic Car in March 2006. It

6468-441: The fuel tank ahead of the rear axle. The front suspension uses double wishbones and the rear suspension is multi-link . Weight is trimmed through the use of materials such as aluminum and plastic for several body panels. The rest of the body is made of steel, except for the plastic front and rear bumpers. The manual gearbox model uses a carbon fiber composite driveshaft to reduce the rotational mass (momentum of inertia) connected to

6566-579: The gear selection in the dashboard display from PRNDSL for automatic transmission operation and PRND321 for manual transmission use. Two engines were available, and both were equipped with twin sequential turbochargers ; the two-rotor 13B-RE and the three-rotor 20B-REW . The triple rotor 20B had 2 litres (1962 cc) of displacement, making it the largest capacity rotary offered for sale by Mazda. It produces 280 PS (206 kW; 276 hp) and 403 N⋅m (297 lb⋅ft) of torque with twin turbochargers sourced from Hitachi. Two trim packages were offered;

6664-406: The installation of a rotary engine gave Japanese buyers a financial advantage when it came time to pay the annual road tax in that they bought a car that was more powerful than a traditional inline engine, but without having the penalty for having an engine in the higher above-one-litre tax bracket. The front suspension was a coil-sprung double-wishbone design with an anti-roll bar . The rear used

6762-540: The interior, and came with the same 13B Renesis rotary engine. Like regular RX-8 variants, the Revelation features 18-inch alloy wheels and tires, traction control, Dynamic Stability Control (DSC), six airbags, cruise control, power windows/mirrors, limited-slip differential, 6-CD in-dash audio system and climate control air conditioning. The revelation though, added stiffer anti-roll bars, foam-filled cross members and special edition grey-spoke alloys. The Revelation also offered

6860-463: The introduction of the short-lived Citroën GS Birotor , as well as any remaining NSU RO80 sedans. The Cosmo was Mazda's largest rotary-powered coupé, based on the LA series Mazda Luce floor pan and mechanics, but slightly heavier due to body design and more luxurious appointments, including a five-link rear suspension and rear disc brakes. It was available with the 12A and 13B engines. This series Cosmo

6958-550: The obligation affordable to most buyers, while having more power than traditional piston engines of the same official displacement. The third generation HB Cosmo from 1981 shared the Mazda HB chassis with its twin, the Mazda Luce . Some versions of both HB cars were sold overseas as the Mazda 929. The HB Cosmo was offered as a coupé (also called two door hardtop), as a sleek frameless window sedan (also called four door hardtop), and as

7056-641: The original Cosmo. The engine of the MX-5 was replaced by an early version of the Renesis rotary engine , later found in the Mazda RX-8 . The Cosmo 21 was revealed around the same time as many other retro style cars, including the Volkswagen New Beetle and the New Mini , adding to the growing list of retro style cars being produced in this era. Rumours of the Cosmo 21 entering limited production circulated in Japan, but

7154-449: The original RX-7). The project obtained official approval from management under one condition, that the resulting car should have four doors, and eventually the RX-8 concept car (design/engineering model) was produced and shown in 2001, closer resembling the production version. A near-production "reference exhibit" RX-8 was shown shortly thereafter at the 2001 Tokyo Motor Show , pending final approval for production. The production version of

7252-577: The race in fourth overall. This was to be the only racing outing for the Cosmo—the next Mazda race car would be a Familia Rotary (R100) . The Series I/L10A Cosmo was powered by a 0810 two-rotor engine with 982 cc of displacement and produced about 110 hp (thus the 110S name used in export markets). It used a Hitachi four-barrel carburetor and an odd ignition design—two spark plugs per chamber with dual distributors. A four-speed manual transmission and 14-inch wheels were standard. In Japan,

7350-407: The rear seats. The RX-8 has no B-pillars between the front and rear doors, but the leading edge of the rear door acts as a "virtual pillar" to maintain structural rigidity. Because of the overlapping design, the rear doors can be opened only when the front doors are open. The RX-8's cabin was designed to allow enough room to house four adults, making it a genuine 4-seater rather than a 2+2. In designing

7448-414: The refreshed RX-8. Mazda however didn't end up selling any new generation Mazdaspeed editions or accessories to the public. The R3 version was first introduced in 2008 in Japan. This version was very limited and had the 1.3 L RENESIS Wankel engine. The R3 model was again introduced in 2009. The 2009 R3 package added slightly improved suspension over the base model by adding Bilstein shock absorbers and

7546-401: The styling and give the RX-8 a new look, without impairing the basic design theme. Refinements for the 2009 model year included a more aggressive restyled front and rear bumper as well as a new front fascia. The updated RX-8 also came with sporty, high-quality finish front and rear headlamps as well as larger exhaust pipes (now measuring 90 mm (3.5 in) across). The 2009 RX-8 also offered

7644-527: The time and the growing market interest in SUVs , the RX-01 did not see further development or production. However, a " skunkworks project " engineering team within Mazda kept the development of the 13B-MSP alive using an elongated MX-5 chassis known internally as "gokiburi-ka", or "cockroach car" translated to English, eventually catching the attention of management, which was by then heavily influenced by Ford. Development of

7742-511: The torque split between front and rear axles is distributed by a center differential and electronically controlled clutch. Torque is split 35% to the front and 65% to the rear under normal driving conditions. Mazda RX-8 The Mazda RX-8 is a sports car manufactured by Japanese automobile manufacturer Mazda between 2003 and 2012. It was first shown in 2001 at the North American International Auto Show . It

7840-464: The total production of 2,150 vehicles, 1,357 were produced for the North American market. The most significant mechanical change were slightly revised Bilstein shocks and suspension cross member injected with urethane foam to improve ride quality. Launched in 2006, the 'Evolve' was the first special edition for the UK. The new model was named after the original Mazda concept car seen in Detroit in 2000 and

7938-589: The touring car class. Other racing series include the KONI Challenge Series in the Street Tuner class. In the UK, the RX-8 featured in the Mazda sponsored "Formula Women" series (2004), which involved all women drivers with slightly modified RX-8s, and the RX-8 was also campaigned successfully in the Britcar series endurance races (2005/2006). In Belgium, Mazda are currently sponsoring an RX-8 silhouette racer in

8036-604: The triple rotor 20B-REW version a rarer car. Although the Cosmo remained a Japanese market-only vehicle (export had been proposed originally under the Eunos sales channel, and under the stillborn Amati brand in the USA), used Cosmos have found their way to various RHD countries thanks to import regulations for private importers from these countries. The Cosmo appears in Sega GT and in the Gran Turismo and Gran Turismo 2 games, as well as

8134-463: The updated RX-8 increased acceleration and performance. Mazda engineers claimed that the second generation RX-8 was (slightly) faster than the previous generation due to the lower gearing and improved suspension. The Renesis II engine iteration that was launched in the 2009 model year included a third oil injection port in each rotor housing to feed oil to the middle of the rotor facing, making this their first all-new EMOP (Electric Metering Oil Pump) with

8232-475: Was ahead of its time electronically as well by being offered with Car Communication System , a CRT colour touch-screen controlling climate control , mobile phone , GPS car navigation, NTSC TV , radio and CD player. The instrumentation used a LCD display rendering analog gauges with indicator needles that "floated" and using vivid colors for various functions. The Cosmo was speed limited to 180 km/h (111.8 mph) to suit Japanese regulations, but

8330-652: Was also available, swapping the Bridgestone's for higher performance Falken extreme summer tires. The automatic models could be specified with the manual transmission model's Recaro bucket seats and 19-inch wheels. The body color choices for the Spirit R were limited to Aluminum Metallic, Sparkling Black Mica, and a special color, Crystal White Pearl Mica, exclusive to the Spirit R. A small number of Spirit R RX-8s can be found in Indonesia, Malaysia, and New Zealand. Sales of

8428-592: Was also awarded the Editors' Choice Award by Grassroots Motorsports in 2003. Mazda Cosmo#Series JC (1990–1996) The Mazda Cosmo ( マツダ・コスモ , Matsuda Kosumo ) is an automobile which was produced by Mazda from 1967 until 1996. Throughout its history, the Cosmo served as a " halo " vehicle for Mazda, with the first Cosmo successfully launching the Mazda Wankel engine . The final generation of Cosmo served as Mazda's flagship vehicle in Japan, being sold as

8526-401: Was believed to be the only remaining Series II Cosmo in the United States, though the original Cosmo 10A engine has been replaced with a 12A from an RX-7. However, Mazda's U.S. division "found another in the garage of Phoenix-area car collector Glenn Roberts and made an offer that he couldn't refuse," according to Car and Driver magazine's September 2007 issue ("A Tale of Two Rotaries"). There

8624-468: Was discontinued for the 2012 model year without a successor. It was removed earlier from the European market in 2010 after the car failed to meet emissions standards . Due to falling sales from Europe coupled with rising Yen prices, Mazda could not justify the continued sale of the RX-8 in other markets. 192,094 units were produced during its 9-year production run. Mazda introduced rotary-powered vehicles in

8722-433: Was focused on performance without the expense of comfort, and was equipped with a performance exhaust system, lightweight flywheel, improved radiator, Bilstein shock absorbers, and sport springs. The car came with a new exclusive aerodynamic kit, featuring a new front lip, side skirts, and rear lower bumper. In 2007 Mazda released a Japan-North America limited edition known as the Kuro (Japanese for black). The production run

8820-547: Was joined by the short-lived Mazda Roadpacer , a large, heavy sedan powered only by a rotary engine. While the powerful rotaries received most of the attention, with the 13B-engined version with a manual transmission being able to reach a top speed of 195 km/h (121 mph), a piston-engined version was also on offer at the bottom of the range. The Cosmo 1800 , used a 1769 cc (80 x 88 mm) inline-four SOHC engine that produces 100 PS (73.5 kW) and 110 lb⋅ft (149 N⋅m). After Mazda noted

8918-620: Was known as the Cosmo AP (Anti-Pollution) in Japan, and sold internationally as the Mazda RX-5 , though in some export markets its piston-powered counterpart was called the Mazda 121 (a name later applied to Mazda's subcompact model). The anti-pollution label reflected that the cars were able to meet the strict, 1976 Japanese emissions standards, thanks to the installation of a thermal reactor which kept hydrocarbon levels down. The CD Cosmo/RX-5 series

9016-805: Was limited to 500 cars. All cars were finished in Sparkling Black paint, with 18-inch Monoblock wheels. The Kuro version used a more evolved RENESIS engine and 6-speed manual transmission with a claimed output of 227 hp (230 PS; 169 kW) and 156 lb⋅ft (212 N⋅m). Inside, it featured white leather interior, Bose premium audio system with 6-CD auto-changer, heated seats, electrically-operated driver's seat, and climate control air conditioning, cruise control, traction control, dynamic stability control and eight airbags. This edition has racing-type fully adjustable front & rear Tein suspension, bigger exhaust tips, fog lights, stiffer anti roll bars, better engine cooling system, limited-slip differential and

9114-522: Was limited to a production run of just 500 cars. Based on the 228 hp (231 PS; 170 kW) high-power version, it had several unique exterior features. These include a choice of two exclusive exterior colors (Copper Red Mica 400 and Phantom Blue Mica 100), unique dark silver 18 × 8J alloy wheels, a polished aluminum Rotary crest on the front air dam, dark silver bezel headlamps, sports door mirrors, polished aluminum side air outlet fins, Rotary branded B-pillar trims, chrome exhaust surrounds. Inside,

9212-737: Was offered in the R3 model. The Spirit R is a limited edition of the RX-8 built to celebrate the end of the RX-8's production. The name "Spirit R" was based on the final limited edition of the RX-7, the RX-7 Spirit R. The Spirit R was originally limited to only 1,000 cars and exclusively sold in Japan, but ultimately sold more than 1,000 due to unprecedented demand. The Spirit R is essentially an R3 with some cosmetic changes that are outlined below. The manual transmission model came with exclusive lightweight red leather SPIRIT R bucket seats from Recaro , exclusive piano-black transmission tunnel trim, exclusive front and rear red brake calipers, Spirit R badges on

9310-528: Was officially the fastest production car in Japan until being overtaken by the FJ20ET -powered R30 Skyline RS . The rotary engine had financial advantages to Japanese consumers in that the engine displacement remained below 1.5 litres, a significant determination when paying the Japanese annual road tax which kept the obligation affordable to most buyers, while having more power than the traditional inline engines. The HB Cosmo and Luce names were used in Japan, with

9408-502: Was positioned as a personal luxury car , with a focus on comfort and high equipment levels rather than outright sportiness. When introduced, it had a fastback bodystyle with three side windows; the one just behind the B-pillar could be wound down. Inspired by the US market, in particular the 1970s era Lincoln Continental , a notchback coupé model called the Landau appeared in early 1977. Called

9506-424: Was rated at 191 hp (194 PS; 142 kW) and was coupled with either a 5-speed manual or 4-speed automatic transmission . From 2003 – 2008, the 6-port Generation One was available with a six-speed manual transmission and was rated at 238 hp (241 PS; 177 kW). From 2006 – 2008, the 6-port, 6-speed automatic paddle-shift variant was available. The 6-port engine was not sold in Europe. For

9604-670: Was renamed in 2019 to the Mazda Racing Series and now some of the largest grids in the country. In 2019, the Classic Sports Car Club in the UK launched the RX-8 Trophy for road legal first generation Mazda RX-8's. Developed in two years, the class was designed to provide the cheapest way of going racing in a performance car. The class stipulates that the RX-8 entering the race must have a valid MOT and retain creature comforts such as air con, heater and stereo, therefore allowing

#393606