"This car is sensational. You get all the benefits of a coupe with none of the drawbacks, and all the practicality of a saloon with none of the tedium."
- Jeremy Clarkson on the RX-8
Mazda RX-8 is a sports car built by Mazda from 2003 to 2012. RX-8 is the successor to Mazda RX-7.
Like from RX-7, it continues to use same 654cc x 2 displacement (or 1.3-litre) rotary engine but naturally-aspirated as 13B-MSP or known as RENESIS, it provides a great power output but suffers in lower thermal efficiency. Overall dimension is longer, this was the first quad coupe ever produced in Mazda a combination of coupe and saloon.
Thoughout it's production. RX-8 is notoriously plague for serious engine problems mainly to high usage of motor oil, prematured wear, etc (including high cost of repair and maintenance). Hence, this is one of the other cars were unreliable.
It has earned praise from all three Top Gear presenters, particularly Richard Hammond and Jeremy Clarkson.
Appearances[]
- In Series 3, Episode 5, Jeremy reviews the RX-8 around the Top Gear Test Track. Despite criticizing the skitishness and style, he praises the car's handling, speed, comfort, ease of use and reasonable price. At the hands of the Stig it sets a lap of 1:31.8. Clarkson wanted to put the RX-8 in the "Uncool" section of the Cool Wall, but Hammond put the car in the "Cool" section, due to it having a Wankel rotary engine.
- In Clarkson: Shoot-Out, Jeremy tests the RX-8 once again praising the car's handling, speed, comfort, ease of use and reasonable price with it ultimately winning the Coupe Category.
- In Series 6, Episode 11, James uses an RX-8 to help compose the Top Gear Theme.
- In Series 9, Episode 2, Richard champions the RX-8 as the best coupe under £25,000 against Jeremy in an Audi TT and James in an Alfa Romeo Brera. It ultimately loses to the Alfa in a view of style and to the Audi around the Top Gear Test Track in the hands of The Stig, setting a lap of 1:32.0. In the end Richard admitted he preferred the Brera.
- In Series 13, Episode 7, an RX-8 is featured in the Scirocco TDI Commercial.
- In Series 17, Episode 3, an RX-8 is highly recommended by Jeremy as an alternative for £6995.