Car Gazing
A four-door sports car? Mazda thinks so
By Derek Price
Few sports cars are as exhilarating as Mazda's original RX-7, with its
turbine-like rotary engine, nimble handling, and stunning looks. But after
decades of added weight, complexity and cost, it had become a bloated,
impractical coupe with a $40,000 price tag in the early 1990s.
It was a lethal combination.
Now Mazda thinks it's solved the RX-7's shortcomings in a four-door,
four-passenger car with aggressive styling and an all-new rotary engine
called the RX-8. Sure, it has plenty of power, crisp handling, a firm ride,
and a sweet engine, but Mazda goes too far in describing it as "truly a
sports car." No matter how quick it is, nothing with four doors and four
seats is a sports car.
So what exactly is it? It's definitely not a sedan, since its rear doors
hinge at the back and its roofline is curvier than a Baywatch cast reunion.
And it's not quite a coupe because of those funky rear doors.
As much as I hate to admit it, the RX-8 really defies classification in a
traditional sense. Its performance is like a sports car, its practicality is
like a compact sedan, and its styling is like an aggressive sports coupe –
a "crossover" vehicle in the fullest sense of the buzzword.
As for looks, there's no confusion.: it's mean and fast.
Front-end styling has the angry scowl of a Dodge Viper, its roof has the
expressive curve of a Chrysler Crossfire, and its rear end has the classic
lines of an exaggerated Miata. Massive fender flares are filled with 18-inch
wheels, hinting at the lightning-fast sprints it can do.
As strange as it seems, right after calling the RX-8 a true sports car in
its press materials, Mazda touts "enough passenger room for four full-size
adults and enough trunk space to fit luggage for a weekend or two full-size
golf bags." That sure doesn't sound like a sports car, but I'm not
complaining.
This sporty contraption represents a turnaround – or perhaps resurgence –
for Mazda, long known for its less-than-conventional attitude. After
starting the 1990s with a clear preference for fun cars like the Miata and
RX-7, the Japanese company ended the decade with a string of bland offerings
that didn't even have the excitement of an Accord or Camry, so the RX-8 is a
welcome dose of passion.
Part of Mazda's recent dullness came about 10 years ago when dirty emissions
and high fuel consumption spelled the end of the ingenious rotary
powerplant, which uses two spinning rotors instead of cylinders. RX-8 will
be the first car to have Mazda's new Renesis rotary engine when it goes on
sale for the 2004 model year, this time with a revamped design that improves
its performance and emissions.
If Mazda's spin doctors are even half truthful, the new engine could be one
of the best in the history of the automobile. Rotary engines from 10 years
ago had an incredible power-to-weight ratio, perfectly smooth feel, and
enticing throttle response, so any design that improves on that without
compromising emissions or reliability promises to be a heartstopper –
especially one that makes 250 horsepower, as Mazda claims for the RX-8.
Price is one major factor that killed the RX-7, and thankfully the RX-8 has
one more practical feature: a low price. It starts around $25,000, which is
a true bargain compared with the RX-7 of yore, and that's not even counting
a decade of inflation.
In essence, this new Mazda is a sports sedan that doesn't come with the
stigma of driving one. If it truly combines the fun of an RX-7 in a more
usable package, it doesn't matter what Mazda calls the car – it's a winner.
(Derek Price is a newspaper editor and freelance writer living in Texas.
Contact him at dprice@cargazingonline.com)
The above article is provided for the interest and entertainment of our visitors. The views expressed in this article are only those of the author, who is solely responsible for the content. AutoGuide.net does not endorse any of these views, and is not to be held responsible for any of the content provided in the above article.
Click here to read Derek's past articles!
If you have any questions or comments for Derek or the AutoGuide.net, please fill out this form.
|
