Mazda Shows Amazing New RX-8 at Detroit!
by Alex Michalas  We have to tell you that Mazda is a manufacturer that is very highly regarded by the FantasyCars.com Team. Just remember
that they are responsible for the revival of the original affordable sportscar (the '89 MX-5 Miata of course) and for the survival of the Wankel rotary engine.
Mazda has used the rotary engine to power 3
generations of the RX-7 sportscar through the 80s and 90s. As far as we know, sales of the latest RX-7 are only continuing in Japan
at the moment (with no sales in Europe, the US or elsewhere for the last few years). At the same time, though, Mazda was preparing a replacement, with the RX-Evolv concept, that was first shown in the 1999 Tokyo Motorshow, being a first take on the subject.
Various rumors have been circulating since then about when such a car would reach production and it is today, in the 2001 Detroit Motorshow, that Mazda has just unveiled the all-new RX-8 concept to the world.
Based on the RX-Evolv it features the same rotary engine producing 250hp at 8,500 rpm and 197 lb.ft of torque at 7,500 rpm. Like its predecessor, it is actually a 4-door sports car although it looks a lot
like a 2-door one. Mazda execs have revealed that a production version of Mazda's new generation of rotary-powered sports cars may hit the road really soon and is set to look a lot like the RX-8. We really can't wait!
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