news

Mazda to unveil revised RX-8 and Furai concept

Mazda are moving all of their “good stuff” over to North America in time for the 2008 North American International Auto Show (NAIAS), to be held in Detroit from January 13. Mazda fans will be keen to see the heavily revised RX-8 in the flesh for the


Mazda are moving all of their “good stuff” over to North America in time for the 2008 North American International Auto Show (NAIAS), to be held in Detroit from January 13. Mazda fans will be keen to see the heavily revised RX-8 in the flesh for the first time, along with radical new Furai “environmental racer” concept. Also on display will be Mazda’s Taiki concept making its North American debut.

Mazda have given their RX-8 a design refresh and also made improvements to the handling, acceleration and quality. Powered by the world's only mass-produced rotary engine, the RX-8 is the spiritual successor to the 1967 Cosmo 110S, the world's first twin-rotor production car.

With almost two-million rotary engines sold, and the company's legendary win at the 1991 24 Hours of Le Mans - the only Japanese brand to ever win the endurance racing classic - the rotary engine is the sole preserve of Mazda.

Mazda will redefine the typical concept car design brief when it unveils the radical Furai environmental racer at the 2008 North American International Auto Show in January.

The Furai (sound of the wind) concept is the fifth in Mazda's award-winning Nagare 'Flow' series. Mazda claim that the Furai is a concept car that was born and bred for the racetrack.

Mazda have taken their inspiration for the Furai from the rather interesting fact that there are more Mazdas and Mazda-powered cars road-raced in the United States than any other brand.

Mazda have been sparing with the mechanical details suffice to say that the Furai has one foot in the green camp and the other in with the petrolheadsm through its use of an ethanol E100 powered triple-rotor rotary engine that develops a useful 335kW/450hp and uses Mazda’s Courage C65 chassis, the basis of their American Le Mans Series (ALMS) racer.

Chat with us!







Chat with Agent