Just another dressed-up version!!!!



News Release
2007.08.08

Mazda Releases 'Rotary Engine 40th Anniversary' Commemorative Limited Edition RX-8 in Japan

HIROSHIMA, Japan—To commemorate forty years of Mazda’s rotary engine vehicles sold globally, Mazda Motor Corporation has commenced sales of a limited edition model Mazda RX-8 throughout Japan. The RX-8 Rotary Engine 40th Anniversary edition is available from today at all Mazda and Mazda Anfini dealerships.



Since the 1967 introduction of Mazda’s first vehicle powered by a rotary engine, the Cosmo Sport (known as the 110S overseas), Mazda has continued to produce and sell various rotary engine-powered cars, most notably the Familia Rotary Coupe (known as the R100 overseas), the Savanna (RX-3), RX-7, and Eunos Cosmo. Currently, Mazda is working on technical improvements in fuel economy and environmental performance for its rotary engines. Mazda also intends to advance the potential of the hydrogen rotary engine as part of its long-term vision for technology development, Sustainable Zoom-Zoom, which was announced in March 2007.



The RX-8 ‘Rotary Engine 40th Anniversary’ model is based on the RX-8 Type S (six-speed manual transmission) and the Type E (six-speed automatic transmission) model grades. The interior is designed to evoke the Cosmo Sport heritage and includes exclusive black genuine leather and light silver ALCANTARA®* combination seat covers. The exclusive Marble White body color and special limited edition badges mounted on the side panels are perfectly suited to commemorate the fortieth year of Mazda’s rotary engine vehicle sales. Special equipment -- including exclusive Bilstein dampers and a urethane foam-filled front suspension cross member -- has been fitted for a higher quality ride and better performance.

Special equipment
Exterior

- Semi-gloss chrome light bezels (fitted to headlights and rear combination lights)
- 40TH ANNIVERSARY ROTARY ENGINE badge
- 18-inch highly reflective Dark Silver chrome aluminum alloy wheels
- Front fog lights (with blue reflectors)



Interior

- Exclusive black genuine leather and light silver ALCANTARA®* combination seat covers and light silver synthetic leather door trim are a modern interpretation of the Cosmo Sport’s unique interior design.
- Eight-way power-adjustable front seats with power lumbar support.
- Exclusive black leather-wrapped steering wheel and hand brake (with grey stitching)
- Exclusive black leather-wrapped gear shift (with grey stitching) on the MT model
- Aluminum pedals and footrest (These are special equipment for the 6-speed AT, but are standard equipment on the MT base model.)
- Water repellent glass coating (windshield glass, front door windows, and door mirrors)
- Advanced keyless entry & engine starter system

* ALCANTARA® is a registered trademark of Alcantara S.p.A.



Engine/Chassis

- Rotary engine
By using rotors that have been finely balanced for their weight and rotation characteristics, the smooth performance of the rotary engine has been further enhanced.
- Special engine cover
- Bilstein dampers
The Bilstein dampers were exclusively designed for this limited edition RX-8 in order to achieve higher levels of performance and comfort.
- The front suspension cross member is filled with urethane foam.
The urethane foam filling provides the ideal amount of vibration suppression to deliver a desirable degree of direct feedback, ensuring a high quality steering feel.
- Large diameter disc brakes (These are special equipment for the 6-speed AT, but are standard equipment on the MT base model.)
- 225/45R18 91W tires and 18-inch alloy wheels (These are special equipment for the 6-speed AT, but are standard equipment on the MT base model.)



Body color

The classic shade, Marble White, is offered exclusively.

 

Nice , but the pic is not working.

 

Hmmm I think its more of a luxury edition to me with more aesthetic upgrades than anything else.

bit of a shame really...

 

Hmm. A special edition white RX8. Just what I'm interested in.
Anyone heard if they are coming to Oz?

 

Looks like different countries are getting various colours of the 40th Anniversary edition

https://www.rx8club.com/australia-new-zealand-forum-37/dont-expect-too-much-2008-a-122491/


Give us an MPS Mazda RX8 in any colour and keep the badges



Ben

 

Yes, I have.

I emailed Mazda Australia a month or so ago....they confirmed that we'll get a 40th Anniversary Special Edition later this year.

No details, but I assume it'll be something disgusting like the one above.

 

Check out the cheap looking anniversary stickers , definetely a target best and less special

https://www.rx8club.com/showthread.p...=1#post2005556

 

Aside from the whole thing sounding like the Shinka on (chrome & badge) steriods, this caught my eye, ...this sounds like the RB 'lightened rotors". Wonder if the rev limit is raised or anything powerwise or peak power/torque is different?

Perhaps this is a precurser to whatever an upgraded Renesis might offer?

 

Theres nothing special about this "special" edition

 

Japan is getting "only" 200 of these 40th Anniversary Special Edition RX-8's.

When we get our version, I'm tipping around fifty cars. The SE and the Revelation didn't sell well here. They hung around the dealerships like bad smells.

Just moving fifty will be a hard sell, I reckon.

 

...and they were being discounted heavily in the end, too.

My dealer offered me the plum red (what was that colour called? ) he'd had on the floor for less than the price I paid for my cloth pack, but it was an 05 build...and that light upholstery is...erm...an acquired taste . That was with a $36k trade-in on the cloth pack, too. In retrospect, it was possibly a good deal, apart from the taste issues!

 

Gomez

If the demand is low for them , if they give me a reasonable price on my trade i may be temted to upgrade .

I would not give them more than $55,000 on the road .

Ben

 

Good point does anyone have any further clues on what this actually means ?

- Rotary engine
By using rotors that have been finely balanced for their weight and rotation characteristics, the smooth performance of the rotary engine has been further enhanced.

Ben

 

Radiant Ebony was the horror colour. "Beige" was the official interior leather colour! From the Mazda Australia website blurb:




Hahahaha, quick?? Not really .

 

They are probably using balanced rotors. I'm drawing on RX-7 knowledge here.

Rotors are categorised according to their weight. Manufacturing tolerances result in rotors being produced with slightly different weights. Each weight band is assigned a letter (A, B, C, D.....)

In the past, you could have two different weight rotors in your engine as long as they weren't more than one letter apart. You could have a "B" and "C" for example, but not a "B" and "D" rotor pair.

Sounds to me like they've gone to paired letter rotors only.

 

But since theyre balanced, does it increase engine output or at least have the potential?

 

Smoother running, better longevity, only a minor impact on power production.

Here's a pick of a polished rotor I have. Notice the letter "C" at the one o'clock position.

 

I read there are more to the weight, the chamber shape and depth will make things very interesting...

 

Got this response about the 40th anniversary Australian RX8 from my Mazda Dealer

This is all the info I have. Yes, there will be a 40th anniversary RX8 due for production November 2007 Cars will be complied 2008.
The Auto will be a 6 speed.
We believe most of the features found in the U.S model will be the same here except colours will be Marble White, Brilliant Black, Metropolitan Grey and Stormy Blue.Dont know for sure, but cars will be limited to 100 only for Australia. Price unknown but would expect mid to high sixties.


Looks like Australia is finally getting the 6 speed Automatic .


Colours , Marble White, Brilliant Black, Metropolitan Grey and Stormy Blue , guess they are hedging their chances of selling 100 limited units .

 

The car would have to be sub 60K to sell 100 of them. You might find 20 woodducks who'd pay over 60K, but you wouldn't find 100.

 

Any ideas where I can get my hands on a polished Rotor in the Brisbane area ?

 

Laurence if you find out can you please let me know as well!!!!

 

Any rotary workshop should have a few lying around .

Try Archie from Mazfix

Ben

 

looking forward to that

 

There will be no automatic 40th Anniversary cars at all. Australia will be getting 179 six speed manual RX-8's in the colours listed above. If you want one in Marble White, get into your dealer now.....they will be very, very, rare. Victorian dealers have ordered one.

Edit: Australian 40th Anniversary RX-8's will also come with a rear spoiler.

The total number of Anniversary RX-8's is up on previous special editions as these cars will be all that's available until the new RX-8 arrives in late April/early May 2008.

My RX-8 will be built in April.

Have a Merry Christmas.