- Mazda RX-8 production to end summer 2012; rotary engine development will continue -
HIROSHIMA, Japan—Mazda Motor Corporation has announced the Mazda RX-8 SPIRIT R, a special edition version of its four-door, four-seat rotary engine sports car. The RX-8 SPIRIT R will go on sale from November 24, 2011 at all Mazda and Mazda Anfini dealerships throughout Japan. Mazda RX-8 production will end in June 2012 and SPIRIT R will be the final special edition model. Mazda expects to sell 1,000 units.

The RX-8 SPIRIT R is based on the RX-8 Type RS (with six-speed manual transmission) and Type E (with six-speed electronically-controlled automatic transmission). It is named after the final limited edition Mazda RX-7, and this pedigree is reflected in stylish features that include exclusive seat design and colored alloy wheels. Additionally, Mazda's curtain and front side SRS airbag system, which is available as a factory-installed option on the base models, will be offered as standard equipment. Following the launch, the Mazda RX-8 lineup will consist of the SPIRIT R and the Type G (with six-speed electronically-controlled automatic transmission) model grades only.

Takashi Yamanouchi, Mazda's Representative Director, Chairman of the Board, President and CEO, said, "Mazda's iconic rotary engine recorded its famous victory in the Le Mans 24-Hour endurance race 20 years ago. Throughout 2011, we have been celebrating the 20th anniversary of that victory by demonstrating the winning 787B racecar at Le Mans' Circuit de La Sarthe and various other events around the world. At each one, the screaming rotary engine and the sight of the 787B have enthralled everyone from young children to race fans who witnessed its victory in 1991. These events have been a powerful reminder of the widespread passion for the rotary engine. Although RX-8 production is ending, the rotary engine will always represent the spirit of Mazda and Mazda remains committed to its ongoing development."

Main features of the limited Mazda RX-8 SPIRIT R series
Base models
RX-8 Type RS (with six-speed manual transmission) and RX-8 Type E (with six-speed electronically-controlled automatic transmission)
Special equipment
For both manual and automatic transmission models
Exclusive SPIRIT R badge
Front headlights, front fog lights and rear combination lights (with black bezels)
Front and rear brake calipers (red)
Transmission tunnel trim (piano-black)
Curtain and front side SRS airbag system
Exclusive to the manual transmission model
Specially-made SPIRIT R bucket seats from RECARO
225/40R19 89W tires and 19-inch alloy wheels (bronze)
Exclusive to the automatic transmission model
Leather seats (black with red stitching)
Leather-wrapped steering wheel (black with red stitching)
Parking brake lever (with red stitching)
Center console box front seat armrest and rear console box lid covered with synthetic leather (with red stitching)
Sports suspension, larger brakes
225/45R18 91W tires and 18-inch alloy wheels (gun metallic)
Exterior body colors
Aluminum Metallic
Sparkling Black Mica
Crystal White Pearl Mica

 

WoW! Red painted calipers and a SPIRIT R Badge, amazing! I must say, Mazda really knows to finish off the RX-8...

But seriously, I wouldn't mind a set of those seats in mine. Otherwise totally meh.

 

Picture links not working

 

Are you trying to get to the source of the pics? Or you can't see the pics? Cause I can see them.

 

The links in your post are not working for me but I found pics online.

 

Here's the link to Mazda's website:

http://www.mazda.com/publicity/relea...tml?link_id=nr

 

I want to see it!!!!!!!

 

the Mazda RX8. Going out in style...

 

Nice Touch.

http://speedhunters.com/archive/2011...-spirit-r.aspx

 

Want moar pics and info.

I wonder if it'll actually be tuned up in any ways, or if it's all aesthetic.

 

Fixed the pics in the first post.

 

would have loved to have seen a factory turbo.

 

Seat accessories, badges and black headlamp bezels.

A perfect and fitting example of why Mazda fails.

I can't even find a face-palm graphic that is big enough.

 

here ya go Jeff

 

Amen! where's the turbo, mazda?

 

There's more face palm pics then I've had girlfriends.

Oh wait.

I've had more girlfriends than there is face palm pics.

 

putting a different glove on your right hand does not make it a "new girlfriend".

 

I wonder what the rear tail lights look like.

 

Spoke to a Mazda contact I have here in Australia, they are trying to see "if" some Spirit R's may come to Australia, at present allocation of existing Series II RX-8's is very low (only 2 in the country right now) and firm pre-ordering will still be available if a customer is prepared to wait.

Interestingly, only Roadster MX-5's (PRHT) are now coming into Australia, the Soft Top is still available ex-Japan, again ONLY with a firm pre-order and if the customer is prepared to wait.
The Roadster (PRHT) outsells the softy 9:1 here.

Looks like the 8 will finish production 10 months before the original 2013 end...not quite the 10 years.

 

Mazda have always had a Rotary on sale in Japan virtually for the past 40+ years...it will be interesting to see what happens after June 2012.??

Mazda's rotary engine history.

1961 Jul
Signs a technical contract with NSU and Wankel
1967 May
Announces the completion of the rotary engine and introduces the Cosmo Sport 110S
1968 Jul
Introduces the Familia Rotary Coupe/Mazda R100
1969 Oct
Introduces the Luce Rotary Coupe/Mazda R130 Coupe
1970 May
Introduces the Capella Rotary/Mazda RX-2 series
1971 Sep
Introduces the Savanna Rotary/Mazda RX-3 is introduced
1972 Nov
Introduces the Luce Rotary/Mazda RX-4 series
1973 Jun
Cumulative production of rotary engine vehicles reaches 500,000 units
1975 Apr
Introduces the Roadpacer
1975 Oct
Introduces the Cosmo AP/Mazda RX-5
1977 Jul
Introduces the Cosmo L (Landau top)
1977 Oct
Introduces the Luce Legato/Mazda 929L
1978 Mar
Introduces the Savanna RX-7/Mazda RX-7
1978 Nov
Cumulative production of rotary engine cars reaches 1 million units
1981 Nov
Introduces the new Cosmo and Luce/Mazda 929 rotary series
1986 Apr
Cumulative production of rotary engine vehicles reaches 1.5 million units
1986 Sep
Introduces the fully redesigned Luce
1990 Apr
Introduces the Eunos Cosmo featuring a three-rotor rotary engine
1991 Jun
The Mazda 787B wins the 59th Le Mans 24-Hour endurance race
1991 Dec
Introduces the fully redesigned RX-7
2002 Mar
Introduces the SPIRIT R final limited edition Mazda RX-7
2003 Apr
Introduces the Mazda RX-8


Headlines already out...

Mazda to stop making rotary-engine vehicles

By YURI KAGEYAMA, AP Business Writer – 1 hour ago

TOKYO (AP) — Mazda will stop producing vehicles with its signature rotary engines in June next year because of poor sales and the costs of meeting emissions standards.

Mazda Motor Corp. said Friday the latest edition of the Mazda RX-8 will go on sale Nov. 24, targeting sales of 1,000 vehicles, but will end production in June 2012. The RX-8 is the only model in Mazda's lineup with the rotary engine,

The Japanese automaker, based in Hiroshima, introduced its first rotary engine car in 1967 and is the only automaker in the world that makes rotary engine vehicles. Such engines have fewer moving parts and are quieter than comparable piston engines but are more expensive to manufacture and consume more fuel.

Mazda's decision underlines how consumer tastes have changed to preferring green vehicles over sporty ones.

Mazda spokeswoman Michiko Terashima said research and development on the rotary engine will continue, but production is now not making sense when considering the costs of meeting safety and emissions standards for new vehicles.

Mazda sold only 2,896 RX-8 cars last year, with 1,245 of them in North America and 963 in Japan. Cumulative sales of Mazda vehicles with rotary engines total about 1.995 million as of the end of August, according to Mazda, which also makes the Miata sportscar.

Mazda Chief Executive and President Takashi Yamanouchi recalled the victory of Mazda's rotary engine at Le Mans 20 years ago, and called the rotary engine "iconic."

"Although R-X production is ending, the rotary engine will always represent the spirits of Mazda, and Mazda remains committed to its ongoing development," he said.

Mazda, which has lost money for the last three fiscal years, is struggling to assert its brand as the relationship with longtime partner Ford Motor Co. weakens.

Mazda does not have flashy green technologies in its lineup that its bigger Japanese rivals do — such as the hybrids at Toyota Motor Corp. or electric vehicles at Nissan Motor Co. The fading away of its prized rotary engine — although largely symbolic — is yet another blow.

Dearborn-based Ford bought 25 percent of Mazda in 1979, raising it to 33.4 percent in 1996. But Ford began cutting ties in 2008, and last year lowered its ownership to 3.5 percent.

Follow Yuri Kageyama on Twitter at http://twitter.com/yurikageyama

Copyright © 2011 The Associated Press. All rights reserved.

 

Not even a mazdaspeed exhaust? I just, ugh god damn it mazda.

 

They've always done special editions and packages that were limited and unique often without much performance in mind. They did consider a trick lightweight version RX-8 as well but ruled it out. They strongly considered a supercharged Mazdaspeed version at a point as well but money talks and ..... (You know the rest)

Paul.

 

Mazda is doing everything possible to lose the customer from both a lineup and brand image point of view.

 

eeeek, the seats have very weird color combo.

 

Yeah they sell rotary engines! Had Mazda have made the RX-7's and 8's with more powerful and more fuel efficient piston engines, they'd have sold even more of those cars. By building them with rotary engines they probably decreased the overall sales potential of the cars. I personally wouldn't have liked to see that but I don't represent the average buyer. Then again the newest rotary vehicle I have ever owned is from 1990 so go figure.

The reality is that if this final iteration would have had a turbo on it and bumped the power up a little bit to around 300, you guys would all still complain that it wasn't enough of an increase to be worth it and then a debate would ensue about reliability and poor mileage and all the other negative things that people talk about. The car is at the end of it's natural life cycle in terms of years. The 4 door sports car was a nice little experiment. Hopefully they'll get back to building a true 2 door non entry level sports car again someday.