New Mazda RX-8 Data

RX-8's responsive handling and performance deliver driving pleasure far beyond the normal. A key factor in achieving the RX-8's unrivaled performance and superb handling is its light weight, perfectly balanced 50:50 weight distribution, and low yaw-inertia moment and center of gravity. The front-midship layout is further enhanced by RENESIS, the next-generation rotary engine. Naturally aspirated, the RENESIS is smaller and lighter than Mazda's previous turbo rotary engine (13B-REW), and it is only 338mm high, the same as the transmission. This made it possible to mount the engine about 60mm further rearward and some 40mm lower than in the RX-7, which already has the engine's center of gravity behind the front axle. As a result, RX-8 has perfect 50:50 front/rear weight distribution, a low yaw-inertia moment and a center of gravity the same as the RX-7. In addition, the RX-8 realizes nimble, controllable performance and stable high-speed handling thanks to its 2,700mm wheelbase.

RENESIS, the key to the RX-8's front-midship layout, features a side-intake, side-exhaust layout, with the exhaust ports moved to the side housing of the rotor chamber. This allows the size of the ports to be freely set, resulting in an expanded air-intake port area _ 30% larger than in conventional rotary engines _ greatly improving intake resistance and contributing to the high maximum output targets of 184kW (250PS)/8,500rpm and maximum torque of 216Nm (22.0kg-m)/7,500rpm even with natural aspiration. In addition, the adoption of dual exhaust ports for each chamber achieves twice the port area of conventional designs and also allows exhaust port timing to be delayed for increased thermal efficiency in the expansion process. Unburned hydrocarbons are retained for combustion in the next cycle, which greatly reduces emissions. A three-stage induction system, featuring shutter valves at the intake ports of each rotor, utilize the incoming air's dynamic charge effect and improve filling efficiency, while twin electronic throttles precisely and flexibly control the valve operation. Furthermore, a wet-sump lubrication system with oil-pan height just half that of conventional designs also reduced engine size and weight.