Search - Best Motoring: RX-8 - Rotary Reborn on DVD

Rotary Reborn: The Return of Mazda's Rotary Rocket

Pneumatic Valvetrain | New Jersey | 07/28/2005

(4 out of 5 stars)

"Err...not quite. The overwhelming concensus in the video concerns the RX-8's torque output-there is not much to speak of. Otherwise, the viewer gets and in-depth discussion of what the RX-8 means to the sports-car segment, and how the genesis of the new rotary design allowed the engineers to sidestep the ever delicate emissions requirements. Past rotary engines were notorious for their high emissions, poor gas mileage, and excessive oil consumption...well, at least the Mazda engineers got the first part right. Takuya Kurosawa raves about the handling prowess of the RX-8, but echoes the sentiments of a lot of rotary fanatics (RX-7 fans in particular): the new car just doesn't have the sauce the outgoing RX-7 had with twin sequential turbos. Nevertheless, this is a sportscar that the enthusiast should consider just on the recommemdations of the test drivers. Takuya is a well-renowned race car driver(he is the son of Gan-San, Motoharu Kurosawa) and has the insight and input to intelligently critique a car and its shortcomings. Rest assured, if they don't like something about a car, they will let you know about it."