Car Style - The Mazda RX-8 (2002-2008 Model)

There was nothing like the Mazda RX-8 when it first came out. Many speculated the RX-8 was a true successor to the RX-7. However, the RX-8 isn't an evolution of anything. It was touted as a four-door sports car. Its heart is the good old Renesis engine. The vehicle I'll be discussing is the previous model Mazda RX-8. Now if you want the latest RX-8, check out Mazda's latest offering of this car. My brother wanted an RX-8, and this car was featured on the Speed Channel series "101 Cars You Must Drive," featuring comedian Alonso Bodden.



--- Car Style: The Mazda RX-8 (FE3S Model) ---
The character of the entire car is in sharpness. You can either think of it as a pure sports car or a four-door coupe. But no matter what you think of its looks, it is a head-turning car.

Exterior.
The headlights are styled sharply and with lots of mean attitude. The front features a huge opening on the front bumper, and the sides of the front bumper feature two openings. Two small fog lights are situated near the big front opening on either side. Above the front opening is the Mazda badge to be shown to the whole world. The front hood/bonnet has a bold design. It kind of looks like it has its own ram air induction from the hood/bonnet, but it's just to remind you this car's engine was meant for business (even though many complain that it doesn't have enough torque).

From the sides, the car's sharp character is met with many bold accents. The quarter panels have some aggression as it packs a muscular punch. The big side ducts from the front quarter panels are plenty aggressive as this car has some meanness to its looks. The boldness continues with the rear quarter panel as its fenders are bold, yet smooth. A more than sufficient side skirt compliments and completes the aggressive side looks. Many people think the RX-8 could have been done away with the extra two doors. But still, the car is met with clean styling as you open the doors.

My brother used to tell me that the RX-8 is one of few cars that intimidates you from the rear. Looking at the tail light assembly, he's right. This car features perhaps two of the meanest-looking tail lights on any car. The rear bumper features a little rear valance outlined in black. Two tailpipes accentuate both sides of the rear valance.


Interior.
This car is pretty sharp on the inside, but not as sharp as its exterior. You get a very sporty steering wheel that is both useful and sporty. The gauges are big and accentuated with metallic accents. The center console is very unique in design. In case you need to be reminded of what kind of engine you're playing with, the shifter knob has that rotary engine look to it. Comfortable, racing-like seats are what the driver and front passenger can enjoy. I actually sat in the Mazda RX-8 before at a Mazda dealer and at the Houston Auto Show several times. It really grabs you can takes you for a ride.





The newer RX-8 is a bit dopey for me. If it were up to me, I'd get the Mazdaspeed RX-8 complete with more aggressive body work and more metallic accents and a sporty rear wing. The Mazdaspeed RX-8 is lovely either in black or silver. The RX-8 is still one of the most unique sports cars ever made.


UPDATE: 3/28/2010
If you are looking for car parts for your car or the car I mentioned, I invite you to use either the Amazon Auto Part Finder widget on the side. Or click on the link at the end of this sentence, as it links you to Amazon Auto Part Finder. Please read "An Important Amazon Note" in the sidebar for more information on Amazon products. Thank you for reading!