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Bermaz Motor unleashed Mazda’s updated global icon, the Mazda RX-8 facelift, at its showroom at Jalan Ampang last weekend, 6 months after launching the new breed of Mazda cars, Mazda5, Mazda6, Mazda CX-9, Mazda MX-5 and BT-50, signalling to the automotive community and consumers that better things are to come from Bermaz and that they are serious about taking Mazda to new heights in Malaysia.
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The RX-8 was first launched in 2003 and was an immediate hit in the global market.
An entirely new concept in sports car design featuring uniquely styled 4 doors with 4 full seats, it sported a seemingly diminutive 1.3 litre naturally aspirated rotary engine which churned out 3 times more power than traditionally powered piston engines.
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The RX-8 revolutionized the sports car industry and dispelled the traditional myth that sports cars should have large displacement engines and could only have 2 seats to qualify for this elitist club.
To date, the RX-8 has won over 40 awards from journalists worldwide and has sold about 170,000 units. Among the prestigious awards won are 2003 Engine of the Year, 2004 RJC Car of the Year (Japan), 2004 Best Sports/Performance Vehicle (Canada), 2008 GT Class Winner of Rolex 24 at Daytona (USA). Add this to the fact that in the United States, on any given weekend, Mazda and Mazda-powered cars are road raced more than any other car.
Coming from a company that breathes adrenaline in all its cars and has the distinction of being the largest producer of sports cars in the world (over 2 million units sold) this is hardly surprising.
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Enthusiasts will be pleased to know that the Malaysian RX-8 comes with high specifications. For Malaysia, it comes as a 6-speed automatic with Activematic function and is equipped with a 9 speaker Bose Audio system, 6 disc in-dash CD, body colour coordinated leather seats, 18 inch aluminium alloy wheels, 8 airbags and much more.
Now, fully acclimatized and painstakingly engineered to suit Malaysian requirements, the new RX-8 has had major engineering changes to its engine, transmission, suspension and not to mention, its interior and exterior as well.
The new level of performance and sports car handling makes the RX-8 one of the most exciting cars on the road. The engine itself has undergone such a wide range of modifications it almost amounts to a new unit.
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For example, the gas seal lubrication system that is essential to the rotary engine has been changed from a mechanical type to a higher precision electromagnetic type, and from two nozzles to three, improving lubrication performance and extending rotor seal life and fuel efficiency.
The side six intake ports for both engine type (standard and high-powered) are for better engine breathing efficiencies.
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The new RX-8 also has variable (3) red zones. This switches the tachometer red zone in three stages in accordance with the current engine conditions. The new system prevents over-revving when the engine temperature is low, such as immediately after starting the engine. This is a self preservation feature that improves engine life and fuel efficiency.
Mazda engineers improved chassis rigidity by reinforcing critical areas and structural members. These measures yield improvements of 18.6 % in car body hysteresis, 5.4% in static torsion rigidity and 8.7% in static flexural rigidity compared with the previous model, giving exceptional body performance.
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The meticulously tuned suspension system features aluminium double wishbone front suspension that achieves linear alignment changes during front wheel jounce and rebound. The new construction allows linear increase in bush spring rate from the initial stage, enabling optimal control of compliant behaviour at all times.
The rear suspension’s links have been lengthened and the layout optimized to achieve a high measure of both handling stability and ride comfort. With the new RX-8, characteristics of front and rear dampers, coil springs, bushes and stabilizers have all been optimized to deliver well-balanced handling stability, braking stability and ride comfort.
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As for styling, the exterior receives a fresher, more refined look. Enlarged central and side air intakes greatly improve engine cooling and emphasizes its athletic styling.
Sharper and larger headlamps complete with HID lights and headlamp washer strikes a meaner expression of intent compared to the previous model.
Integrated air outlet and symbolic side turn lamp confer a premium touch and greater functionality to the front fenders.
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Clearer dual circular LED lights at the rear highlight the sporty appeal and the newly redesigned rear bum0per is more angular. All these, plus a larger diameter dual exhaust tailpipe gives it a more masculine look from the rear.
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It is now adorned with 225/40R18 ultra-low profile tyres on wide 8JJ Aluminium wheels featuring the rotary motif.
The expression of athleticism and passion for high performance handling really shows.
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The instrumentation panel houses 3 large dials with the tachometer in the centre, accentuated by a dynamic looking wave-shaped hood.
The steering wheel is leather wrapped with audio and cruise control switches set within the 3-spoke design. What is new is that it now comes with paddle shifters that are friendly to right and left-handers alike.
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Downshift with either your left or right thumb, and Upshift with the other fingers of either hand. For those who prefer the gear lever, they may also use the Activematic function on the leather-wrapped gear knob.
When it comes to safety, the RX-8 does not compromise. It is equipped with features to protect driver and passengers. Its active safety includes all-round ventilated discs equipped with 4-wheel ABS with Electronic Brakeforce Distribution (EBD), Brake Assist (BA) and Dynamic Stability Control (DCS), allowing the new RX-8 to brake shorter than its competitors and the previous RX-8.
Its passive safety features include Mazda Advanced Impact Distribution and Absorption System (MAIDAS) that resists deformation and channels impact energy away from the cabin in the event of a collision. In the absence of a centre pillar, additional reinforcements on the door frame and cabin perimeter are so extensive that it amounts to about 80 kg in weight, making it a very safe car and earning maximum stars from Japan NCAP in crash tests.
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For greater cabin comfort, the RX-8 comes with highly crafted leather seats that are colour coordinated with the RX-8’s body colour.
They are now wider and more supportive than before, providing a better hold of the driver in tight turns and twists. The driver seat comes with 8-way electric adjustment with 3 memory settings.
A clever button on the back of the front seat cleverly tilts and moves the front seat forward for easy ingress and egress for rear seat passengers.
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The RX-8 is sold at RM 233,699 (on the road without insurance) and comes in Velocity Red Mica, Crystal White Pearl, Brilliant Black, Diamond Grey, Sunlight Silver and Galaxy Grey.
Warranty is 3 years and fully backed by Bermaz.
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About Bermaz Motor
Bermaz Motor, a subsidiary of Berjaya, is the new distributor for Mazda in Malaysia since April 2008, and has successfully marketed such cars as Mazda CX-9, Mazda MX-5, new Mazda6, Mazda5 facelift and BT-50.
Mazda passenger cars are fully imported from Japan with Prima Merdu as its sole importer.
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Malaysia: MAZDA UNLEASHES ITS ICON IN MALAYSIA
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