2007 Mazda RX-8 GT Road Test

The sound of Mazda's Renesis rotary engine and the willingness of it to rev its way into the stratosphere immediately distinguish the RX-8 from any other sports car. The petit, 1.3 litre rotary engine does not use an assortment of reciprocating pistons to deliver a stout 232 horsepower and 159 foot-pounds of torque to the rear wheels. Rather it follows a design that utilizes a couple of triangular-shaped rotors spinning within an oblong housing, creating an intake, combustion and exhaust phase with each revolution. German engineer, Felix Wankel originally invented the rotary engine in 1960 or so; since then it has undergone considerable refinement- most of it under the tutelage of Mazda engineers.