Sexy RX-8 Bucks Soft Sports Car Market Trend
Despite the quirky nature, engines and styling of Mazda's RX designated sports cars, they always sold reasonably well until the previous RX7 priced itself out of contention.
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| On September 29, 2004 the 100,000th RX-8 rolled off the Ujina No.1 final assembly line in Japan. (Photo: Trevor Hofmann, Canadian Auto Press) |
It comes as little surprise then that Mazda's much more affordable and altogether more accommodating RX-8 is succeeding like the Japanese automaker had hoped, reaching a significant milestone in the process. On September 29, 2004 the 100,000th RX-8 rolled off the Ujina No.1 final assembly line in Japan, just a few kilometers from Mazda's Hiroshima headquarters. Remarkably, this accomplishment was achieved just 18 months after the car's April 2003 introduction.
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| Mazda continues to demonstrate the RX-8's adaptability by creating the zero-emissions hydrogen-powered RX-8 Hydrogen Rotary Engine concept. (Photo: Mazda Canada) |
It seems that Mazda's decision to pioneer a new breed of sports car, one with four pillarless doors and four functional seats was the right thing to do. It's the ideal vehicle for buyers who want sleek, sexy sports car styling without needing to give up every practicality, while its rear-wheel driven performance and razor-sharp handling easily appeals to enthusiasts of all different stripes.
The RX-8 can be traced down through a long string of concept cars, starting with the RX-01 concept of 1996. Even after its production began, Mazda continued to demonstrate the RX-8's adaptability by creating the zero-emissions hydrogen-powered RX-8 Hydrogen Rotary Engine concept.