Vehicle on test

Mazda RX-8

Overall:

Mazda’s RX-8 is everything you could want from a sportscar - stylish and practical but with a glorious sporty roar and performance to match.

Our mean machine was the £22,900 2.6litre, 231PS version which meant business. It was sheer joy to hear the engine note alter through acceleration and gear changes.

But the RX-8 is unique in having a rotary engine, special to this Japanese manufacturer. Invented almost 80 years ago but developed and refined by Mazda. Rotary engines don’t have the cylinders, pistons or valves you’ll find in ordinary engines. Instead two triangular-shaped rotors spin around a common output shaft. As combustion occurs each rotor turns and revs increase rapidly with virtually no vibration and producing smooth delivery.

Another unusual feature of the RX-8 is the rear doors. This is really a 2+2 sports coupe but by creating two rear doors which open in the opposite direction to normal ones, and are unhindered by central pillars, they provide easy access and turn this car into a decent sized four seater. When closed the reinforced rear doors create the non-existent central B pillar ensuring the car is as safe as any other.

There is above adequate headroom in the back which has two full sized comfy sports seats. And the door handle is concealed in the interior of the car so as not to detract from the sinuous lines.

Handling is excellent and confidence building and the RX-8 hugs the road - especially on cornering. Traction and Stability Control are standard as are anti-lock brakes.

Our car was fitted with a six speed manual gearbox - a lesser powered 192PS (141bhp) version comes with a five speed box and costs £1,500 less.

Boot space is more than you’d expect in a sports car but it’s deep and items have to be lifted over a high rim.

Report by Claire Bowen