There's something very special about the electric smoothness of the rotary engine installed in the Mazda RX-8. Nothing else on the road feels like it, sounds like it or goes in the same manner. The fast throttle response and the buzz from this special engine as it eagerly leaps up the rev range is guaranteed to put a smile on the face of anyone who loves their cars and driving.

 The tiny Wankel rotary engine sits behind the front wheels thus giving the RX-8 a mid-engined layout for excellent chassis balance. There’s plenty of feel through the steering, indeed through your complete body and the huge amount of road grip is both enjoyable and safe.

 Just-upgraded to the extent that it has styling that’s so over the top it’s positively futuristic, the latest Mazda RX-8 is stunning to look at. Cast your eyes over the shaping of the new front bumper, particularly in its lower surfaces and at the reshaped semi-mesh grille. Then there's the tough diffuser look at the rear that gives it a real racecar appearance, one that’s enhanced by the huge exhaust outlets. 

Inside, the snug cabin features four bucket seats with centre consoles between both the front and the rear pairs. The front seats are semi-race Recaro units neatly finished with stitching in the leather to give a touch of elegance. Note that the seats are on the snug side to give the best in lateral support. Those of you with a larger than average backside should try them for size before falling in love with the rest of the car…

 We particularly like the ‘rotary-engine’ shape of the gear knob sitting on top of a lovely stubby lever. And the slick way the lever slides from position to position with just the right amount of resistance to give the right feel of driving pleasure. 

The latest variation of the Mazda rotary engine – these days tagged the ‘Renesis’ and based on the legendary 13B – puts out 170 kilowatts at 8200 rpm and 211 Nm of torque at 5500 rpm. These outputs only vary marginally from the now-superseded RX-8, but there are a number of modifications aimed at improving low to mid-range performance. While it still doesn’t have a huge amount of torque the Renesis is a real improvement on previous Mazda rotaries.

 Response is virtually instantaneous and the engine is more than happy to rev to the heavens. It continues to pull strongly all the way to its redline and never sounds frantic in the way a piston engine does. However, to get the best from the little rotary powerplant you do need to work the six forward gears. But isn’t that half the fun of driving a sports car? Put in the right effort in an intelligent manner and you will love this machine. 

Fuel consumption has never been a strong point of any rotary engine. You can expect to use around 13 to 15 litres per hundred kilometres in normal suburban driving. This can climb to close to 20 litres if you really get stuck into it. Gentle open road touring sees significant improvements and the consumption can be down in the 10 litre range, though many a good V8 can do better on the highway… 

Mazda RX-8 is a four-door sports coupe. That’s right a four-door, not a two-door as its sleek lines suggest. Though they're not immediately obvious the small back doors (which don’t have external handles) make entry to the rear seat much easier than normal in a car in this sporting class. They are hinged at the rear and have their release levers on the inside, meaning that the rear doors can only be opened when the front doors are already open. 

The RX-8 is almost a genuine four-seater as adults can be carried with a lot less cramping than you might imagine given the sleek outline of the body.

 Add a surprisingly spacious boot, in particular in its depth, and the little Mazda sports car makes an (almost) practical daily driver. 

Standard features in all models include ABS brakes with electronic brakeforce distribution, front, side and curtain airbags, stability and traction control, climate control air conditioning, cruise control, six-disc MP3-compatible stereo and leather wrapped steeering wheel and gear lever. The RX-8 Luxury also has full-leather seat trim, a premium sound system, powered driver’s seat and sun roof. 

The performance GT model we tested comes with 19-inch alloy wheels, again with futuristic styling that matches the new body shape, firmer suspension and a body kit featuring side skirts, rear spoiler and an even lower front bumper with integrated foglamps. 

In an era when sameness is the norm in motor vehicle design, Mazda's RX-8 is a breath of fresh air. Both on the outside and inside the little Mazda hardtop is delightfully different. Different to look at, different to drive – and there's that wonderful engine with excellent response and a superb note. 

AT A GLANCE 

MODEL RANGE
RX-8 1.3-litre four-door sedan - $49,720
RX-8 Luxury 1.3-litre four-door sedan - $55,520
RX-8 GT 1.3-litre four-door sedan - $57,625

FEATURES
ABS Brakes: Standard in all models
Air Conditioning: Standard in all models
Automatic Transmission: Not offered in RX-8 and RX-8 GT, $1645 option in Luxury
CD Player: Standard in all models
Central Locking: Standard in all models
Cruise Control: Standard in all models
Dual Front Airbags: Standard in all models
Front Side Airbags: Standard in all models
Stability Control: Standard in all models
Traction Control: Standard in all models

SPECIFICATIONS (Mazda RX-8 1.3-litre four-door sedan)

ENGINE:
Capacity: 1.308 litres
Configuration: Front-midship Renesis, two rotors in-line
Compression Ratio: 10.1:1
Bore/Stroke: Not applicable
Maximum Power: 177 kW @ 8200 rpm
Maximum Torque: 211 Nm @ 5500 rpm 

DRIVELINE:
Driven Wheels: Rear
Manual Transmission: Six-speed
Automatic Transmission: Four-speed
Final Drive Ratio: 4.444:1

SUSPENSION AND BRAKES:
Front Suspension: Double wishbone, mono-tube shock absorbers, anti-roll bar
Rear Suspension: Multi-link, mono-tube shock absorbers, anti-roll bar
Front Brakes: Ventilated disc
Rear Brakes: Ventilated disc

PERFORMANCE:
0-100 km/h Acceleration: 7.2 secs
Standing 400 Metres: 15.3 secs

FUEL CONSUMPTION:
Type: Petrol 95RON
Combined Cycle (ADR 81/01): 12.6 L/100km

GREEN VEHICLE GUIDE RATINGS:
Greenhouse Rating: 3.5/10
Air Pollution Rating: 5/10

STANDARD WARRANTY:
Three years/unlimited km