Mazda usually makes a habit of introducing some sweeping concept vehicles at major auto shows. The 2008 Detroit Auto Show was no different with the world premiere of the Furai concept. For the enthusiast crowd, Ford's Japanese affiliate also showed a revamped version of its RX-8 sports car.
2009 Mazda RX-8
 |
 |
The 2009 Mazda RX-8 gets freshened interior and exterior styling. A revised front fascia and bumpers and a reshaped instrument panel mark the primary changes. Like the current RX-8, the 2009 version is a "four-door coupe" with two regular doors and two rear-hinged "suicide" doors.
RX-8 will remain the only mass-produced vehicle sold in North
America that has a rotary engine. The engine is unchanged at 232
horsepower in RX-8 models equipped with the manual transmission and 212
horsepower with the available automatic. A revised set of transmission
gear ratios is designed to provide better acceleration. The new R3
package helps give the 2009 Mazda RX-8 additional handling chops in the
form of sport-tuned shock absorbers and additional suspension
enhancements. Pricing will be announced closer to the car's summer 2008
on-sale date.
Mazda Furai Concept
 |
 |
Some might say Mazda has an unhealthy obsession with the rotary engine as an alternate form of vehicle propulsion. Instead of pistons and cylinders, rotaries use triangular rotors spinning in oval chambers to achieve power. Furai, meaning "sound of the wind" in Mazda's native Japanese, uses a three-rotary engine that produces 450 horsepower while running on 100 percent ethanol fuel (E100). Exterior styling gets its inspiration from an American Le Mans Series (ALMS) racecar. Furai's basic platform is Mazda's "Courage C65" that was used in the ALMS series of races two years ago. As this is a design and technology exercise, Furai likely will stay in concept form, especially since it's heavy on racecar components.
New Car Quote
Acura