New Car Review of the 2004 Mazda RX-8 Sports Car.

Description: Sports Car
Base MSRP Range: $25,180
Invoice Price Range: $23,274

The essence of Mazda's favored rotary-powered RX-7 hatchback sports car lives again in modern format with the new RX-8. It's a clever design that's slightly taller and wider than the former RX-7, with the wheelbase stretched considerably longer and wheels pushed to corners of the platform for a sporty stance.

With the wheelbase extended there's room enough on the chassis to install a second row of seats in the configuration of a 2+2 GT-style sports coupe. Only Mazda's designers also added two concealed rear doors. Set behind the front doors, these half-size rear doors are hinged in back and open with the front doors to create a broad and pillar-less portal for easy access into the back seats. The cabin ends up as a functional four-seater with ample room in all positions for full-frame adult riders.

This new version of the RX also carries a rotary-powered engine. It's the next generation in rotary design, smaller in size and lighter in weight than previous versions, but more powerful. Called Renesis, the engine achieves 250 hp with a six-speed manual transmission or 210 with a four-speed automatic rigged with paddle-shift system on the steering wheel. RX-8 also stocks an anti-lock brakes system (ABS), electronic brake force distribution (EBD), plus a dynamic stability control system (DSC) with frontal and side-mounted air bags aboard, a tire pressure monitor, power windows and door locks, and 18-inch alloy wheels.