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Car News / Mazda RX-8 picks up more standard kit in Japan
In what we can only hope will have a flow on effect for Australian buyers, standard equipment levels across the entire RX-8 range have been updated in Japan.
The updates include rain-sensing windshield wipers, auto headlamps, and Mazda’s auto-light system, two new body colors – Aluminum Metallic and Metropolitan Grey Mica – and an audio-less base model where the space for a head unit in the centre panel is left as an open storage unit.
Keyless entry is now also standard across the range, as is push-button start.
Australian specification RX-8s start from $51,440 (RRP).
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i hope for new rx-8 buyers sake they’ll get these new updates. we alway seem to pay more and have less equipment than overseas model. for example our gt version released last year compared to american gt/r3 model were dearer and have less equipment (bose audio). this was when the australian dollar was at about $US0.85-$US0.90
With the release of the 370Z, Mazda’s equipment updates are inadequate at best. Mazda needs to be less head-strong and release the RX8 SP.
The 370z is alot more expensive
rx8 – 51,440
370z – 67,990
a difference of over 16k
Forget all these other gimmicks, where’s the twin-turbo renesis version?
RX8 doesn’t make since as IMO is neither one thing nor the other.Looks about as sporty as your average family sedan with mags.Dump the rotary engine. Your flogging a dead horse.LOL.
“The 370z is alot more expensive…”
Which still doesn’t negate the fact that the 370Z, like its predecessor, is still the natural competitor to the RX8. Naturally, when one is in the market for an RX8, he would inevitably compare it to the 370Z.
Now all they need is a extra 40 Kw
These with a properly installed,aftermarket turbo kit are magic.
We aussies always get hard done by when it comes to price especially(!), standard equipment and so forth.
RX-8s can look good but the one in the picture looks seriously outdated. Maybe its the silver paint.
Why doesn’t Mazda get serious and give us the RX-7 back? A modern day RX-7 would be sure to sell better than the RX-8. This car always dumb-founded me as an RX-7 replacement.
wow, i’d be so impressed as a prospective new buyer when i discover there’s an open storage unit where the audio head unit should be.
I must say that I don’t actually like too many things as standard. Strange I know, but I would rather pay more than I should for extras on a BMW rather than get things that I really don’t want. For instance, the thing where the car can sense that the key is near and then you can open the door and turn it on. I don’t want that. It’s a stupid idea. I am capable of pressing the button on the key and as somebody who suffers from OCD, it would literally drive me insane wandering if it was locked or not. Glad to say I own no cars with keyless entry.
I don’t understand rain sensing wipers wither. I can see that it’s raining, I can flip the (often very conveniently placed) switch to turn them on myself.
I just wish you could have a bit more choice rather than get everything.
From my point of view, the RX-8 couldn’t have any less equipment in Australia (actually, make that most Mazdas apart from new 3 and CX-9). Not only do we not get sat-nav on any of them (bar CX-9, new 3 and high-end 6’s as an option), but nothing nice or extra-ordinary (for a ute) on the BT-50, the CX-7 doesn’t even get dual-zone air-con (for an almost $50k car…as well as sat-nav), the 2 offers the same stuff from base to top spec (bar exterior mods), the MX-5 is too exxy for what it is and what it gets, and the RX-8 looks dowdy and that stupis smile on most of them is so off-putting (even more so than the Peugeot range).
There should be more diesel models (imagine a diesel 2, CX-7 and even a CX-9 with much better consumption yet more torque making it easier on hils) and other luxuries. Eg rain-sensing wipers, light-sensing headlamps, electronic folding mirrors (if every car in Japan has this feature then why not us?) and heated seats should at least be standard on mid-specs and up.
And a better model range is needed, like the Mazda5 introduced, a Mazda2 sedan (I think its coming) and maybe a V6-powered Mazda6, like in the US???!!! Its not all negative, but just what I think Mazda should do to offer a better range of cars.
I’d like to correct a point by me, on the 2009 RX-8 sat-nav is available on the Luxury models for $2,800. Hmmmmmm stil abit underequipped though…