Double Duty Mazda RX-8

The stock RX-8 is a unique car.  It is the only production car that is powered by a Rotary Engine.   The compact size of the 1.3 Liter Renesis engine allowed Mazda engineers to mount this engine further back in the chassis which results in a perfect 50/50 weight distribution.  Although the car is low on horsepower and torque; the handling capabilities make this car a great tool for weekend road racers.  Sunny Lam has gone a bit overboard when modifying his 2004 RX-8 with the best JDM parts around.

Starting with the handling department, a set of strut bars from MazdaSpeed were sourced and slapped on the front and rear towers.  In a bit of overkill a second JIC strut brace was also added to the front end.  Finishing off the chassis bracing is a set of sway bars from Tanabe.  No proper tuner car can be completed without a set of fully adjustable coilovers.  Tein’s top of the line Flex Coilovers were installed at each corner with an Electronic Dampening Force Controller (EDFC) system.  This allows the driver to make changes to the dampening from inside the car.  No need to get out and get your shirt all dirty by adjusting the coilovers by hand.  This is a very trick unit!

Holding the RX-8 to the pavement during high speed lapping sessions is a super sticky tire from Yokohama sized 245/40 17.  The Advan A032R tires are top of the line and are mounted on some super high end Work Emotion CR Kai rims with a sweet bronze finish.  The braking system is comprised of 2 different kits.  The front kit is a Brembo big-brake kit featuring 4-POT calipers.  Out rear there are 2-piece Project Mu rotors with Titan Kai brake pads.  Now that the RX-8 has the proper turning and stopping power, the engine was next on the list to be upgraded.

The puny 1.3 Liter rotary engine puts out a weak 232 naturally aspirated horsepower, and an even weaker 152 lb-ft of torque.  This is a really low number for any sports car.  The previous generation Mazda RX-8 had twin turbo chargers.  But Mazda decided to dump these in the name of reliability.  Luckily there are many aftermarket companies that offer turbo power for the RX-8.  Greddy is one of the most trusted names in the industry.  This JDM manufacturer has been providing forced induction for decades.  And Sunny’s car has a Greddy Mazda RX-8 turbo kit pushing 9 lbs. of boost into the engine.  The result is a healthy 330 hp.  To keep thing cool under the hood a Koyo radiator was installed.  Exhaust is sent out via an HKS Legamax system.

The Mazda RX-8 is part of a long line of unique looking vehicles.  In fact the entire line of R-Series cars from Mazda have an unmatched design quality that makes for some sexy cars.  But since this car will be seeing track duty a full body kit was out of the question.  Instead, functional pieces were sourced from RE-Amemiya including a carbon fiber front lip and canards.  The hood is from VIS and is also made from the lightweight material as is the adjustable carbon fiber wing.

Turning to the interior of the RX-8, safety was a major concern so a 4-point autopower roll cage was installed.  The seats are Recaro SPG units wrapped in ultra luxurious Alcantara suede.  A set of Takata 5-point harnesses hold the driver in place.  There are gauges and a boost controller to keep the driver informed of the car’s vitals at all times.  Finally a Nardi steering wheel and a quick release hub round out the interior upgrades.

All these upgrades and especially the rare JDM modifications make this one hot track prepped Mazda RX-8.

source:http://www.mazda.com.mx/MusaWeb/displayPage.action?pageParameter=mazdaSpeedTuningPersonal&sectionParameter=tunerProfile48