Mazda Shows Off RX-8 "SHINKA" Special Edition In Chicago
Limited Production RX-8
Combines Enhanced Luxury with Rotary Power
Coinciding with
the opening of the 2005 Chicago Auto Show, Mazda today announced
its RX-8 "SHINKA" Special Edition is now available at local Mazda
dealers.
The
Mazda RX-8 "SHINKA" Special Edition takes its name
from the Japanese word meaning "evolution" or "transformation,"
and adds design style and performance to the highly successful sportscar.
Only 2,150 "SHINKA" Special Edition cars will be produced.
"We've taken the RX-8 - a car
already lauded by customers and media alike - to a new level of sophistication
and exclusivity with the 'SHINKA' Special Edition," said Weldon Munsey,
RX-8 vehicle line manager for Mazda North American Operations (MNAO). "Improved
ride and handling capabilities, along with interior and exterior refinements,
make the 'SHINKA' Special Edition the ultimate RX-8."
The Mazda RX-8 "SHINKA" will
be available with either a six-speed manual or four-speed Sport A/T automatic
transmission, featuring Formula One-style steering-wheel-mounted paddles
for manual gear shifting. Manual transmission-equipped cars are fitted with
a 238-horsepower engine that spins to a heady 9000 rpm, while Sport A/T-equipped
cars are powered by a 198-horsepower engine tuned specifically to take advantage
of the automatic's gear ratios.
To further enhance driving
performance and ride comfort, the RX-8 "SHINKA" features a uniquely tuned
suspension system, upgraded from the standard car. The system offers a foam
urethane filled front suspension cross member and specially tuned dampers,
while achieving improved body rigidity through reinforcing the top-front
portion of the A-pillars and improving the stability of the rear damper
mounting points.
Photos: Mazda
The distinctiveness of the
RX-8 "SHINKA" extends to both the exterior and interior appointments of
the vehicle. The car is offered only in a rich Black Cherry body color offset
by a soft Parchment Tan leather interior. Among the exclusive exterior enhancements
are semi-gloss bezels for the headlamps and rear combination lamps, as well
as dark-silver gloss aluminum wheels. Also standard on the RX-8 "SHINKA"
is a 300-watt Bose® sound system with in-dash six-disc CD changer. While
many Mazda vehicles are pre-wired for SIRIUS® satellite radio, "SHINKA"
models will be the first to be equipped as standard, as all cars will include
a one-year subscription to SIRIUS.
