2004 Mazda RX-8 Motorsport Concept

The car's revised suspension, which drops the ride height by almost 1 inch, improves the standard car's class leading dynamics and adds to the concept's visual impact. Suspension modifications focus on new specification, stiffer Eibach springs that help improve the already impressive grip offered by the RX-8's multi-link front and rear suspension. The revised suspension settings, which help reduce body roll, further sharpen responses from the car's electric-driven rack and pinion steering.

Promising considerably more power and torque than the standard car, the RX-8 Motorsport Concept features a Renesis rotary engine complete with a water cooled Garret turbocharger running 7.5 lbs of boost pressure and a large air-to-air intercooler. These modifications and a re-programmed Power Control Module that maximizes the engine's efficiency are expected to boost power by more than 52 per cent over the production RX-8. The engine's pulling power, or torque, receives a substantial boost over a wide rev band, with it peaking about 260 lb-ft, an increase of almost 65 per cent over the road car.

Using a relatively small and low-boost turbo ensures good throttle response and maintains the free-revving nature of the road car's normally aspirated rotary engine.

The RX-8 Motorsport Concept's compression ratio and redline are unaffected, allowing the turbo engine to race to 9000 rpm.

A larger, free-breathing exhaust system ensures maximum power gain while a new muffler also aids breathing and delivers a throatier, more purposeful exhaust note.

Braking is by an Alcon six piston racing system that features 335 mm vented and grooved discs. Similar systems are used in world rally, Japanese GT, V8 Supercar and NASCAR racing.

Other mechanical upgrades include a smaller but more powerful battery, while a larger core radiator ensures the engine runs within its ideal temperature range under all conditions.