The power-operated sunroof is available on manual and automatic Leather Pack models and is priced at just $1680.

Only 110 examples of the special edition model, which features the new sunroof and a re-trimmed interior as well as re-worked suspension to further improve the car’s class-leading ride quality, will be sold.

This special edition, which builds on the impressive equipment offered on RX-8 Leather Pack six-speed manual models, features a striking new interior that incorporates higher-quality beige leather seat trim complete with double stitching and colour matched door trims.

Colour-stitched black leather is applied to the steering wheel, parking brake lever and front/rear console box lids, while semi-gloss parts are used to highlight the meter rings, air-conditioning dials and air vent bezel rings.

Outside, the special edition model can be identified by semi-gloss bezels for the headlamps and rear combination lamps and dark-silver gloss finished aluminium wheels.

The body colour line-up includes the popular Titanium Grey and for the first time on RX-8, Radiant Ebony mica.

To further enhance the standard RX-8’s class leading handling and ride comfort, the RX-8 special edition features a special-tuned suspension system. This includes the front suspension cross member filled with foamed urethane, special-tuned dampers and improved body rigidity, which has been achieved by reinforcing the front-top portion of the A-pillars and improving the stability of the rear damper mounting points.

Standard features, which are also found on all other RX-8s, include 18-inch alloy wheels and tyres, traction control, dynamic stability control (DSC), six-airbags, cruise control, power windows and mirrors, limited slip differential, six-disc in-dash CD player and climate control air-conditioning.

Leather Pack variants and the special edition model also boast High Intensity Discharge (Xenon) headlamps, a Bose premium sound system, power-operated driver’s seat, front fog lamps and drilled aluminium pedals.

At the heart of the RX-8 spins a compact Renesis rotary. Redlined at 9000rpm, the 654cc x 2, fuel injected rotary engine produces a remarkable 177 kilowatts (ECE) of power at 8200rpm and 211Nm (ECE) of torque at 5500rpm when mated to a six-speed manual gearbox. The engine passes Euro Stage III emission standards.

The special edition variant is expected to be priced about $3100 over the Leather Pack manual variant, which at present is $63,110. Pricing will be confirmed closer to its release date.

Additional equipment:

Interior

• Leather trim - beige-coloured front and rear seats trimmed with double stitching
• Door trims - matched to the seat colour
• Black-leather-wrapped steering wheel - wheel and spokes wrapped with one piece of black leather trimmed with dark-brown stitching
• Piano-black switch panels on the steering wheel spokes
• Leather-wrapped parking brake lever and front/rear console box lids - black leather trimmed with dark-brown stitching
• Shift knob - designed with black characters and lines in a silver background and wrapped with black leather trimmed with dark-brown stitching
• Piano-black finish to the console side bars
• Semi-gloss paint parts - applied on the air-conditioner dials, air vent bezel rings, shift-base ring, instrument panel meter rings and centre louver grille

Exterior

• Semi-gloss headlamp bezels and rear combination lamp bezels
• Dark-silver gloss painted aluminium wheels

Body Colour

• RX-8 limited edition features an exclusive body colour, Radiant Ebony mica. It is also available in Titanium Grey metallic

Driving Performance

• Retuned suspension system - including a “Rigid Foamed Suspension Cross Member” filled with foamed urethane, which helps provide better handling stability and reduce NVH. The system also features retuned front and rear dampers
• Enhanced body rigidity via a reinforced top portion of the A-pillars and reinforcements to the mounting points of the rear dampers.