Mazda’s latest addition to its sports car line up is a limited edition RX-8. Known as the RX-8 Revelation, it exudes luxury and exclusivity, with the added enticement of only 100 vehicles available in Australia.

On sale from January 2006 in Copper Red, a new colour to the four-door sports car, or Brilliant Black, this sporty update also features sand coloured Alcantara* seat trim, special finishes and dark silver alloys.

Unique to the RX-8 Revelation is a smart keyless entry and engine start system, removing the need for a key to start the car. This is the first time Mazda has offered this technology in Australia. Foam filled cross members have also been included to improve ride, handling and improve NVH.

Interior comfort and aesthetic appeal is enhanced with a power sliding glass sunroof, chrome finish interior highlights including meter rings, leather trimmed parking brake lever, leather armrest console lids as well as a piano black finish on transmission tunnel and steering wheel bezel.

To match this exclusive car new owners will also receive a stylish Rotary Revelation watch, valued at $950, in either a luxurious men’s or elegant women’s style.

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.

As with range-topping RX-8 variants, the RX-8 Revelation will also boast High Intensity Discharge (Xenon) headlamps, a Bose premium sound system, power-operated driver’s seat, front fog lamps and drilled aluminium pedals.

The new RX-8 Revelation will be available in six-speed manual only and is priced from $64,570.

For 2006, the current RX-8 lineup will also receive a number of updates. There will be three new colours available: Phantom Blue, Galaxy Grey and Snowflake White Pearl.

A number of interior changes will further enhance this already popular vehicle. Significant upgrades include deletion of the back plastic cover on leather seats, smooth finish on leather seat side bolster in lieu of previous ribbed finish, semi-gloss finish on interior chrome application (including: meter ring, air-conditioning dial, air vent grille ring, air vent louvre knob, shift base ring and rotary bezel in seat headrest).

The exceptional Bose sound system, available in leather pack and limited edition models, will be further showcased with Bose ornaments fitted to the door trim speaker grilles. The automatic leather pack model will also receive alloy pedals, which have been standard on the manual version since launch.

At the heart of the RX-8 spins a compact Renesis rotary engine. Redlined at 9,000rpm, the 654cc x 2, fuel injected rotary produces a remarkable 177 kW (ECE) of power at 8,200rpm and 211Nm (ECE) of torque at 5,500rpm when mated to a six-speed manual gearbox. The engine passes Euro Stage III emission standards.

This engine was named International Engine of the Year in 2003, with judges impressed by the powerplant’s smooth, high-revving performance and eco-friendliness.

RX-8 Revelation special features:

• Copper Red or Brilliant Black exterior colours
• Smart keyless entry and engine start system
• Unique foam-filled cross members for improved ride and handling
• Power sliding glass sunroof
• Sand colour Alcantara* seat trim with contrasting stitching
• Dark silver alloy wheel finish
• Semi-gloss interior highlights, including meter rings
• Leather trimmed parking brake lever
• Leather armrest console lid, front and rear with contrasting stitching
• Piano black finish on transmission tunnel and steering wheel bezel
• Chrome look exterior lamp bezels, front and rear
• Rotary Revelation Watch

*Alcantara is non-woven suede made of Microfibre by Toray Industries

2006 RX-8 Upgrades:

• Smooth finish of leather seat side bolster in lieu of previous wrinkle finish
• Deletion of back plastic cover on leather seats
• Semi-gloss finish on interior chrome application – Meter Ring, Air Conditioning Dial, Air Vent Grille Ring, Air Vent Louvre Knob, Shift Base Ring and Rotary bezel in seat headrest. (As previously featured on Special Edition model introduced December 2004)
• Bose ornaments on door trim speaker grilles for Bose equipped models (leather pack models)
• Alloy pedals on automatic leather pack model
• Three new colours: Phantom Blue, Galaxy Grey and Snowflake White Pearl

*** Information Correct at Time of Publication***