But there are lots of cars in the 1,200 to 1,300 kilo (2,800 pound) range, so what's so special about the RX? It all came down
The RX rotary engine produced 255 horsepower at a stratospheric 8,000 rpm. (Photo: Mazda Canada) |
It's fully independent suspension is quite capable of managing severe loads, not from piling what-have-you into its diminutive liftback accessible cargo area but rather the loads generated by extreme G-forces. The RX featured an ideal 50:50 weight distribution, but nevertheless needed to be respected. Stories of overzealous enthusiasts overwhelming the chassis, or rather pushing the car too quickly into a corner, over-correcting the problem by dialing in too much steering input or
The RX featured an ideal 50:50 weight distribution, but nevertheless needed to be respected. (Photo: Mazda Canada) |
Mazda's sports car, or at least its top-tier sports car as the MX-5 Miata was also available from '93 to '95, road on 225/50VR-16 performance tires wrapped around 16-inch 5-spoke alloy rims. Their ultra-light design and expansive contact patch were a substantial part of the car's adhesion formula, benefiting handling and braking.