2006 Mazda RX-8 SE Road Test

(Photo: Justin Pritchard)

All the while, the low ceiling, curtain airbags and sunroof chew up headroom, making taller folks feel a bit confined. Once on board, you might feel like you're sitting in a small and awkward sedan rather than a 4-door coupe. Don't even bother wearing a baseball cap in here, because it'll get knocked off by the window every time you check your blind spot.

This just illustrates the underlying tension in parts of the RX-8's execution: the hardcore genes from the RX-7 and the sensible and modern side of the RX-8 seem to be at battle.

Interior confusion aside, the exterior is magnificent. Styling an over-the-top collection of curves, angles and exaggerated lines that make it look the part of a competent performance coupe. It turns heads and

(Photo: Justin Pritchard)

draws crowds everywhere, probably because of the clear taillights, big wheels, dual exhaust and one of the meanest fascias on the road. It looks almost like an insect (a praying mantis probably), because the RX-8 stands ready to attack, claw and devour any lone stretch of twisty road.

That look is no empty threat. With 50 / 50 weight distribution, the handling is more characteristic of a mid-engined car. There's enough grip to make you dizzy, and it's delivered in a very forgiving and controllable manner. There is so much of it, you really need a race track to exploit the full potential. Dynamic Stability Control (DSC) keeps an eye on the overenthusiastic.

The brakes are well matched to the grip- hugely powerful with an uncanny ability to brush off speed with almost painful urgency. The RX-8 takes to twisty roads the way a hummingbird takes to the air: slicing through its chosen line or changing direction in the blink of an eye as required.

(Photo: Justin Pritchard)

If a four-door sport coupe with unrestrained styling isn't unconventional enough for you, then take a look under the hood. Half the charm to the RX-7 was its Rotary engine, and of course, there's a new bi-rotor unit powering the RX-8.

Rotary engines are really neato, and I encourage checking out Mazda's website for a full description of how they work. There are no pistons, no valves, no camshafts and only a very few moving internal parts. Mazda engineers were able to generate nearly 240 horsepower from the unit which displaces a measly 1.3 litres.

The tiny engine is astonishing

With no pistons reciprocating, a huge part of the vibration common to

(Photo: Justin Pritchard)

regular engines has been eliminated. As a result, its really, really smooth. If you can imagine a sheet of polished glass with about fifteen coats of silk-buffed turtle wax on it, you're in the ball park.

With only 159 lb.-ft. of torque, you need to really use the engines revs to squeeze out power. This is fine, because nine-thousand-plus on the rev-dial is euphoric, and the little Wankel mill shrieks like a street-bike when you push toward the shift-beeper.