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151-609: The Mazda RX-8 is a sports car manufactured by Japanese automobile manufacturer Mazda between 2003 and 2012. It was first shown in 2001 at the North American International Auto Show . It is the direct successor to the RX-7 . Like its predecessors in the RX range, it is powered by a rotary Wankel engine . The RX-8 was available for the 2003 model year in most parts of the world. The Mazda RX-8 utilizes

302-402: A 1,500cc engine with a maximum output of 70 horse-power. In the truck category, The Nissan Datsun Truck G220 and many 3-wheeler models were highlighted. It was held from October 25 to November 7, 1960. It was held from October 25 to November 7, 1961. The "brilliant" Eighth Motor Show featured various sports cars and prototypes. The exhibiting area was double the space of the previous show and

453-408: A South Gate was newly added. An extended exhibition time (through 8 p.m.) was introduced on two days of this year's show. The total number of visitors surpassed 900,000. The Japanese government announced the " Income Doubling Plan " at the year-end of the previous year, and individual spending gradually increased. The so-called "3-C Period" was approaching the general public. People's dreams were to have

604-629: A black leather-wrapped steering wheel, gear knob and hand-brake lever. The Nemesis has a top speed of 139 mph (224 km/h) and accelerates from 0 to 60 mph (97 km/h) in 7.2 seconds. Each Nemesis buyer also qualified for a complimentary Prodrive experience day. Just 350 examples were built, 200 in Copper Red and 150 in Stormy Blue. In December 2006, a new Mazdaspeed RX-8 became available exclusively in Japan. The Mazdaspeed M'z Tune

755-790: A car, color TV and air-conditioner. Buoyed by the upturned economy, the star models were presented at the Motor Show. Many international products were also showcased. They were the Prince Skyline Sports Convertible designed by Michelotti , the Nissan Fairlady prototype, the Italian-style Toyopet Sports X , and the Daihatsu 700cc engine car. It was held from October 25 to November 7, 1962. The highlight of this year's Motor Show

906-399: A controversial choice for a "purist" sports car. The Elan sold poorly and was discontinued after three years. The 1996 Lotus Elise , a mid-engined, rear-wheel drive roadster, was much more successful and remained in production until 2021. Roadsters enjoyed a resurgence in the mid-1990s, including the 1989-present Mazda MX-5 , the 1995-2002 BMW Z3 (succeeded by the 2002-2016 BMW Z4 ),

1057-528: A cost that was at the time £330 less than the model on which it is based – when similarly specified. Based on the standard 189 hp (192 PS; 141 kW) version of the Mazda RX-8, it included a unique stone leather seat trim interior and came with a five-speed manual transmission. The Nemesis has several other unique exterior and interior features. Two exclusive colors were available, Copper Red Mica and Stormy Blue Mica, each Nemesis also comes with

1208-409: A definition. Insurance companies have also attempted to use mathematical formulae to categorise sports cars, often charging more for insurance due to the inherent risk of performance driving. There is no fixed distinction between sports cars and other categories of performance cars, such as muscle cars and grand tourers , with some cars being members of several categories. Traditionally,

1359-561: A foam filled front crossmember to improve rigidity. It also came with 19-inch forged aluminum-alloy wheels and high performance tires. On the exterior, the R3 had a different, lower front bumper sporting a splitter, lower side sills, and a standard rear spoiler. There is a pair of special Recaro seats up front, along with the same 300-watt Bose audio system, along with Bluetooth and the Mazda advanced keyless entry and start system. No electric sunroof

1510-584: A hard time to develop. The company's advanced sports car fitted with the rotary engine was finally on the stage. It was held from September 26 to October 9, 1964. The Nissan Fairlady 1500 (Datsun Sports 1500, SR310) and the Mazda Cosmo were introduced at this show, one month before the 1964 Summer Olympics . Seeing market growth due to the liberalization of automobile import to be introduced in April next year, three foreign carmakers newly participated in

1661-555: A homage to the Mazda Cosmo Sport, which was initially only available in white. The North American (USA and Canada) version came in Metropolitan Grey Mica exterior color with the interior clad in special Cosmo Red leather. In North America, this special edition was available only in 2008. For Canada – production was limited to 100 cars. The interior had black leather with copper red accented door inserts. For

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1812-587: A new color, Copper Red, and also came in Brilliant Black. It also came with xenon headlights with chrome bezels, while being the first Mazda sold in Australia with keyless entry and start. The 'Nemesis' model is the third special edition model launched as a UK exclusive. It was launched in 2006, although some cars were registered in 2007 due to stock runoff. The 'Nemesis' features unique paint colors and interior trim, plus an exclusive accessory package, at

1963-420: A new five-spoke wheel design featuring a symbolic and sporty design reminiscent of the rotary engine, with different arrangements for each wheel size. A rear spoiler was also added dependent on the trim level selected. There were three trims available to consumers from 2009 to 2012: Sport, Grand Touring, and R3. In 2008, Mazda unveiled a Mazdaspeed RX-8 equipped with racing seats, and a new aerodynamic package for

2114-404: A part of special-purpose vehicles only, which resulted in a passenger car oriented show this year. It was held from October 29 to November 11, 1971. The main focus of this year's show was the technological developments of safety vehicles and emission reduction, which were also the primary targets to be addressed. It was held from October 23 to November 5, 1972. The main focus of this year's show

2265-639: A polished aluminum Rotary crest on the front air dam, polished aluminum side air-outlet trims behind the front wheel arches, special B-pillar trims with a Rotary crest and 'Nemesis' badging. Inside, these special edition models also featured Nemesis branded luxury carpet mats and Mazda RX-8 branded aluminum door scuff plates. Like other standard 245 hp (183 kW; 248 PS) RX-8s, the Nemesis has front fog lights, heated front seats, electrically operated driver's seat, climate control air conditioning, 9-speaker BOSE premium audio system with 6-CD auto-changer, plus

2416-399: A pressed-steel chassis, a gated 4-speed transmission, pushrod-actuated overhead inlet valves , a honeycomb radiator, low-tension magneto ignition , a long wheelbase, a low center of mass and a very effective suspension system. The overall result was a "safe and well-balanced machine" with a higher performance than any other contemporary production car. At the 1903 Gordon Bennett Cup ,

2567-427: A production Simplex 60 hp was entered only due to a specially-built 90 hp racing car being destroyed in a fire; the 60 hp famously went on to win the race. The 1910 Austro-Daimler 27/80 is another early sports car which had success in motor racing. The 27/80 was designed by Ferdinand Porsche , who drove the car to victory in the 1910 Prince Henry Tour motor race. The Vauxhall and Austro-Daimler —like

2718-458: A rear spoiler to provide more stability at higher speeds. After the Kuro version, Mazda announced that this is the absolute Mazda RX-8 version with a suggested retail price of US$ 60,000/JP¥6,653,550.00. 2008 saw the introduction of a limited edition to celebrate the 40th anniversary of Mazda's rotary engine. It had 10-spoke, 18-inch diameter alloy wheels of a new design that were later incorporated in

2869-416: A rear spoiler to provide more stability at higher speeds. Both the wheels and rear wing are badged in carbon fiber with "Prodrive". Significant revisions were also made to the suspension to improve the handling: dampers from Bilstein and coil springs from Eibach are used in addition to reducing the ride height by 15 mm (0.6 in) and an increase in spring rate of 60%. Finally, the car was supplied with

3020-481: A rotary Wankel engine , and the non-reciprocating piston engine uses a triangular rotor inside a near oval housing, producing from 141 kW (189 hp) and 164 lb⋅ft (222 N⋅m) of torque, to 177 kW (237 hp) and 159 lb⋅ft (216 N⋅m) of torque from launch. The RX-8 was discontinued for the 2012 model year without a successor. It was removed earlier from the European market in 2010 after

3171-646: A torque converter, and the Crown 1,500cc diesel engine model. The 1959 show opened on October 24 and ran until November 4, 1959. Notable premieres included Mitsubishi's first own passenger car, the Mitsubishi 500 . The Japan Trade Center (indoor exhibition hall), located in Harumi, was newly chosen as the venue for the Sixth Motor Show. The total area of the site was nearly three times that of Hibiya, while

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3322-510: A total of 6 lubrication injectors, plus an all-new engine oil pump with higher pressure rating that requires specific oil filter rated for the higher pressure. New catalytic converter was used to reduce clogging that resulted in overheating exhaust stream forward of the catalytic converter and eventual rotor side seal failure, which was responsible for majority of RX-8 engine failures. Ignition coil packs, which suffer reduced performance over time and leads to unburnt fuel and oil that eventually clogs

3473-542: A unique upgraded twin exhaust system, with exhaust tailpipes branded as "Prodrive". Only 800 cars were made at an MSRP of £ 25,995. It was available in two colors, Galaxy Grey (380) and Brilliant Black (420). The Revelation was an Australian special edition of the RX-8 with a limited production run of 100 cars. The model incorporated the top specification features of the standard RX-8 with the 9-speaker Bose sound system, sand beige colored leather seats, more piano black accents on

3624-453: A variety of vehicles ranging from sporty models (including minivehicles) prepared for high-speed driving, cars for leisure use and city cars, as well as advanced reference models (including electric vehicles) focusing on high safety standards and low exhaust emissions. This year Toyota released the Celica and Carina onto the market, while Nissan launched its front-engine, front-wheel-drive model,

3775-452: Is an iconic sports car of the early 1960s, due to its attractive styling and claimed top speed of 241 km/h (150 mph). The E-type was produced for 14 years and was initially powered by a six-cylinder engine, followed by a V12 engine for the final generation. In 1962, the MG B introduced a new era of affordable lightweight four-cylinder roadsters. The MG B used a unibody construction and

3926-406: Is notable for using a three-seat layout, where the front row consists of a centrally-located driver's seat. The location of the engine and driven wheels significantly influence the handling characteristics of a car and are therefore crucial in the design of a sports car. Traditionally, most sports cars have used rear-wheel drive with the engine either located at the front ( FR layout ) or in

4077-520: The Audi RS 2 Avant . Ford Europe withdrew from the sports car market at the end of 1986 when the Capri was discontinued after a production run of nearly two decades. There was no direct successor, as Ford was concentrating on higher-performance versions of its hatchback and saloon models at the time. In 1989, a new generation of Lotus Elan roadster was released which used a front-wheel drive layout,

4228-541: The BMW 303 , Citroën Traction Avant and Fiat 508 — offered similar handling and comfort to the more expensive sports cars. Powerful, reliable, and economical (although softly suspended) American saloons began to be imported to Europe in significant numbers. Sports car ownership was increased through models such as the Austin 7 and Wolseley Hornet six , however many of these sports cars did not offer any performance upgrades over

4379-623: The Bentley Speed Six (1928-1930), with the former famously described by Bugatti's founder as "the fastest lorry in the world". Between the Great Depression and the World War II the pre-war era was a period of decline in importance for sports car manufacturers, although the period was not devoid of advances, for example streamlining . Cheap, light-weight family sedans with independent front suspension— such as

4530-520: The Jensen FF became the first sports car to use all-wheel drive . The Ford Capri is a 2+2 coupe that was produced from 1968 to 1986 and intended to be a smaller European equivalent of the Ford Mustang. A main rival to the Capri was Opel Manta , which was produced from 1970 to 1988. The 1973-1978 Lancia Stratos was a mid-engined two-seat coupe that was powered by a Ferrari V6 engine. This

4681-619: The Mazda6 and followed by the Mazda3 . This paved the way for the arrival of Mazda's next-generation rotary powered sports car. The RX-8 combined two previous products (the internationally sold RX-7, and the Cosmo which was exclusive to Japan), with the exterior dimensions of the RX-8 to be slightly smaller than those of the Cosmo. Mazda chose not to install the 2.0 L three-rotor 20B-REW , which

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4832-528: The Prince Sedan AISH , Toyota Toyopet Super RH ; Datsun Passenger Delux (Model DB-5) , Ohta Sedan and Van, and three-wheeled vehicles from Daihatsu . The second Tokyo Motor Show was held over twelve days, from May 7 to May 18, 1955. Almost 785,000 visitors attended, among them HIH Prince Akihito . The highlights of the passenger cars on display were the new Datsun 110 , Toyopet Crown RS and Toyopet Master RR . The Second All-Japan Motor Show

4983-640: The RX-7 sports car in the US and worldwide markets. However, due to the lack of conveniences and user-friendliness, coupled with the high price tag and declining interest in sports cars and coupés at the time, Mazda decided to withdraw the RX-7 from most major markets except Japan. After 1995, Mazda suffered from a relatively undistinguished and ordinary product line in the US except for the MX-5 Miata . As popular interest in import tuning and performance cars resurged in

5134-504: The "passenger cars" they dreamt of would gradually be getting closer to their lives. Passenger cars became the boom of the motor show, accordingly. Although only 527,000 people visited the fourth show between May 9 and May 19, 1957, significant vehicles made their debut; the first of the long running Toyota Corona and Prince Skyline were introduced, as well as a prototype of the Datsun Sports . The Fourth All-Japan Motor Show

5285-583: The "thrill of driving" or are marketed "using the excitement of speed and the glamour of the (race)track" However, other people have more specific definitions, such as "must be a two-seater or a 2+2 seater" or a car with two seats only. In the United Kingdom, early recorded usage of the "sports car" was in The Times newspaper in 1919. The first known use of the term in the United States

5436-403: The 1905 Isotta Fraschini Tipo D, the 1906 Rolls-Royce Silver Ghost , the 1908 Delage , the 1910 Bugatti Type 13 , and the 1912 DFP 12/15 . Early motor racing events included the 1903 Paris–Madrid race , the 1905-1907 Herkomer Trophy, the 1908-1911 Prince Henry Tour and the 1911–present Monte Carlo Rally . The Prince Henry Tours (which were similar to modern car rallies) were among

5587-495: The 1921 Coppa Florio . Another approach— such as that used by Morris Garages— was to convert touring cars into sports cars. The first 24 Hours of Le Mans race for sports cars was held in 1923, although the two-seat sports cars only competed in the smallest class, with the majority of cars entered being four-seat fast touring cars. "This race, together with the Tourist Trophy Series of Races , organised after

5738-404: The 1948 Ferrari 166 S . A new concept altogether was the modern Gran Turismo class from Italy, which was in effect unknown before the war: sustained high-speed motoring from relatively modest engine size and compact closed or berlinetta coachwork. The 1947 Maserati A6 1500 two-seat berlinetta was the first production model from Maserati. In Germany, the motor industry was devastated by

5889-499: The 1980 Deutsche Rennsport Meisterschaft and Giro d'Italia automobilistico marathon. The Montecarlo was a basis for the silhouette racing car , Lancia Rally 037 . In the 1970s, turbocharging began to be adopted by sports cars, such as the BMW 2002 Turbo in 1973, the first Porsche 911 Turbo in 1975, and the Saab 99 Turbo in 1978. Turbocharging became increasingly popular in the 1980s, from relatively affordable coupes such as

6040-452: The 1980–1986 Renault Fuego and 1992–1996 Rover 220 Coupé Turbo , to expensive supercars such as the 1984-1987 Ferrari 288 GTO and 1987-1992 Ferrari F40 . In the late 1980s and early 1990s, several manufacturers developed supercars that competed for production car top speed records . These cars included the 1986–1993 Porsche 959 , 1991–1995 Bugatti EB 110 , 1992–1994 Jaguar XJ220 and 1993–998 McLaren F1 . The 1980-1995 Audi Quattro

6191-506: The 1990s, all-wheel drive has become more common in sports cars. All-wheel drive offers better acceleration and favorable handling characteristics (especially in slippery conditions), but is often heavier and more mechanically complex than traditional layouts. Examples of all-wheel drive sports cars are the Lamborghini Huracan , Bugatti Veyron , and Nissan GT-R . Rear engine layouts are not typical for sports cars, with

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6342-459: The 1995-2002 MG F , the 1996–present Porsche Boxster and the 1998–present Audi TT . Tokyo Motor Show For the first time in its 67-year history, the show was cancelled for 2021 due to rising cases of COVID-19 . The show, originally called All Japan Motor Show was first held in an outdoor venue called Hibiya Park , the show was considered a success with 547,000 visitors over ten days and 254 exhibitors displaying 267 vehicles, but of

6493-460: The 2003 model year, though the car's U.S. debut was for the 2004 model year. It is powered by the RENESIS 13B-MSP (2-rotor, multi-side-port) Wankel engine displacing 1.3 L (1,308 cc). The 4-port standard RENESIS was rated at 191 hp (194 PS; 142 kW) and was coupled with either a 5-speed manual or 4-speed automatic transmission . From 2003 – 2008, the 6-port Generation One

6644-423: The 2008 and 2010 24 Hours of Daytona GT-class wins campaigned by SpeedSource Race Engineering. This victory also marks the 23rd endurance race win at Daytona by a Mazda rotary-powered race car. While the cars are powered by the 20B rotary engines, the car is in fact built on a tube frame chassis and not on the production car. Ryan Eversley won both races of the 2010 SCCA World Challenge Mid-Ohio Grand Prix in

6795-511: The 2009 facelift. Also added were blue-light front fog lamps, a 40th Anniversary badge on each front wing and an aerodynamic rear spoiler. Exclusive sport-tuned suspension with Bilstein dampers were added along with an enhanced urethane foam injected front cross member intended to improve steering feel. The 40th anniversary limited editions were slightly different in the various international markets. The Japanese version came in Marble White as

6946-562: The 2019 Tokyo Motor Show recorded almost double the attendance of the 2017 event, which was attributed to expanding the scope beyond automobiles. The 2021 event was cancelled due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, The planned 2023 event will include other automobile-related industries and has been rebranded to the Japan Mobility Show . The first Tokyo Motor Show was held in Hibiya Park from April 20 to April 29, 1954. Of

7097-481: The 267 vehicles on display, only seventeen were passenger cars, which reflected the paucity of personal family transport in Japan at the time. Trucks , buses , and motorcycles made up most of the exhibits. Approximately 547,000 visitors attended the show over the ten days, where the most prominent cars were the Austin A40 , Hillman Minx and the newly introduced Renault 4CV , as well as domestic vehicles such as

7248-487: The 267, only 17 of them were passenger cars as the show was dominated by commercial vehicles. In 1958, due to construction of a subway and underground parking lot near Hibiya Park, the show was shifted to the Korakuen Bicycle Racing Track. The show changed venues again in 1959 as the previous year was marred by heavy rain. It moved to an indoor facility, the newly opened Harumi Showplace which

7399-501: The 5th Hall at the motor show to promote seatbelts (with demonstration) and control of idling. A "Traffic Safety Room for Children" was also created for the first time. Among the exhibits, Toyota's Crown Hardtop (2-door model) and Corona Mark II (1600 and 1900) were the center of attraction. Other vehicles of interest included the Nissan Laurel, Skyline 2000GT powered by a V6 engine, Isuzu 117 Coupe, and Toyota's Sprinter Coupe. It

7550-690: The Australian market, only 200 examples of the 40th Anniversary Edition were produced in 2008 exclusively. It was available in Metropolitan Grey, Dark Blue, or Brilliant Black exterior paint. The interior came with exclusive white Alcantara and black leather seats with contrasting white stitching. In the United Kingdom, this edition was limited to 400 cars which came in two exclusive exterior colors – Metropolitan Grey Mica or Crystal White Pearlescent. Seats were trimmed in black leather with stone Alcantara midsections. In November 2008, Mazda improved

7701-499: The C pillars, and lightweight forged 19-inch BBS aluminum alloy wheels in a Spirit R exclusive bronze. The automatic transmission model included 10-way adjustable power leather seats with lumbar support and 2-position memory in black with red stitching, and 18-inch lightweight gunmetal grey BBS wheels wrapped in Bridgestone Potenza summer tires. Some models came with red leather seats with white stitching. A tire upgrade

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7852-455: The Cherry, featuring an industry-first horizontally mounted engine layout. A "Safety and Pollution Protection Center" pavilion was newly created at the show to indicate that the automotive industry has launched into the challenge to improve safety and reduce exhaust emissions. The 18th Tokyo Motor Show, the second international motor show, attracted many more visitors from overseas countries than

8003-666: The Daihatsu Fellow, and Suzuki Fronte featured significantly improved performance, resulting in a strong presence among owners of conventional minivehicles. Notably, the Nissan Prince Royal, the first made-in-Japan limousine used by the emperor and empress, was unveiled at the show. Visitors were surprised at the vehicle's overwhelming body size and engine. It was held from October 26 to November 8, 1967. The 14th Tokyo Motor Show provided an opportunity for promoting traffic safety to society. A "Traffic Safety Corner"

8154-660: The Evolve features unique stone leather and alcantara sporty seat trim, plus black leather-wrapped steering wheel, gear knob and hand-brake lever. In May 2006, Mazda released the RX-8 PZ for the UK market. This car was jointly developed with motorsports company Prodrive . Only available with a six-speed manual, it featured custom 10-spoke alloy wheels supplied by Italian F1 team supplier OZ Racing in "Dark Silver" finish, mirrors developed to reduce drag, front and rear black mesh grilles, and

8305-819: The GT series. The car also won the IMSA Continental Tire Sports Car Challenge in 2005. In 2014 the North Island Mazda Rotary Racing Association in New Zealand launched a RX-8 category in its Pro7 racing series which is the oldest MotorSport NZ sanctioned series in NZ. The RX-8's now dominate this racing series and is competed in the North and South Islands as well as a NZ championship. The category

8456-468: The Mercedes Simplex 60 hp— were production fast touring cars. The 1912 Hispano-Suiza Alfonso XIII is also considered one of the earliest sports cars, as it was a "purpose built, high performance, two-seater production automobile". The model was named after King Alfonso XIII of Spain , a patron of the car's chief designer and an enthusiast for the marque. Other early sports cars include

8607-593: The RENESIS name debuting along with the RX-EVOLV concept car which began to bear semblance to the production version of the RX-8 with the "freestyle" rear suicide doors . The styling was further refined, in Mazda tradition, by competition between its design studios in Japan, the US, and Europe. The lead designer was Ikuo Maeda, the son of Matasaburo Maeda (the lead designer of the original RX-7). The project obtained official approval from management under one condition, that

8758-476: The RX-01 did not see further development or production. However, a " skunkworks project " engineering team within Mazda kept the development of the 13B-MSP alive using an elongated MX-5 chassis known internally as "gokiburi-ka", or "cockroach car" translated to English, eventually catching the attention of management, which was by then heavily influenced by Ford. Development of the 13B-MSP advanced and eventually led to

8909-413: The RX-8 body rigidity through the addition of structural reinforcements, by adding a trapezoidal shock tower brace and enhancing the local rigidity of the front suspension tower areas. The rear suspension geometry was revised for better handling, and the final-drive-gear ratio on manual transmission cars was shortened from 4.444 to 4.777 for improved off-the-line performance. While minimal, these changes gave

9060-518: The RX-8 ended in 2010 in Europe after failing to meet the region's emission standards. The production of the RX-8 ended in 2012 in Japan; Mazda had produced 192,094 units since 2003. Production of the rotary engine ended on June 21, 2012, followed by the end of RX-8 assembly on June 22, 2012, at Mazda's Ujina, Hiroshima plant. Mazda North American Operations extended the engine warranty on all model year 2004–2008 RX-8s. The warranty extension covered only

9211-601: The Year, the 2003 Japanese Car of the Year, Australia's Wheels magazine's Car of the Year for 2003, the 2004 Singapore Car of the Year, the 2004 U.S. Best Sports Car, and several UK Best Car Awards. It was named on Car and Driver magazine's Ten Best list for 2004, 2005, and 2006. It also took home first place on Car and Driver's "Four of a Kind" comparison test. 2010 RX-8 placed third out of seven on Car and Driver's The Best-Handling Car in America for Less Than $ 100,000. It

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9362-575: The aerodynamics of the car, giving it a new front bumper, with enlarged venting and oil cooler ducting, as well as side skirts, rear under spoiler, and a rear wing. The Mazdaspeed RX-8 was offered in either Strato Blue Mica, or Sunlight Silver Metallic as exclusive colors. A total of 480 factory Mazdaspeed Version RX-8's were built, and had a suggested retail price of JP¥3,650,000.00. Mazda also sold Mazdaspeed accessories worldwide through their dealerships. These accessories included both parts that weren't equipped on factory Mazdaspeed RX-8's as well as nearly all

9513-479: The car appeared during the next year or two, all conforming to the same basic design and earning for themselves a reputation second to none for fast and reliable travel. The 60-h.p. cars were announced late in 1902. The cars were possessed of a very real performance superior to anything else which could be bought at the time... and the model achieved an almost invincible position among the fast cars of its day. The Sports Car: Development and Design The basis for

9664-520: The car failed to meet emissions standards . Due to falling sales from Europe coupled with rising Yen prices, Mazda could not justify the continued sale of the RX-8 in other markets. 192,094 units were produced during its 9-year production run. Mazda introduced rotary-powered vehicles in the US in 1971, beginning with the R100 and eventually introduced the RX-2 , RX-3 , RX-4 , RX-5 , and three generations of

9815-493: The car to be used as a daily driver, as well as to and from the race track. The RX-8 has been used occasionally for professional drifting (Formula Drift), with drivers like Masao Suenaga from Japan, "Mad" Mike Whiddett from New Zealand, and Kyle Mohan from the USA choosing the develop the chassis each to suit their own goals. As of October 2006 the RX-8 has won 37 international motoring awards including 2003 International Engine of

9966-520: The catalytic converter, was not upgraded from series 1 RX-8. Due to higher usage cycle that is two to three times higher in Wankel compared to Otto cycle, ignition coil packs on RX-8 can degrade much sooner than Piston engines using similar hardware, and cause unburnt fuel to reach the catalytic converter, clogging it and cause engine overheating leading to side seal springs failure. The updated RX-8 also received design enhancements that were meant to freshen

10117-584: The coming liberalization of automobile import, Japanese carmakers displayed an array of new cars," newspapers reported in regard to the Tenth Motor Show. As part of the 10th anniversary program, the admission fee for the first day of the show was set at 500 yen (100 yen fee plus 400 yen donation for the Community Chest Center).  From this year's show, two halls were provided for passenger car exhibits to help passenger cars become

10268-411: The development of performance cars such as the 1910 Vauxhall Prince Henry , 1910 Sunbeam 12/16 , 1910 Talbot 25 hp , 1910 Straker-Squire 15 hp and 1913 Star 15.9 hp . Following the halt in sports car production caused by World War I , Europe returned to manufacturing automobiles from around 1920. It was around this time that the term 'Sports Car' began to appear in the motor catalogues, although

10419-400: The early 1920s, the cost to produce a racing car was not significantly higher than a road car, therefore several manufacturers used the design from the current year's racing car for the next year's sports car. For example, the 1921 Ballot 2LS based on the racing car that finished third at the 1921 French Grand Prix. The Benz 28/95PS was also a successful racing car, with victories including

10570-419: The engine core, consisting of the rotor housing and internal parts, as well as the seals and gaskets. It did not include clutch or drivetrain (transmission or differential). An extended engine warranty for emissions was not offered in any other RX-8 markets. The RX-8 has been campaigned and used in various racing series by privateers. It has seen a considerable amount of success, the most prominent of which being

10721-463: The exact origin of the name is not known. The decade that followed became known as the vintage era and featured rapid technical advances over the preceding Brass Era cars . Engine performance benefited from the abandonment of " tax horsepower " (where vehicles were taxed based on bore and number of cylinders, rather than actual power output) and the introduction of leaded fuel , which increased power by allowing for higher compression ratios . In

10872-571: The exhibiting space was double that of Hibiya site. The admission fee, which comes with the lottery tickets, also was raised to 50 yen per person.  The number of exhibited vehicles expanded to 317 units in this year's show. In the passenger car category, Japanese automakers displayed attractive models, including the Subaru 360 , Mitsubishi 500 , Datsun Sports 211, and the all-new Bluebird. Toyota also presented its Mater Line equipped with Japan's first automatic transmission. The Prince Skyline featured

11023-475: The fact that concept cars dominate the show, the show returned to being an annual event from 2001 to 2005 with a show for passenger cars and motorcycle in odd-numbered years and smaller shows for commercial vehicles in 2002 and 2004. However, from 2007 onwards the event has once again returned to a biennial schedule which combines both passenger and commercial vehicles, including motorcycles and auto parts. After several consecutive events with declining attendance,

11174-423: The final variant of the RX-7, the RX-8 is considered its successor as Mazda's rotary engine sports car . A prominent feature of the RX-8 is its rear-hinged "freestyle" doors (similar to suicide doors ) that provide easier access to the rear seats. The RX-8 has no B-pillars between the front and rear doors, but the leading edge of the rear door acts as a "virtual pillar" to maintain structural rigidity. Because of

11325-472: The first supercars . Other significant European models of the 1960s and 1970s which might be considered supercars today are the Ferrari 250 GTO (1962-1964), Ferrari 250 GT Lusso (1963-1964), Ferrari 275 GTB/4 (1966-1968), Maserati Ghibli (1967-1973), Ferrari Daytona (1968-1973), Dino 246 (1969-1974), De Tomaso Pantera (1971-1993), Ferrari 308 GTB (1975-1980) and BMW M1 (1978-1981). In 1966,

11476-528: The first World War by the R.A.C. , appealed to the public imagination and offered to the manufacturers of the more sporting cars an excellent opportunity for boosting sales of their products." The classic Italian road races— the Targa Florio , and the Mille Miglia (first held in 1927)— also captured the public's imagination. By 1925, the higher profits available for four-seater cars resulted in

11627-471: The first event after it changed to an every-other-year cycle, was held under the theme of "Life on Wheels" to present the auto industry's clear visions and attitude toward environmental issues. The Theme Pavilion put on various displays to show the broad connection of daily life and automobiles, as well as the auto industry's contribution (as an export business) to the Japanese economy. A very rare presentation

11778-641: The first fleet deliveries of a dual hydrogen/gasoline production car. In 2008, 30 RX-8 HRE were delivered to HyNor . In 2005 and 2006, Mazda introduced the first special edition of the RX-8 called "Sports Prestige Limited" in Japan and "Shinka" in North America. The Shinka takes its name from the Japanese word meaning "transformation" or "evolution". Marketed as a more luxurious grand touring model, it came with Black Cherry in 05 and Various Special exterior colors in 06. Sand color parchment leather and suede interior along with subtly chromed 18-inch wheels. Out of

11929-428: The highest performance model of the pre-facelift RX-8. Mechanical and suspension improvements included a new performance exhaust system, upgraded spark plugs, grounding kit, lightweight flywheel, re-balanced eccentric shaft, performance brake pads, stiffer anti-roll bars, four point front strut tower brace, rear strut tower brace, as well as a set of height and damping force adjustable coil-overs. Mazdaspeed also redesigned

12080-546: The interior, and came with the same 13B Renesis rotary engine. Like regular RX-8 variants, the Revelation features 18-inch alloy wheels and tires, traction control, Dynamic Stability Control (DSC), six airbags, cruise control, power windows/mirrors, limited-slip differential, 6-CD in-dash audio system and climate control air conditioning. The revelation though, added stiffer anti-roll bars, foam-filled cross members and special edition grey-spoke alloys. The Revelation also offered

12231-493: The key concepts of high-speed and safety. Notably, the president of the motor show Prince Takamatsu showed particular interest in such future cars displayed on the stages as Toyota's EX-I, II and III. Meanwhile, carmakers emphasized displays of technological developments at the show in response to recall problems reported in June this year. They also aggressively promoted countermeasures for some serious social issues: traffic safety and

12382-461: The lack of availability of a transmission that would be able to reliably cope with the engine's high rpm limits. In 2003 Mazda announced a factory Mazdaspeed Version of the RX-8 exclusively in Japan. Based on the Type S and tuned by Mazda's in-house division Mazdaspeed , the car included both mechanical, suspension, and aerodynamic improvements over the standard RX-8's. Mazdaspeed RX-8's were considered

12533-573: The late 1920s were AC Cars , Alfa Romeo , Alvis , Amilcar , Bignan and Samson, Chenard-Walcker , Delage , Hispano-Suiza , Hotchkiss , Mercedes-Benz and Nazzaro . Two cars from the Vintage Era that would influence sports cars for many years were the Austin Seven and MG M-type "Midget". Successful sports cars from Bentley during this era were the Bentley 3 Litre (1921-1929) and

12684-438: The late-1990s, due in part to various popular cultural influences, Japanese automakers waded back into the performance and sports car market in the US and in worldwide markets. Endeavoring to rejuvenate itself around this time, partially with financial and management assistance from its new owner Ford , Mazda developed a new line of high-quality cars with desirable styling and driving dynamics superior to competitors, beginning with

12835-415: The majority of them were particularly interested in passenger cars. A poster of the motor show carried the slogan "Japanese Automobiles at a Glance!"  The Japanese government also had planned to release the national car at an affordable price range of around 250,000 yen. At that time, passenger cars were still very expensive for the general public in reality. At the same time, they had a premonition that

12986-518: The mass-produced cars upon which they were based. The highest selling sports car company of the 1930s was Morris Garages , who produced 'MG Midget' models of the M-Type , J-Type , P-Type and T-Type . The K3 version of the K-Type Magnette was a successful racing car, achieving success in the Mille Miglia , Tourist Trophy and 24 Hours of Le Mans . The Bugatti Type 57 (1934-1940)

13137-487: The merger with Prince in 1966, announced a business tie-up with Fuji Heavy Industries. Toyota also formed a business alliance with Hino and Daihatsu. With this alliance, Hino stopped producing its Contessa passenger car and Hino vehicles vanished in the passenger car halls of the Tokyo Motor Show. As traffic safety and air-pollution became serious problems this year, the organizer provided a Safety Science Center in

13288-537: The middle of the vehicle ( MR layout ). Examples of FR layout sports cars include the Caterham 7 , Mazda MX-5 , and the Dodge Viper . Examples of MR layout sports cars are the Ferrari 488 , Ford GT , and Toyota MR2 . To avoid a front-heavy weight distribution , many FR layout sports cars are designed so that the engine is located further back in the engine bay, as close to the firewall as possible. Since

13439-544: The most common layout for sports cars was a roadster (a two-seat car without a fixed roof). However, there are also several examples of early sports cars with four seats. Sports cars are not usually intended to transport more than two adult occupants regularly, so most modern sports cars are generally two-seat or 2+2 layout (two smaller rear seats for children or occasional adult use). Larger cars with more spacious rear-seat accommodation are usually considered sports sedans rather than sports cars. The 1993-1998 McLaren F1

13590-471: The motor show this year. With this international move, the motor show was renamed from the All-Japan Motor Show to the Tokyo Motor Show. A press room was also created for foreign and domestic media. This year's show featured many GT and Coupe models rather than conventional 4-door sedans, which reflected the desire for sporty cars in the minds of consumers. Toyota's third-generation Corona RT40

13741-485: The motor show's stages. Toyota unveiled its 1.5-liter engine class small cars such as Toyopet Crown and Toyopet Master , while Nissan's Datsun 110 (860cc engine) also made its debut. These cars were signs of the start of the motorization of Japanese society with made-in-Japan brands. Meanwhile, the Imperial Prince visited the motor show for the first time. Passenger cars began to assume the greatest prominence at

13892-809: The notable exception of the Porsche 911 . The front-wheel drive layout with the engine at the front ( FF layout ) is generally the most common for cars, but it is not as common among traditional sports cars. Nonetheless, the FF layout is used by sport compacts and hot hatches such as the Mazdaspeed3 . Sports cars with an FF layout include the Fiat Barchetta , Saab Sonett , or Opel Tigra . The ancestor of all high-performance cars had its origin in Germany. The 28-h.p. Cannstatt-Daimler racing car of 1899

14043-586: The one-make Party Race sanctioned by JAF. The kit includes a roll bar, sports radiator, oil-cooler kit, tow hooks, and racing brake pads. At the 2004 North American International Auto Show , Mazda unveiled the RX-8 Hydrogen RE concept car, designed to run on either hydrogen or gasoline. In February 2006, Mazda announced that it would start leasing a dual fuel RX-8 to commercial customers in Japan, and in March, 2006 announced its first two customers, claiming

14194-533: The organizer was forced to change it to a one-way street. At the same time, maritime transport was introduced between Takeshiba Pier and Harumi. The exhibiting areas were extended to accommodate a total of 410 vehicles. A Technical Center also debuted in an out-door area at the show hosted by the Japan Automotive Service Equipment Association and others. It was held from October 26 to November 10, 1963. "To respond to

14345-407: The overlapping design, the rear doors can be opened only when the front doors are open. The RX-8's cabin was designed to allow enough room to house four adults, making it a genuine 4-seater rather than a 2+2. In designing the RX-8, Mazda's engineers were able to achieve a chassis stiffness rating of 30,000 Nm/deg. The earlier models of the RX-8, having chassis codes SE3P, and JM1FE, were produced from

14496-466: The oxide catalyst (the three way catalyst was not available at that time) and Honda's CVCC engine, as well as Thermal Reactor technology developed by Mazda and Daihatsu. Meanwhile, visitors paid great attention to motor sport oriented cars such as a racecar specification model of the Nissan Skyline and Mazda Savanna RX-3 . A lunar surface vehicle, developed jointly by Isuzu and GM, was also one of

14647-680: The parts equipped on the factory Mazdaspeed Version. This allowed standard RX-8's to be upgraded to Mazdaspeed standards through dealerships around the world. Mazda introduced the NR-A kit for the RX-8 Type S in January 2004, approved by the Japan Automobile Federation (JAF). The NR-A kit, sold through Mazda Anfini and other dealers throughout Japan, brings the RX-8 up to specification in terms of eligibility for participation in

14798-456: The philosophy of achieving performance through minimizing weight and has been rated as one of the top 10 sports cars of the 1960s. The Elan featured fibreglass bodies, a backbone chassis, and overhead camshaft engines. A different style of roadster was the AC Cobra , released in 1962, which was fitted with V8 engines up to 7.0 L (427 cu in) in size by Shelby . The Porsche 911

14949-433: The prevention of air-pollution. It was held from October 30 to November 12, 1970. Imported automobiles participated in the 17th Tokyo Motor Show for the first time. A total of 95 imported vehicles were exhibited by 33 foreign carmakers from 7 countries. The latest designs and advanced technologies of imported vehicles helped the Japan show to have a strong international flavor. On the other hand, Japanese carmakers presented

15100-409: The previous year when capital transaction was liberalized in Japan's automotive sector in April this year. Exhibits of carmakers this year also focused on the challenges and solutions for safety and low-emission vehicles to respond to increasing concerns of traffic safety, air-pollution, and traffic jams in society. As for commercial vehicles, approval for exhibition was given to the under 3-ton class and

15251-423: The production of two-seat sports cars being limited to smaller manufacturers such as Aston-Martin (350 Astons built from 1921 to 1939) and Frazer-Nash (323 cars built from 1924 to 1939). Then by the late 1920s, the cost of producing racing cars (especially Grand Prix cars) escalated, causing more manufacturers to produce cars for the growing sports car market instead. Significant manufacturers of sports cars in

15402-413: The refreshed RX-8. Mazda however didn't end up selling any new generation Mazdaspeed editions or accessories to the public. The R3 version was first introduced in 2008 in Japan. This version was very limited and had the 1.3 L RENESIS Wankel engine. The R3 model was again introduced in 2009. The 2009 R3 package added slightly improved suspension over the base model by adding Bilstein shock absorbers and

15553-556: The resulting car should have four doors, and eventually the RX-8 concept car (design/engineering model) was produced and shown in 2001, closer resembling the production version. A near-production "reference exhibit" RX-8 was shown shortly thereafter at the 2001 Tokyo Motor Show , pending final approval for production. The production version of the RX-8 closely resembles this vehicle save for minor trim details, and "Job 1" began in February, 2003 at Mazda's Hiroshima plant in Japan. The RX-8

15704-554: The show was also shifted to commence from October 10. The motor show hereafter opens as an autumn event organized by the Japan Motor Industrial Federation, Inc. In the fifth show, a Technical Center (sponsored by the Society of Automotive Engineering) was created to promote technical developments of made-in-Japan automobiles, as well as a new Meeting Place for business talks. An automobile information room

15855-412: The side housing, the RENESIS boasted improved fuel efficiency and emissions rating over the 13B-REW employed by the preceding RX-7, thereby making it possible to be sold in North America. At launch, the RX-8 was available in various models in different markets around the world. The variations according to different markets are as follows: Automatic versions all had lower output/lower rpm engines due to

16006-517: The small car category, a variety of new models were unveiled in the 800-1,000cc engine class, including Japan's first fastback model, the Colt 800, the Honda S800/N800, Subaru 1000, and Familia Coupe 1000. My Cars (One's own cars), which were not used for taxi models, were also highlighted at the show. It was held from October 26 to November 8, 1966. The 13th Tokyo Motor Show was held in 1966,

16157-558: The sporting events of the period, bringing renown to successful entrants. The Prince Henry Tours started the evolution of reasonably large and technically advanced production sports cars. In England, the development of sporting cars was inhibited by the Motor Car Act 1903 , which imposed a speed limit of 20 mph (32 km/h) on all public roads. This led to the 1907 opening of the Brooklands motor circuit , which inspired

16308-408: The sports car is traced to the early 20th century touring cars and roadsters , and the term 'sports car' would not be coined until after World War One. A car considered to be "a sports-car years ahead of its time" is the 1903 Mercedes Simplex 60 hp , described at the time as a fast touring car and designed by Wilhelm Maybach and Paul Daimler . The Mercedes included pioneering features such as

16459-476: The sports car, but also the most important and diverse technical developments [and] very rapid and genuine improvement in the qualities of every modern production car; assisted by new design and manufacturing techniques a consistently higher level of handling properties has been achieved." In Italy, a small but wealthy market segment allowed for the manufacture of a limited number of high-performance models directly allied to contemporary Grand Prix machines, such as

16610-442: The star attraction. To commemorate the 20th anniversary, the organizer prepared special events for the Tokyo Motor Show this year. They were the "Development of Vehicles," an easy explanation display of how vehicles have progressed, and "Man and Automobiles," a review of the role of automobiles in society. It was held from October 30 to November 12, 1973. It was held from October 31 to November 10, 1975. The 21st Tokyo Motor Show,

16761-409: The stars of the motor show. A test driving course was created in the south of the exhibition area, which became very popular among visitors. This suggested that the show should include "an experience-oriented event." Many cars designed by foreign car designers were also displayed at the show. Notably, Toyo Kogyo (former Mazda Motor Corp.) unveiled its rotary engine series, which the company reportedly had

16912-401: The styling and give the RX-8 a new look, without impairing the basic design theme. Refinements for the 2009 model year included a more aggressive restyled front and rear bumper as well as a new front fascia. The updated RX-8 also came with sporty, high-quality finish front and rear headlamps as well as larger exhaust pipes (now measuring 90 mm (3.5 in) across). The 2009 RX-8 also offered

17063-504: The third Tokyo Motor Show which opened on April 20, 1956, over a 10-day period at Hibiya Park. This was primarily due to an initiative spearheaded by the Ministry of International Trade and Industry called the "people's car plan" or the "National Car Project", announced in May 1955. Although its stated target of a four-seat car capable of 100 km/h (62 mph) and available for ¥ 150,000

17214-533: The total production of 2,150 vehicles, 1,357 were produced for the North American market. The most significant mechanical change were slightly revised Bilstein shocks and suspension cross member injected with urethane foam to improve ride quality. Launched in 2006, the 'Evolve' was the first special edition for the UK. The new model was named after the original Mazda concept car seen in Detroit in 2000 and

17365-609: The touring car class. Other racing series include the KONI Challenge Series in the Street Tuner class. In the UK, the RX-8 featured in the Mazda sponsored "Formula Women" series (2004), which involved all women drivers with slightly modified RX-8s, and the RX-8 was also campaigned successfully in the Britcar series endurance races (2005/2006). In Belgium, Mazda are currently sponsoring an RX-8 silhouette racer in

17516-462: The updated RX-8 increased acceleration and performance. Mazda engineers claimed that the second generation RX-8 was (slightly) faster than the previous generation due to the lower gearing and improved suspension. The Renesis II engine iteration that was launched in the 2009 model year included a third oil injection port in each rotor housing to feed oil to the middle of the rotor facing, making this their first all-new EMOP (Electric Metering Oil Pump) with

17667-457: The use of materials such as aluminum and plastic for several body panels. The rest of the body is made of steel, except for the plastic front and rear bumpers. The manual gearbox model uses a carbon fiber composite driveshaft to reduce the rotational mass (momentum of inertia) connected to the engine. Power is sent to the rear wheels through a torque-sensing conical limited-slip differential for improved handling. While underpowered in comparison to

17818-478: The war, but a small number of manufacturers returned it to prominence. In 1948, the Porsche 356 was released as the debut model from Porsche. The significance of the Porsche 356 and its successors was described in 1957 as "future historians must see them as among the most important of mid-century production cars". The 1954 Mercedes-Benz 300 SL is another significant car from this era. The 1961 Jaguar E-Type

17969-417: The world. Definitions of sports cars often relate to how the car design is optimised for dynamic performance, without any specific minimum requirements; both a Triumph Spitfire and Ferrari 488 Pista can be considered sports cars, despite vastly different levels of performance. Broader definitions of sports cars include cars "in which performance takes precedence over carrying capacity", or that emphasise

18120-586: The year of "The first year of My Car (one's own car)." As the driving force of the development of Japan's motorization, the Nissan Sunny and Toyota Corolla were unveiled at this year's show. Other carmakers also presented their new models in the 800-1,000cc engine class, heralding the "Era of Cars for Everyone." Amid the My Car boom, minivehicles fitted with under 660cc engines also earned popularity among consumers again. New minivehicle models such as Honda's N360,

18271-475: Was Honda's first automobile. The company has already earned a world-class reputation in motorcycle races such as the World Grand Prix, and unveiled its two models on the stage: The Honda Sports 360 and 500. This helped the event attract one million and more visitors for the first time. The street from Ginza to the Harumi venue was congested with more than 10,000 cars going to the motor show every day and

18422-415: Was a pioneering all-wheel drive sports car. The 1995 Porsche 911 Turbo (993) saw the 911 Turbo model switch to all-wheel drive, a drivetrain layout that the model uses to this day. The BMW M3 was released in 1986 and has been produced for every generation since. The 1993-1996 Mercedes-Benz W124 E36 AMG was the mass-produced AMG model. Audi's equivalent division, called "RS", was launched in 1994 with

18573-662: Was also available, swapping the Bridgestone's for higher performance Falken extreme summer tires. The automatic models could be specified with the manual transmission model's Recaro bucket seats and 19-inch wheels. The body color choices for the Spirit R were limited to Aluminum Metallic, Sparkling Black Mica, and a special color, Crystal White Pearl Mica, exclusive to the Spirit R. A small number of Spirit R RX-8s can be found in Indonesia, Malaysia, and New Zealand. Sales of

18724-506: Was also awarded the Editors' Choice Award by Grassroots Motorsports in 2003. Sports car A sports car is a type of car that is designed with an emphasis on dynamic performance, such as handling , acceleration, top speed, the thrill of driving, and racing capability. Sports cars originated in Europe in the early 1910s and are currently produced by many manufacturers around

18875-402: Was also displayed at the show. The Corona series and its long-time rival, Nissan's Bluebird, through their side-by-side competition in the so-called "B-C Battle" in the market, have long played a key role in the development of Japan's motorization. It was held from October 29 to November 11, 1965. A feeling that the time of high economic growth had come was in the air. The 12th Tokyo Motor Show

19026-469: Was also provided near the main entrance of the venue. More than 300 people visited the center per day. Although some newspapers were critical, saying that a Japanese car for the common people had not yet been produced this year either, a newly released Subaru 360 was very popular at the national event. Other vehicles which aroused interest included the Mikasa Touring 600cc engine car equipped with

19177-525: Was also seen to show the various relationships between life and vehicles in the earlier days through such old vehicles as the 1918 "Detroit" electric vehicle and the 1929 Sumida bus. On the other hand, carmakers displayed the latest developments in environmental technology in order to comply with emission regulations. Toyota displayed the TTC-c/TTC-V system, while Nissan exhibited the NAPS system. The duration

19328-635: Was an unusual arrangement for a car used to compete in rallying, nonetheless it was very successful and won the World Rally Championship in 1974 , 1975 , and 1976 . The Lancia Montecarlo was produced from 1975 to 1981 and is a mid-engine two-seater, available as a coupé or a targa-top. It was sold as Lancia Scorpion in the USA. Its racing variant, Montecarlo Turbo, won the 1979 World Championship for Makes in its division and overall for 1980 World Championship for Makes and 1981 World Endurance Championship for Makes . Montecarlo also won

19479-576: Was another significant sports car of the pre-war era and is now among the most valuable cars in the world. The T57 was successful in sports car races, including winning the 1937 24 Hours of Le Mans and 1939 24 Hours of Le Mans . Another successful Bugatti sports car was the Bugatti Type 55 (1932-1935), which was based on the Type 51 Grand Prix racing car. The decade following the Second World War saw an "immense growth of interest in

19630-477: Was available with a six-speed manual transmission and was rated at 238 hp (241 PS; 177 kW). From 2006 – 2008, the 6-port, 6-speed automatic paddle-shift variant was available. The 6-port engine was not sold in Europe. For the North American market, Mazda revised the reported output rating of the standard and high power RENESIS soon after launch to 189 hp (141 kW) and 237 hp (177 kW), respectively. With exhaust ports now located in

19781-406: Was created on the second floor of the 8th Hall (space for passenger cars) to allow visitors to experience tests. At the 2nd Hall, another promotion was conducted concerning the importance of the helmet. Although the number of exhibited vehicles slightly decreased to 655 units, compared to the previous year, attractive vehicles were on display. Toyota's Century, fitted with a V8-cylinder 3,000cc engine,

19932-404: Was designed as a front mid-engine, rear-wheel-drive , four-door, four-seater quad coupé . The car has a near 50:50 front-rear weight distribution and a low polar moment of inertia , achieved by mounting the engine behind the front axle and by placing the fuel tank ahead of the rear axle. The front suspension uses double wishbones and the rear suspension is multi-link . Weight is trimmed through

20083-457: Was discontinued in 1996 when the Cosmo ceased production. The development of the RX-8 can be traced as far back as the 1995 RX-01 concept car, which featured an early iteration of the 13B-MSP engine. Naturally aspirated with side exhaust ports, this engine has a power output of 210 hp (157 kW). Because of Mazda's financial position at the time and the growing market interest in SUVs ,

20234-432: Was focused on performance without the expense of comfort, and was equipped with a performance exhaust system, lightweight flywheel, improved radiator, Bilstein shock absorbers, and sport springs. The car came with a new exclusive aerodynamic kit, featuring a new front lip, side skirts, and rear lower bumper. In 2007 Mazda released a Japan-North America limited edition known as the Kuro (Japanese for black). The production run

20385-601: Was held at Hibiya Park during an 11-day period from May 9. In the passenger car category, a significant improvement was found in the quality of exhibited vehicles, including the first-generation Toyopet Corona small car, Fuji Seimitsu's Prince Skyline, and the Nissan Datsun Sport prototype. In the truck category, Toyota displayed its first diesel truck (DA60), while Nissan unveiled its Nissan Junior and Nissan 581 models. Ohta also exhibited its 1.5-ton class light truck model. Meanwhile, an automobile information bureau

20536-472: Was held from October 24 to November 6, 1969. The Tomei Expressway opened in March this year and the demand for high-speed driving was growing rapidly in Japan. Significant progress was seen in the performance of Japanese vehicles. The 16th Tokyo Motor Show was highlighted by an array of sports cars and vehicles for motor sports. At the same time, many show models were displayed in the futuristic "dream cars" and commuter model categories, which were developed under

20687-612: Was held immediately after the October 1 introduction of the automobile import liberalization. For this year's motor show, Japanese carmakers thus emphasized sales promotion rather than presenting showy exhibits. To cope with imported automobiles, luxury Japanese models were on display, including the President fitted with a V8 4,000cc engine, the New Cedric, and Crown V8 engine model which was previously showcased at last year's show. In

20838-611: Was held in 1955 at Hibiya Park, the same venue as the previous year. The show was extended to 12 days. Exhibitors still focused on commercial vehicles, such as trucks, that year. Notably, in the light-duty truck category, advanced models were displayed, including Toyota's 4-wheel light truck SKB (1,000cc engine) which will be renamed as Toyoace in 1956, Nissan's Datsun 120 Truck and Fuji Seimitsu's 1.5-ton class 4-wheel truck. These models featured both excellent driving performance and handling stability that well outperform conventional 3-wheel light trucks. New passenger cars also were presented on

20989-485: Was in 1928. Sports cars started to become popular during the 1920s. The term initially described two-seat roadsters (cars without a fixed roof), however, since the 1970s the term has also been used for cars with a fixed roof (which were previously considered grand tourers ). Attributing the definition of 'sports car' to any particular model can be controversial or the subject of debate among enthusiasts. Authors and experts have often contributed their ideas to capture

21140-532: Was introduced as the company's flagship model. Nissan also unveiled its Bluebird 510. The vehicle features unique exterior design without triangle windows as well as a new independent 4-wheel suspension, which also became a popular model in the U.S. later. Toyo Kogyo displayed its rotary engine cars, the RX87 and RX85, as reference models. It was held from October 26 to November 11, 1968. Japanese carmakers experienced industry-wide reorganization this year. Nissan, after

21291-811: Was limited to 500 cars. All cars were finished in Sparkling Black paint, with 18-inch Monoblock wheels. The Kuro version used a more evolved RENESIS engine and 6-speed manual transmission with a claimed output of 227 hp (230 PS; 169 kW) and 156 lb⋅ft (212 N⋅m). Inside, it featured white leather interior, Bose premium audio system with 6-CD auto-changer, heated seats, electrically-operated driver's seat, and climate control air conditioning, cruise control, traction control, dynamic stability control and eight airbags. This edition has racing-type fully adjustable front & rear Tein suspension, bigger exhaust tips, fog lights, stiffer anti roll bars, better engine cooling system, limited-slip differential and

21442-522: Was limited to a production run of just 500 cars. Based on the 228 hp (231 PS; 170 kW) high-power version, it had several unique exterior features. These include a choice of two exclusive exterior colors (Copper Red Mica 400 and Phantom Blue Mica 100), unique dark silver 18 × 8J alloy wheels, a polished aluminum Rotary crest on the front air dam, dark silver bezel headlamps, sports door mirrors, polished aluminum side air outlet fins, Rotary branded B-pillar trims, chrome exhaust surrounds. Inside,

21593-604: Was newly set up in the PR Center to provide extended knowledge on road traffic and vehicle design, etc. In this show, the organizer successfully provided visitors and exhibitors with an opportunity for business talks in addition to the general promotion of automobiles. It was held from October 10 to October 20, 1958. For the Fifth Motor Show, the venue was changed to the infield space of Korakuen Bicycle Race Stadium due to construction at Hibiya Park. The time period of

21744-743: Was offered in the R3 model. The Spirit R is a limited edition of the RX-8 built to celebrate the end of the RX-8's production. The name "Spirit R" was based on the final limited edition of the RX-7, the RX-7 Spirit R. The Spirit R was originally limited to only 1,000 cars and exclusively sold in Japan, but ultimately sold more than 1,000 due to unprecedented demand. The Spirit R is essentially an R3 with some cosmetic changes that are outlined below. The manual transmission model came with exclusive lightweight red leather SPIRIT R bucket seats from Recaro , exclusive piano-black transmission tunnel trim, exclusive front and rear red brake calipers, Spirit R badges on

21895-694: Was produced until 1980. Other successful lightweight roadsters include the Triumph Spitfire (1962-1980) and the Alfa Romeo Spider (1966-1993). The Fiat X1/9 (1972-1989) was unusual for its use of a mid-engine design in an affordable roadster model. A late entrant to the affordable roadster market was the 1975 Triumph TR7 , however by the late 1970s the demand for this style of car was in decline, resulting in production ceasing in 1982. The original Lotus Elan (1962-1975) two-seat coupe and roadster models are an early commercial success for

22046-675: Was released in 1964 and has remained in production since. The 911 is notable for its use of the uncommon rear-engine design and the use of a flat-six engine . Another successful rear-engine sports car was the original Alpine A110 (1961-1977), which was a successful rally car during the Group 4 era. In 1965, the BMW New Class Coupes were released, leading to the BMW 6 Series which remains in production to this day. The Lamborghini Miura (1966) and Alfa Romeo 33 Stradale (1967) mid-engined high-performance cars are often cited as

22197-695: Was renamed in 2019 to the Mazda Racing Series and now some of the largest grids in the country. In 2019, the Classic Sports Car Club in the UK launched the RX-8 Trophy for road legal first generation Mazda RX-8's. Developed in two years, the class was designed to provide the cheapest way of going racing in a performance car. The class stipulates that the RX-8 entering the race must have a valid MOT and retain creature comforts such as air con, heater and stereo, therefore allowing

22348-451: Was the technological developments of safety vehicles and emission reduction, which were also the primary targets to be addressed. The auto industry's challenging positions were highlighted throughout the show. To support this, a "Safety and Pollution Prevention Corner" was set up in the 1st Hall, while large commercial vehicles were eliminated from the exhibits again. Carmakers presented the latest technologies of low-emission vehicles, including

22499-490: Was three times the size of its previous venue. The 1962 show attracted more than 1 million visitors to view 410 vehicles from 284 exhibitors. Starting in 1973, the organisers decided to suspend the 1974 show due to the international energy crisis and the show became a biennial event. The show relocated to the convention and exhibition center Makuhari Messe in 1989, then its current venue Tokyo Big Sight in 2011. Due to high public demand for vehicles in everyday use and

22650-444: Was unrealistic — despite being twice the national average income at the time, it was still only one fifth of what a typical vehicle cost — it was given credit as the spur for domestic automakers to strive to lower their prices. From this year, exhibited products have been grouped by vehicle type - truck, pickup truck, passenger car, 2-wheeler, and motorcycle. This measure was taken to provide more merits for visitors because

22801-417: Was without a doubt the first attempt to give real performance to a road car. Many of its features, such as a honeycomb radiator and gate gear change, were continued on the much improved version which Paul Daimler designed in 1899-1900. This was of course the famous Mercedes. It also laid down standards of chassis design which were to be followed, almost unthinkingly, for the next thirty years. Several variants of

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