Next Mazda RX-8 To Be "Evolutionary"

Mazda, Subaru and Mitsubishi have proven to be the Japanese automakers with the most emphasis on performance.

Mazda in particular though has hit mainstream success, with it's "Zoom Zoom" tagline.It wouldn't be complete without a range-topping performance car though, and that has been the RX-8 - which is due for replacing.

Mazda hit it's styling stride in it's last generation of vehicles and in the current Mazda 6. To me, the latest update to the RX-8 really took the car a step backward as far as design goes - they need to get back on track.

Could they possibly do that with the next-generation RX-8? potentiall. Mazda chief of design Ikuo Maedaspoke with Autocar at the Tokyo Auto Show about the car. While he said the plan is for it to be an evolution of the current car rather than a radical redo, it will debut the next-generation of the Mazda design language.

One thing that doesn't seem likely to change is the trademark rotary engine: Autocarsays insiders at Mazda claim the next-generation engine will have increased power as well as improved fuel consumption, a tradition criticism of the engine.

Apparently rotaries are easier to convert to hydrogen as well in case Mazda ever wants to do testing on that method of propulsion. As the brand's flagship, the RX-8 should showcase Mazda's best in styling and technology. Expect to see it sometime in 2011.