2004 Mazda RX-8 Hydrogen RE

Forget the two-door, two-seaters.

Mazda's rotary-powered RX-8 sports cars has set itself apart with four seats and four doors.

A finalist for this year's North American Car of the Year title, the RX-8 also will satisfy automotive environmental responsibility at the 2004 North American International Auto Show in Detroit with its new RX-8 Hydrogen RE concept.

The concept combines lower emissions with street-smart performance. The world's only manufacturer of rotary engines, Mazda has created a hydrogen version of its acclaimed Renesis rotary engine and placed it at the heart of its most recent new-generation product.

The alternative-energy RX-8 Hydrogen RE is primed for a future hydrogen-based society. A dual-fuel system allows alternation between hydrogen- and gasoline-powered modes and provides built-in flexibility as supportive alternative-energy infrastructures are developed. The Renesis is particularly ideal for burning hydrogen. Twin hydrogen injectors provide greater injection volume to handle the element's naturally low density, and separate chambers for intake and combustion help prevent backfiring that can occur in a traditional piston engine.

The RX-8 Hydrogen RE also benefits from improved aerodynamics, optimized tires and weight-saving measures, as well as a host of technologies to promote environmental compatibility. A water-based, three-layer wet-on paint helps reduce emissions of organic solvents and carbon dioxide. It also saves energy by shortening the drying process. Plant-based plastic also has been used as an alternative to plastics derived from fossil fuels in interior parts, particularly quarter panels, to help reduce carbon dioxide emissions.

Mazda is committed to explore potential applications of its unique internal combustion engine. Named International Engine of the Year at the Engine Expo 2003 in Stuttgart, Germany, the Renesis delivers significantly improved fuel economy and reduced emissions compared to previous rotary engines, not to mention smooth and responsive driving characteristics. For a naturally aspirated engine of such compact size, the Renesis also produces impressive power – the sort of power you'd expect in an RX-8.

Source - Jennifer Shatwell | Ford Communications Network