Out on the open road the RX-8 feels even better. It hugs the road progressively, meaning the deeper it gets into a turn the harder it grips, which is wonderfully confidence inspiring.

The engine offers a sweet unique sound under acceleration and is very refined now, with little of the rotary rasp that early RX-7s were known for. The rotary's design features six power pulses per turn of the shaft compared with just three for a V6, resulting in an exhaust note that's almost hypnotic on a rhythmic road, and chainsaw-like under full steam. It revs extremely quickly, but lacks the mid-range grunt of a V6. Downshifts for quick acceleration are definitely necessary. The RX-8 can accelerate from 0 to 60 mph is less than 6 seconds, according to Car and Driver magazine, making it nearly as quick as a Nissan 350Z.

Downshifting is redefined by the rotary engine, especially when paired with the brilliant close-ratio six-speed gearbox. You can drop the RX-8 into second gear at a speed that would cause almost every other car on the planet to scream, if not explode. This baby revs.

When the automatic is equipped with the sport suspension and 18-inch wheels (standard on the manual RX-8), the brake rotors measure a massive 12.7 inches in front and 11.9 inches in rear, with increased ventilation ribs for more resistance to fade. The fact that the RX-8 is so light, thanks not only to the rotary engine but also to thoughtful design with aluminum in the hood and rear doors, reduces the stopping distance to an impressive number, with performance comparable to that of the 350Z.

Summary

The Mazda RX-8 is a unique sports car. Its four-seat, four-door configuration is an original design that works. The rotary engine is super smooth, simple, high-revving and almost indestructible. It's complemented by a beautiful six-speed gearbox and great brakes. The RX-8 is a great sports car with an innovative approach and admirable engineering.

New Car Test Drive correspondent Sam Moses filed this report from Irvine, California, with Steve Siler and Mitch McCullough reporting from Los Angeles

Model Line Overview

Model lineup:Mazda RX-8 ($26,435)

Engines:1.3-liter twin-rotor rotary; 212 hp (AT), 238 hp (MT)

Transmissions:six-speed sequential automatic with steering-wheel paddles; six-speed close-ratio manual

Safety equipment (standard):ABS; front, side and side-curtain airbags, seatbelt pretensioners; ABS, electronic brake-force distribution, DSC electronic stability control and traction control (standard on MT)

Safety equipment (optional):N/A

Basic warranty:4 years/50,000 miles

Assembled in:Hiroshima, Japan