Mazda RX-8 Original Generation Sport Prestige Limited II

Overview

Mazda announced the Sport Prestige Limited II on 18 October 2005, with Japanese sales scheduled for mid-November. It succeeded the Sport Prestige Limited within the RX-8 Original Generation. This was a special-edition variant, not a new generation. Mazda announcement.

Cabin and exterior

Sand-beige leather seats with Alcantara centres accompanied matching door trim and console lids. Exterior changes included revised lamp bezels, dark-silver 18-inch wheels and a rear lip spoiler. Copper Red Mica was exclusive to the edition; Snowflake White Pearl Mica, Galaxy Gray Mica and Brilliant Black were also offered. Factory equipment description.

Engines and transmission-specific equipment

The Japanese specification paired the Type S-based six-speed manual with 250 PS and the Type E-based four-speed Activematic automatic with 210 PS. Both cost ¥3,150,000 including consumption tax at announcement. These are Japanese ratings, not export-market specifications.

The automatic gained 225/45R18 tyres and larger brake discs; these were already standard on the manual base grade. Disc diameters were 323 mm front and 302 mm rear. Both received specially tuned dampers with 14 mm rods and a urethane-filled front suspension crossmember. Mazda associated these changes with steering response and ride refinement. Japanese specification and price table.

The underlying naturally aspirated RENESIS engine used two 654 cc rotors, giving 1,308 cc nominal displacement. Side exhaust ports and a sequential intake system were features of this engine family, rather than an edition-specific engine design. Mazda RENESIS engineering announcement.

Production context and historical significance

The RX-8 was a four-door, four-seat sports car whose production began at Ujina No. 1 in Hiroshima, Japan, on 17 February 2003. This establishes the model’s manufacturing context, not the special edition’s assembly start. Mazda production announcement.

The edition announcement supplies a planned sales introduction, but no production end date or total. November 2005 should therefore not be presented as a complete production period or a worldwide model-year designation. Historically, the edition illustrates Mazda’s emphasis on refinement within the early RX-8 range. Edition announcement.

Sources

• Mazda: Sport Prestige Limited II announcement, 18 October 2005.
• Mazda: Japanese edition specifications and prices, 18 October 2005.
• Mazda: RX-8 production commencement, 17 February 2003.
• Mazda: RENESIS production and engine architecture, 29 January 2003.

Browse related records

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• Mazda RX-8 Original Generation Sport Prestige Limited II Twin-Rotor Engine

  The Sport Prestige Limited II used the RENESIS twin-rotor engine in two Japanese specifications: 250 PS with the Type S-based six-speed manual and 210 PS with the Type E-based four-speed automatic.

  Engine