Production 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.

While it's not quite in the league as the last RX-7 in terms of raw performance, the RX-8 is considered its successor as Mazda's rotary engine sports car.

Mazdaspeed, Mazda's in-house tuning and high-performance arm, has produced various after-sale parts and accessories for the RX-8, including full body kits, suspension upgrades, engine upgrades ( such as cold air intake kit and catback exhausts ), and various interior accessories.

Takashi Yamanouchi, Mazda's Representative Director, Chairman of the Board, President and CEO "... Although RX-8 production is ending, the rotary engine will always represent the spirit of Mazda and Mazda remains committed to its ongoing development.

The production of the last rotary engine ended in 2012-06-21, followed by the end of RX-8 assembly in 2012-06-22 at Mazda's Ujina, Hiroshima plant.

He laid out a new direction for the brand including the design of the present Mazda marque ; he laid out a new product plan to achieve synergies with Ford, and he launched Mazda's digital innovation program to speed up the development of new products.

Wallace was succeeded by James Miller in November 1997, followed in December 1999 by Ford executive Mark Fields, who has been credited with expanding Mazda's new product lineup and leading the turnaround during the early 2000s.

Mazda introduced a convertible version of the RX-7 in 1988 with a normally aspirated engine — introduced to the US market with ads featuring Hollywood actor James Garner, at the time featured in many of Mazda's television advertisements.

In addition, Mazda endeavored to rejuvenate itself around this time, partially with financial and management assistance from Ford, and successfully developed a new product line of high quality cars with desirable styling and superior driving dynamics, beginning with the Mazda6 and followed by the Mazda3, paving way for the arrival for Mazda's next-generation rotary sports car.

Telstars were briefly available with Mazda's four-wheel steering.

" Autozam " was meant to be Mazda's more youthful brand, so it combined a somewhat lower price with a sportier ( but smaller ) twin-cam four of 1. 5 liters.

It was revived again with Mazda's 1989 reentry into the Kei car class.

This engine was Mazda's new " AP " ( for " anti-pollution ") version, with much-improved emissions and fuel economy, but somewhat worse cold-starting behavior.

In line with Mazda's policy of only gradually approaching the production of private cars ( a luxury in Japan at the time ), the first Familia was initially only available as a commercial two-door wagon called the Familia Van.

The NSU's unpopularity caused by the above problems means that surviving examples are very rare, and are now considered highly-prized classic cars with values to match, particularly thanks to Mazda's perseverance with rotary design, the tip seal problem has been all but eradicated.

This will be the last generation of in-house designed Bongo vans and trucks with Mazda's March 2012 announcement that it will be withdrawing from commercial vehicle production and will focus on fuel efficient cars.

One main difference between the Tribute and the Ford Escape / Maverick is that the Tribute's suspension is tuned for a firmer ride than the Escape / Maverick, in order to correspond with Mazda's sporty image.

The 15C ( with CVT ), 13C-V and 13C ( with a four-speed electronically controlled automatic transmission ) models include Mazda's eco-lamp.

One notable addition is the use of variable valve timing, a feature also shared with Mazda's version of the engine.

The key identifying feature of the Courier from Mazda's B-Series was still the singular headlights, although with park and indicator lights placed inset starting in ' 78 (' 77s still had the turn signal lights in the bumper ).

It developed at 7, 000 rpm and was equipped with Mazda's " EGi " single-point fuel injection.

After an early flirtation with V-twin engines, Mazda's small cars of the 1960s were powered by OHV straight-4 engines.

One of Mazda's more popular diesel engines, it was also available with a pressure wave supercharger called Comprex.

* camshaft with Mazda's Multi-Function cam profile theory ( increases valve lift to and enhances the engine's volumetric efficiency at lower speed range, resulting in an improved torque output, never falling below between 1, 500 rpm and 4, 500 rpm )

Mazda's first Wankel engine, at the Mazda Museum in Hiroshima, Japan

After years of development, Mazda's first Wankel engine car was the 1967 Cosmo 110S.

While this approach does increase the complexity of the eccentric shaft design, it has been used successfully in the Mazda's production three-rotor 20B-REW engine, as well as many low volume production race engines.

2007 saw the release of a special edition to celebrate the 40th anniversary of Mazda's rotary engine.

* FE, part of Mazda's F engine family

As a number of new 1 liter vehicles were introduced by Mazda's competitors, another 987 cc OHV engine ( PB ) appeared in January 1967, powering new 1000 Sedan and Van versions.

* Mazda E engine # E3, an evolution of Mazda's xC design

This, the CC, was Mazda's first two-stroke engine.

3A rotary engine, originally intended for the Chantez Originally, the Chantez had been planned to use a single-rotor Wankel engine, but the other Kei manufacturers considered this unfair and blocked Mazda's plans.

The Japanese 1. 3 and 1. 5 petrol engines are not available, but Ford's 1. 25-litre 16 valve Sigma engine is used, and Mazda's 1. 4 and 1. 6 petrol, plus Fords 1. 4 TDCi diesel are offered, but called 1. 4 CDTi by Mazda.

Mazda's first automobile engine was the V-twin family.

The C family was Mazda's first large piston engine design.

This was Mazda's first production 4-cylinder turbo engine and was found in the top of the line 1982-1985 Mazda Familia XGi-R Turbo and Ford Laser S Turbo as well as the early Mazda Familia XG Turbo, XG-R Turbo and Ford Laser TX3 Turbo models.

Mazda's first prototype Wankel was the 40A, a single-rotor engine very much like the NSU KKM400.

* Mazda's 2. 3L MZR engine ( two balance shafts )

Designed to combine a mixture of the Fédération Internationale du Sport Automobile ( FISA ) Group C regulations with the International Motor Sports Association ( IMSA ) GTP regulations, the 787s were the last Wankel rotary-powered racing cars to compete in the World and Japanese championships, using Mazda's R26B engine.

* 20 percent better fuel efficiency than Mazda's 2. 2 MZR-CD