I've heard nothing about passive restraints on the RX-8 beyond the expected seat belts and front airbags.

Does anyone want or expect that the RX-8 will be equipped with side curtain airbags and other modern passive restraints.

And, where would they place them, without a pillar between the doors.

Side impact airbags are expected to be located in two places: The seat-back side and in the trim from the A-pillar to the B-pillar or along the headliner trim. New generation side airbags are designed to stay deployed longer in the event of vehicle roll over. There has been talk about a frontal curtain airbag that deploys near the sunvisors also.