Some of you are being ridiculous about those tail lights saying they are the worst feature of the face-lift and they look like Skyline tail lights. Besides that, I came across a picture of the new paint scheme for the new 2009 models. It's sort of brown, dark gray paint.. At first, I was thinking about getting a white one, but after seeing this new color, I just fell in love with the way it looks.

 

I like it, except for black plastic on the exterior. After a couple of years it starts to fade and looks horrible. I will likely wait for the next latest and greatest.

 

+1 and one part of the rear looks like the back of the Mazda 3

 

ii love the rear, i want it!

 

i think this is the best ive seen the 09 look...

 

Wow... worse than the initial pix. The front is a bit over done. Headlights are so generic... likely taken from a CX-7 headlight design.
The rear reminds me of the out going Mazda6 big time. Apart from the larger exhaust tips, it's a thumbs down for me. The R3 rims are hot!

 

So much for removing the front badge. Its impbossed into the bumper.

It also looks alot larger, like the one off the CX SUVs

 

Man, this is like a sequel to your favorite movie.... you wanna like it, you wanna love it, but as usual, the directors cheezed out and ruined it (see Beverly Hills Cop III).

Steering wheel is right out of my mom's CX-9, which ain't all bad, and my mom's CX-9 also is of that same black mica gold stuff too... I never thought of what my RX-8 would look like in that color, but now I know... I'll say interesting for now.

I do like their wheels, but that chrome crap has got to go fricking bye-bye. You wanna sell RX-8s??? Well put on them damn Mazdaspeed front fenders (like the ones Accolade tried to rip off) and I think you would have a weiner. The tails aren't too bad.... I tint all of mine anyways to minimize internal 'bling', so light arrangement is of no consequence to me.

Thanks all for posting the neat pics.

 

Here is the 2009 RS model next the older model with a MS kit.

 

I want to get a set of those wheels for my VR - 8. I looked them up on the Japanese site, the brushed aluminum were listed for 163,796 Yen which is about $1625.00 at todays exchange rate, the darker rim (Mg?) are 382,196 or around $3750.00 USD.

Are they available stateside from Mazda? I am seriously considering upgrading to them from my stock wheels.

 

I have to agree the black piece on the grill sucks...it shouldve just been either bumper/plastic to flow w/the rest of the car/bumper or like someone stated behind the mesh/grill if anything....but then the grilll would be huge.

I absolutely love the wheels I think they are great.

I hate the side vents...too small and the turning signal there (if that is what it is) is fugly...

The tail lights are OK...I can see it sort of being Skylineish but not really...

The rear bumper is OK to me...Im a bit impartial to it.

The interior looks about the same w/the exception of the steering wheels..I have mixed feelings about it...the Rotary **** is cool...but I assume that comes on a base model that doesn't have power seating.

Over all the '09 is OK....it will deff take some time for people to appreciate it...as Im sure some of the FD owners had to take time to get used to our SE models. The front looks sort of along the lines of a body kit...looks OK but deff has room for improvement. Hopefully the price isn't jacked up.

 

sorry i dun like the new rx8

 

yea..... i dun like the facelifted 2009 rx8 also........ worst features are the fugly headlamps and fender vents......

 

Whoa... Good comparison shot, ЯX-8. I didn't realize how much the front bumper protrudes out in the center of the new one. Tack a plate on to that and it looks even worse at that angle (notice the photographer struggling to get the whole thing in the shot, hehe). I like how the original is more blunt. And the side marker looks tacked on like it doesn't belong (and was possible taken from a Ford F-series truck).

I still want to see the 09 in person before I can fully judge it...

 

The RX8 w/mazdaspeed kit looks way better!!! The RX8 is looking more and more docile...there's something about that front end that bothering me. The only truly agressive feature on the exterior are those gorgeous 19" rims!! I'd love to have the mazdaspeed kit and those rims for my RX8!

 

Ok seeing these photo's of non professional shots that are decent and all I can say is that the darker colored 8's are going to be selling pretty well since they hide that god damn ugly as SIN black plastic trim. On brighter colors looks like the car has a goofy smile with a over bite. The side marker looks alright it grew on me and the rear looks pretty good but god damnit that front needs to be replaced with the Concept MazdaSpeed front. If I chose to buy a 09' Rx-8 that MazdaSpeed Front best be a option. Oh and the rims look sick.

 

I agree the front just isn't working for me!

 

I think the new styling looks great. Revised both aesthetically and functionally. I think eventually it will grow on people and the version 1 will start looking dated---as happens with all facelifts.

 

I am so glad I was able to see pictures of the '09 here and then run out and get an old style Phantom Blue last week before it was too late! The only thing I like about the redesign are the engine improvements. Well, I like the new wheels too. To each his own, however, whoever likes it buy it. But I'm lovin' my Phantom Blue.

 

wow!thanks for the pics.i am here in hong kong and saw a few dealerships but not a mazda yet.i'm with some family and all and don't get on the sight much.long *** flight and can't wait to get back home even tho it's a blast out here the food is off the hook but the U.S. is waiting.hats off to you dominion for the pics maybe i'll find one before i leave.

 

The side to side comparison definitely shows that you go with the Mazdaspeed option. The old and new mazdaspeed front looks light years better.

Really, I just don't know what Mazda people were thinking with that front. I would have just left it alone and saved costs to focus somewhere else or slapped on my better Mazdaspeed front for sex appeal. Why create something ugly and make the front ugly on a previously good looking car is just beyond me.

Next time around, Mazda needs to bring some women in and show them their concept pictures. Then ask the ladies, which front makes them horny. That way, they might not F*** up. Any kind of test group review should have told them to go more like the Mazdaspeed front.

I also agree that darker colors is their only savior with that front, because the nasty plastic can blend in better and be less obvious.

 

The changes make the car look more normal, which will probably appeal to the joe schmoe audience that they are clearly marketing this car to... Give it some time.

 

I like that new color. Looks like a Tampa Bay Buccaneers helmet. PEWTER!

 

Nah.... Ugly = ugly. Cheap looking = cheap looking.

Smartest thing Mazda dealers can do now is:

1. Offer the Mazdaspeed front or make sure the customer knows its an option.

2. Make sure the standard front test drive car is in a dark color.

3. Hope the customer is the type not to know any better, not picky, or lacking in some way in aesthetic taste.

Obviously, there will be No. 3s floating around. However, overall, Mazda is hurting itself as usual in terms of overall customers.

The "cool look" was always one of the main selling points of the car. Now they "killed that a bit". Only the Mazdaspeed front can keep the "cool look" alive in the new models.

 

Well, I'm so so on it overall. I'm wanting to get a RX-whatever for my next car, and hopefully by then a 16x or something will be out.

I love the interior on this 09, the variable redline and Recaro's make it look more upscale and the wheel isn't all that bad, but could of been left alone.

I think for the fogs, if they would stretch it out from side to side across the top it would look better than just some small piece tacked in the middle of plastic like they have it now. The black mustache should of been placed behind the grill. Since they increased the size of the oil-cooler ducts, why in the hell are they covering it up with plasict strakes? Kinda defeats the purpose I think. The side vents wouldn't be so bad if they would of left the side turn signal out of them. The should of placed them on the side mirrors. Again covering a vent that is supposed to extract heat defeats the purpose doesn't it?

For the head lights. Well they wouldn't be so bad if they would of blacked them out and did away with all the chrome reflection. Same goes for the chrome strip below the fogs, they should of left that black, or have LED running strips like the Audi's do.

The tails arent bad, but they should of made them all clear LED's like the GT Mazda3's, but again that might of looked to chrome or APC E-bay tails? Overall it's ok, just gotta see it in person first.