Saw this mysterious car in the JDM thread. Here's what it is...

http://www.autoblog.com/2008/12/15/m...-to-tokyo-aut/

 

LOVE the front bumper!

 

Still dislike the front bumper.
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The biennial Tokyo Auto Salon will feature a number of firsts from Mazda and many other carmakers, including a new range of 'Circuit Trial' track-ready concepts. The Tokyo show will be running in opposition to the similarly-timed Detroit Auto Show, explaining Mazda's absence from the U.S. exhibition.

Mazda's overall theme for the Tokyo show will be the rather ornate 'Driving-oriented environmental technologies for endless driving pleasure'. The Circuit Trial cars, including the RX-8, Demio (Mazda2) and Atenza (Mazda6), will certainly land further toward the 'endless driving pleasure' end of the spectrum.

Only concepts so far, the Circuit Trial cars combine what Mazdaspeed's tuners call "everyday driving comfort" with the right equipment for a fun and fast day at the track. The primary upgrades are M'z Custom (Mazda's Japanese tuning arm) aerodynamic parts, Recaro bucket seats, larger alloy wheels and sticky Yokohama tires.

No other information on the trio of track stars has yet emerged, but the photo of the RX-8 Circuit Trial (pictured) reveals as range of stickers plastered along the side sill, including: Advan, the brand-name of one of Yokohama's highest-performance tire lines; 5Zigen, a prominent aftermarket parts company, known for exhausts and accessories in addition to wheels; Espelir, known primarily for exhaust system elements and coil springs; Endless, a well-known racing brake manufacturer; and Kreuzer Series V, the name of the wheels on the RX-8 Circuit Trial Concept.

Exactly how the balance of parts will play out in the final cars will have to wait until the show, which runs from January 9-11, 2009. Whatever the final configuration, however, it's clear that Mazda is putting together a range of cars with more than superficial modifications.

 

Yeah..No thanks. :/

 

I am kinda tired of all the body kit this body kit that super ultra special edition...oh well not much can be done on the engine anyways...

Its sad that Mazda need to do all these changes to keep it fresh, while the rest of the competitors have moved on to higher level of performance...(eg, 350Z -> 370Z, Audi TT -> Audi 2.0TT, 135i, ).

I know its different price range and all, but still...back in 2003 it got so much potential...

 

i think it looks great.

 

Front bumper belongs on a Chevron comercial.

Trying to pick up the car next to him.

 

Nice wheels. Not as nice as the R3 stock wheels but I'd still hit it.

Wonder what happened to the '09 MS accessories? They had them on the 09 in shows. Looked very nice IMHO.

 

Looks good. Any more pics of it?

 

i think theyre really going the wrong direction with the new 8......the original looks more aggressive and clean.......the new ms version seems overdone and cartoonish

 

This isn't an MS variant. This is a 'Circuit Trial RX8'. This is a car designed to show off Japanese accessories to Japanese consumers at a Japanese auto show. If you feel it's a little too Anime that may be due to you not being in the target market.

The pre-09 release MS show concept car was much more aggressive in design than either the base 09 or R3 09, IMHO. Mazda still has not put out MS body accessories for the 09s though so who knows whether or not what was displayed earlier this year will ever be on sale.

EDIT:

Link for the MS pics

https://www.rx8club.com/showpost.php...postcount=1060

The front bumper is almost the same tho the fogs in the MS pic break up the plastic facade better. The side skirts and wing makes the front bumper flow a lot better and retains that more aggressive look. Put the wheels from the circuit car on that MS one and you've got something that'll turn a few heads on the track.

 

Amen.

 

I think there is a couple more pics of it in the Super Autobacs thread:

https://www.rx8club.com/showthread.p...04335&page=109