The Mazda RX-8 is a sports car that was manufactured by Mazda between 2003-2012. It first appeared in 2001 at the North American International Auto Show. It is the successor to the RX-7 and, like its predecessors in the RX range, it is powered by a Wankel engine. The RX-8 began North American sales in the 2004 model year.
Mazda announced on August 23, 2011, that the RX-8 was to be discontinued citing the 2011 model as the last line of production. The RX-8 was removed from the European market in 2010 after the car failed to meet emissions standards.
Without the volume sales from Europe coupled with rising Yen prices, Mazda could not justify the continued sale of the RX-8 in other markets.
In the Gran Turismo series, the Mazda RX-8 has its own race series called the NR-A RX-8 Cup, which was exclusive to only Gran Turismo 4.