No six-speed auto RX-8 for Oz
Japanese and US RX-8 buyers will shortly be able to choose a six-speed auto version of the four-door sportscarMazda has announced the debut of a new six-speed auto-equipped RX-8. Alas Mazda Australia says the new car is destined for the US and Japanese markets only and will not be coming Down Under.
Set for release in October in Japan, the new RX-8 auto features a revised version of Mazda’s Activematic auto transmission and is powered by the same 177kW/211Nm six-port Renesis rotary engine as the manual variant. The current Australian-spec auto RX-8 gets a four-speed transmission and a 141kW/220Nm four-port version of the powerplant.
Mazda Australia’s Alastair Doak said there were no plans to offer the new six-speed RX-8 locally.
“At this stage we have not been offered the car which means it’s not on the agenda for this market,” Doak told CarPoint.
According to Doak, the adoption of the new transmission would require re-certification for Australian emission regs and the like.
"We'd look very hard at the car if it became available however," he added.
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