America is known for some of the more stringent emissions requirements for engines throughout the world. The one place with even harder emissions ratings – Europe – which is where they’ve killed Mazda’s RX-8 The new rotory engine which powers RX-8 does not meet those tough European regulations.
According to Top Speed, “The car’s Wankel engine did not meet the necessary requirements of the EuroV emission regulations that came into force last September, so the Japanese company decided that instead of developing the current engine in the RX-8 at a substantial cost, the current generation will be axed.”
The current RX-8 is powered by a compact 13B twin rotor Renesis engine making 232 HP at a screaming 8,200 RPM and 155 lb-ft of torque. This allows the RX-8 to accelerate from 0 to 60 MPH in just 6.4 seconds and reach a top speed of 145 MPH.
