UNIQUE REASSURANCE

ADVANCED VEHICLE CONTROL

Active safety is primarily involved with keeping you in control of the vehicle so you can avoid hazards. And Mazda RX-8 features a number of advanced technologies to do this. A 4-wheel Anti-lock Brake System (4W-ABS) prevents wheel lockup during hard braking, even on slippery surfaces. Electronic Brake-force Distribution (EBD) works with 4W-ABS to minimize stopping distance by automatically adjusting brake force on the rear wheels according to weight distribution within the car. Dynamic Stability Control (DSC) combines 4W-ABS with traction control to manage engine output and brake force on each wheel and minimize the risk of skids or spinning when cornering on slippery surfaces. A two-stage OFF mode allows either disengagement of DSC while maintaining LSD and attitude control during braking, or total system disengagement for highly skilled manoeuvres such as drifting round corners on race tracks.

SAFE, RIGID BODY WITH VIRTUAL CENTRE PILLARS

In spite of the centre-pillarless design—a layout that maximizes the door opening area —Mazda RX-8 offers both the rigidity essential to sports car handling and crash-safety performance comparable with a conventional sedan. The secret is a virtual centre pillar built into the rear doors. This pillar, made of high-tensile steel and a thick aluminum plate, is joined to the body by heavy-duty door latches at the top and bottom to realize a design that is actually stronger than a conventional centre pillar. In addition front and rear doors also incorporate side impact bars optimally positioned to channel impact energy into the body.

IMPACT-ABSORBING BODY CONSTRUCTION

The Mazda Advanced Impact Distribution and Absorption System body structure safely channels impact energy away from the cabin and its occupants. For low weight and efficient energy-absorption, the forward end of the front side members features an octagonal-section structure made of dual-phase high-tensile steel designed to progressively deform under high crash loads. The rear end of the front side members has a three-pronged structure to channel impact energy into the kickup section, hinge pillar and centre tunnel, and suppress cabin deformation in an offset frontal collision.

ATTENTION TO SAFETY IN EVERY DETAIL

Mazda RX-8 is designed for safety, right down to the smallest detail. An innovative crashable brake pedal design minimizes the risk of pedal-inflicted leg and foot injuries in a frontal collision. The front seats are designed to reduce the possibility of neck injuries in a rear-end collision. Energy absorbing material is used in the pillars and roof side rails to lessen the chance of secondary-impact head injuries. The V-shaped brace between the rear seats prevents luggage in the boot entering the cabin in a frontal collision. ISOFIX anchors in the rear seats give easy, secure installation of a child seat, and dedicated anchors allow use of tether belts to prevent the seat tipping forward in an accident. Even the bonnet is designed to minimize injuries in a pedestrian-vehicle accident: the Shock Cone Aluminum Bonnet features shock absorbing cones and multiple indentations in the inner panel for efficient energy absorption.
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