RX-8 wins car of the Year in Australia
VICTORIA, Australia -- Mazda Motor Corporation_s revolutionary rotary-powered,
four-door, four-seat sports car _ the RX-8 -- has been named 2003 Car of the Year by Australian-based Wheels magazine. Now in its 41st year, the Wheels Car of the Year is the world_s oldest, continuously-running new car award and Australia_s most coveted automobile prize. The Mazda RX-8 was awarded the Wheels prize ahead of 28 eligible vehicles. Eight judges spent six days driving the cars over thousands of kilometers at a proving ground and on public roads. The winner was selected by secret ballot. _The Mazda RX-8 represents the birth of a new and worthwhile category of car,_ said Wheels editor Ged Bulmer. _The RX-8 has achieved a genuine sports coupe experience, complete with four doors and four seats, thanks to a daring, ingenious design. It_s good looking, clever, great to drive and a worthy winner of the Wheels Car of the Year." _The Mazda RX-8 is the fruit of great effort and passion put forth by the entire Mazda team -- from research and development and manufacturing to sales and marketing," said Hisakazu Imaki, Mazda president. "It offers customers the driving pleasure and technical innovations they expect from Mazda, including a rotary engine. "Receiving the 2003 Car of the Year award from Wheels magazine is a great honour for Mazda, as it is proof that our new-generation products, including Mazda6, Mazda2 and Mazda3, are broadly appreciated in all global markets," continued Imaki. "The RX-8 is Mazda_s brand icon. It embodies everything that is great about this company. And our efforts will continue: Mazda will strive to put its collective effort into creating fun-to-drive, zoom-zoom products._ To date, the Mazda RX-8 has been named RJC Car of the Year 2004, 2003-2004 Japan Automotive Hall of Fame Production Car of the Year, and the 2003-2004 Japan Car of the Year Most Fun special award. In addition, the RENESIS, which powers the RX-8 and is the only mass production rotary engine in the world, was named International Engine of the Year 2003 and RJC Technology of the Year 2004. Mazda has regularly enjoyed Wheels Car of the Year success. Mazda has won the award five times, making it the most successful full-line importer in the Australian market. Past winners were the 323 in 1980, the MX-5 in 1989 and the 626 in 1983 and 1992. Wheels magazine is Australia_s best-selling general interest motoring magazine and has a readership of 507,000 per issue, making it the country_s second most widely read magazine. |
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