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Mazda's revolutionary rotary-powered, four-door, four-seat RX-8 sports car is
the 2003 Wheels Car Of The Year.
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.
Wheels magazine editor Ged Bulmer said: "The Mazda RX-8 represents the birth of a new and worthwhile category of car.
"The RX-8 has achieved a genuine sports coupe experience, complete with four doors and four seats, thanks to a daring, ingenious design.
"With no direct and obvious competitor, and priced between $56,170 and $63,280, the RX-8 is brilliant value.
"It's good looking, clever, great to drive and a worthy winner of the Wheels Car Of The Year.
The RX-8 was awarded the Wheels prize ahead of 28 eligible vehicles that included the Toyota Prius, Subaru Liberty (Legacy), Nissan 350Z, Honda Accord Euro, BMW 5 Series, Audi A8, Volkswagen Touareg and Volvo XC90.
Mazda Motor Corporation president and CEO, Hisakazu Imaki said: "The Mazda RX-8 is the fruit of great effort and passion put forth by the entire Mazda team, from R&D and manufacturing to sales and marketing. 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 honor for Mazda, as it is proof that our new-generation products, including Mazda6, Mazda2 and Mazda3, are broadly appreciated in all global markets.
"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."
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.
Mazda Australia managing director, Malcolm Gough said: "We are delighted to accept the Wheels award as it recognises Mazda's vision and daring in designing and building such a revolutionary car as the RX-8.
"Our flagship RX-8 is the ultimate expression of our new generation cars that have been fundamental in delivering record sales in Australia."
The Mazda RX-8 program manager, Noboru Katabuchi, was equally thrilled with the Wheels award: "Just like the RX-7 and MX-5, Mazda's tradition of building world class sports cars continued with the RX-8. It was created through the pursuit of a genuine sports car with a totally new, four-door, four-seat format that delivers new sports car values.
"I believe that Mazda's sports car DNA and the company's spirit of challenge have touched customers and enthusiasts worldwide and it is demonstrated in this award. I will share the delight of this award with our product team and keep sharpening our passion and technologies to enable us to write new chapters in Mazda's sports car history".
Eight expert judges spent six days driving the cars over thousands of kilometres at a proving ground and on public roads. The winner was then selected by secret ballot.
The five key areas of the Wheels Car Of The Year judging criteria are:
- Function: How well does the car work?
- Technology: Does the car deliver advantages to consumers through improved technology?
- Efficiency: How effectively does the car utilize material resources?
- Safety: How well does the car protect its occupants?
- Value: Does the car's price reflect its qualities?
Wheels is Australia's biggest selling general interest motoring magazine and has a readership of 507,000 per issue, making it the country's second most widely read men's magazine.
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