The 2009 Mazda RX-8 is a sporty, four-door coupe that uniquely offers a 1.3-liter rotary engine with 232 horsepower on the manual transmission model and 212 horsepower on automatic models. The rotary engine is known for its high-revving nature and uniquely smooth power delivery, but with a cautious note on fuel and oil consumption. Available in four trims: Sport, Touring, Grand Touring, and R3; all have rear-wheel drive and are equipped with either a 6-speed manual or automatic transmission. The RX-8 features performance-oriented suspension, lightweight 18-inch alloy wheels, and in R3 trim, more aggressive aerodynamics. The interior focuses on driving engagement, with features such as an 8-way power driver’s seat and available Recaro sport seats in R3 trim. Tech amenities include an optional 9-speaker Bose sound system and XM Satellite Radio. For safety, it comes with six airbags, antilock brakes, and stability control as standard. Notably, for 2009, Mazda made stability control standard on all RX-8 models.