Off the bat, the RX-8 is unusual; it was designed as a sports car and drives like a sports car, but there's a real trunk, four doors and a different kind of engine. Weird or not, it still has to measure up to such coupes as the Nissan Altima and Mitsubishi Eclipse, but also newcomers like the BMW 135i.

The RX-8 is unusual; it was designed as a sports car and drives like a sports car.

The RX-8 has been on the market since the 2003 model year, and it's showing its age. Sales seem to have been good for Mazda's four-door sport model (we'll still call it a coupe, since the rear doors are of the suicide-type) and there are quite a few on the road. Happily, Mazda is refreshing the RX-8 for 2009, but there remains a nice limited-edition 2008 model that appeared last spring.

Happy birthday, Cosmo
The 1967 Mazda Cosmo Sport was the first car the company produced with Felix Wankel's rotary engine. Mazda developed a 1.0-litre, 2-rotor engine that produced 110 horsepower.

Today, the 2008 RX-8 gets a 40th Anniversary Edition model to celebrate four decades of rotary engines in Mazda vehicles. Actually, it's logically a year late, but it's a welcome package nonetheless.

The 40th Anniversary RX-8 distinguishes itself with its Metropolitain Grey paint job, fender-mounted badging and exclusive 18-inch wheels. Inside, the car gets very sharp black and red leather seats and door trim. A sunroof is standard, but the navigation system isn't available, neither is the 6-speed automatic.

Bilstein dampers are also part of the package, but I didn't really notice any change in the car's great handling. But you will be able to impress your neighbours saying that your RX-8 has a foam-filled suspension cross member.

Needs more torque
The 1.3-litre 2-rotor RENESIS engine in the RX-8 develops 238 horsepower but just 159 lb-ft of torque. What that means is you'll have to rev the engine silly to exploit a decent amount of power. Actually, at a normal cruising pace, it's not that noticeable, but you can't speed up dramatically without downshifting. Luckily, the car checks in at only 1,389 kg (3,062 lbs), which helps.

Today, the 2008 RX-8 gets a 40th Anniversary Edition model to celebrate four decades of rotary engines in Mazda vehicles.

Mazda claims 0-100 km/h times of 6.0 seconds, which seems unbelievable since we could only manage 7.8 to reach the same speed. Quarter-mile sprints take 15.4 seconds (at 149 km/h), and stops from 100 to 0 in 38 meters. Still, the RX-8 is rewarding to drive with its particular engine note, and peak power is attained at a high 8,500 rpm. The rear-wheel drivetrain and razor-sharp steering makes for an entertaining, tail-wagging coupe.

There's actually room for four adults in the RX-8, but boy, there's not much space to stretch out.

What's less entertaining is fuel consumption, which was never one of the Wankel engine's strong points. We averaged 15.4 L/100 km over the course of the week, and super unleaded is required. Admittedly, we could've done a little better.

Space-capsule cockpit
There's actually room for four adults in the RX-8, but boy, there's not much space to stretch out. The rear view mirror is located to close to the driver's face, which creates a blind spot in front. The roofline is low, so I have to incline my seatback more than I usually do. In short, some people will like the driving position, some people won't.

The two rear seats can hold full-grown people, which is a plus for such a small sports car. Climbing in is helped by the rear half-doors, but they require the front doors to be open first, so in tight parking spaces, it's a little complicated. The B-pillar is in the way when the driver tries to look over his or her left shoulder.

As for trunk space, it's of acceptable size, but the opening isn't very big, so bigger items will not fit. Still, keeping the car's mission in mind, the RX-8 is practical for everyday use.

Competition
The RX-8 40th Anniversary Edition sells for $42,145, comes in one colour and has no available options. Here's a look at some of the RX-8 rivals, although some here are not pure sports car like the Mazda:

Audi TT Coupé 2.0T, 200 hp, $46,900
BMW 135i, 300 hp, $41,700
Dodge Challenger R/T, 375 hp, $34,995
Honda Accord EX-L V6, 268 hp, $35,490
Infiniti G37, 330 hp, $47,350
Mitsubishi Eclipse GT-P, 263 hp, $34,298
Nissan Altima 3.5 SE, 270 hp, $31,398
Pontiac G6 GXP, 252 hp, $35,975
Volvo C30 T5, 227 hp, $31,995

As for trunk space, it's of acceptable size, but the opening isn't very big, so bigger items will not fit.

And let's not forget Hyundai's upcoming 2010 Genesis Coupe, which will be powered by a 310-hp V6.

Conclusion
The RX-8 is a nice-looking, great-handling sports car. It lacks a little muscle under the hood, and the rotary engine is questionable for its fuel consumption and the fact that only Mazda dealers can service it, but a sports car with usable room for four is a rare as seeing a flying saucer. For 42 grand, though, the rapid BMW 135i seems like a better proposition to me.

Only 100 copies of the limited-edition RX-8 have been produced for Canada.

By the way, Mazda extended the engine's warranty to 8 years or 160,000 km, and has retroactively applied the extra coverage to every RX-8 since 2003, which should please current owners and those looking for a pre-owned model.

This 40th Anniversary model drew a fair amount of attention despite the car being six years old. Only 100 copies of the limited-edition RX-8 have been produced for Canada, so there might still be a few left on dealer lots. Alternately, you can check out the 2009 RX-8 which should be on sale as you read this.