The rotary's linear power delivery curtails the need to constantly shift the 6-speed mixer in order to maintain the car's momentum - but it's such a sweet gear switcher that ya just want to anyway! I love the feel of a warm shifter in my palm, especially one that rewards every actuation with precision and certainty. The RX8 6-speed manual is a close-ratio, short throw stick that is perfectly positioned amid the center console. Gears engage with a well-defined "click-click" that never left me wondering if it was fully engaged and if so, which gear it was in.

It's obvious where Mazda engineers applied themselves most, and that's in producing spectacular handling. (Photo: Rob Rothwell, Canadian Auto Press)

The clutch is a low-effort design, which in my tester became quite grabby when up to operating temperature. This may be more the result of enduring the hardship of servicing automotive journalists one after another rather than engineering. Where Mazda engineers have applied themselves most diligently is in the specter of handling dynamics. From the initial layout of the vehicle, the Poindexters took advantage of the rotary engine's svelte size by situating it low in the chassis and closer to the car's center point. This positioned it almost entirely behind the front axle, a design Mazda oddly refers to as "low polar moment." Call it what you will, but don't call it ineffective. As any physics geek will confirm, the closer mass is centralized in a vehicle, the easier it becomes for the vehicle to rapidly change direction. Complementing the effort to centralize mass is a near perfect front/rear weight distribution of 48/52 percent.

The Dunlop 225/45R 18-inch low-profile performance tires stay glued to the road, thanks to the sport-tuned suspension. (Photo: Rob Rothwell, Canadian Auto Press)

Directional changes in the RX8 are accomplished with a high degree of control and discipline thanks to more than just its "low polar moment." The structure of the car is block-solid, just the sort of rigidity needed to properly underpin a performance-oriented suspension system. The sport-tuned, fully independent setup connecting the wheels to the chassis do so by the use of a double-wishbone strut design up front and a multi-link suspension at the rear. Gas filled shocks all-round and front and rear stabilizer bars complete the handling duties. Collectively, these components keep the Dunlop 225/45R 18-inch low-profile performance tires pinned to the tarmac regardless of road surface.