Hiroshima, July 2008 - In the 1970s, Mazda developed the RX500, a dream supercar that amazed a multitude of car fans around the world. After sitting dormant in a warehouse for the last 30 years, the legendary RX500 has now been fully restored. In July 2008, it was put on display at the Hiroshima City Transportation Museum, 38 years after it was first exhibited at the 1970 Tokyo Motor Show.

IRVINE, Calif, June 4, 2008 – Mazda North American Operations today announced the first shipments of 2009 RX-8 sports coupes are being released to dealers across North America, and will soon be in showrooms.

For 2009, Mazda will further the evolution of the four-door, four-seat sports coupe, giving RX-8 a refreshed exterior and interior design, enhanced performance and a new R3 sport package for the ultimate driving enthusiast. Unchanged is the core of the RX-8 – a high-powered, lightweight and perfectly balanced machine powered by the world-renowned twin-rotor RENESIS rotary engine.

The good folks over at Fomoconews have some mad photochop skills. The image here by forum user "rhoadwh" represents the best of the Furai and Taiki.

Rhoadwh writes: "I set out to create an overall theme based off of Mazda’s latest Taiki and Furai concepts. The Taiki uses a front mid-ship design, which is what all RX-7’s have used in the past and is why I chose this as my first starting point rather than the mid-engined Furai."

Set your DVR's to record SHOCKWAVE on The History Channel, 10:00 PM June 6th, 2008. A segment of this episode features the ill-fated attempt to set a 1993 Bonneville Land Speed Record in a Mazda RX-7. Dramatic footage shows the Racing Beat RX-7 becoming airborne as the car reaches speeds of nearly 230 MPH! Eyewitness accounts describe the unfolding drama, while in-car footage gives an the viewer a driver's perspective of the action.

Mazda is continuing testing the Furai, this time at California's Buttonwillow Raceway. This car is a great marketing tool for Mazda, as this 6 minute test video shows, the car scoots around the track.

Mazda has opened its new technical center in Chesterfield County, Virginia. The company is making a $1.6 million investment in equipment and upgrades at the center, where it rebuilds rotary engines for the RX-8.

"This is the only operation of its type in North America," said Robert Davis, the company's senior vice president for quality, research and development. The company has hired 20 people to work at the center, which also houses a technical call center and will have training programs for the company's dealers.

RX-7 Heaven is back for the 11th year! The Southern California RX-Club is proud to announce SevenStock-XI! Thanks to your support, the entire rotary community, this event has gotten bigger every year, last year it was so big we had to find more real estate. Our world famous event of all things rotary is once again being held at Mazda North American Operations.

The folks at Mazda are once again allowing us to hold this great event at their beautiful headquarters in Irvine, California. So mark your calendars, get your RX cars ready and find any way you can to get to Irvine on the weekend of Saturday September 27th for an entire whole slew of rotary-related actives.

The second race of the season at Homestead, the Speedsource team wanted to keep up momentum after the win at the Rolex Daytona 24 Hours. That win was Mazda's biggest sports car victory since Le Mans in 1991. However victory was not to be had at the GAINSCO Grand Prix of Miami, the second in the new car, with the new sponsor, and with a home track advantage; their dominance didn't quite continue. The #70 car placed placed 5th in class after a series of yellows, and track conditions. Within the first lap, Nick Ham went off track, into the dirt. He was able to get it back on, but combined with the warmest day yet, tire issues, lost time on pit row, and some mistakes at the end of the race, it just wasn't enough to get back to the top. The other Speedsource car came in 8th place piloted by Assentato and Segal.

With a new sponsor, new colors, and new vigor, the RE Amemiya RX-7 (now named ORC AMEMIYA SGC-7) took the checkered flag in the first race of th 2008 Super GT Series! Drivers Hiroyuki Iiri and Ryo Orime finished 14.8 seconds ahead of the 2nd place car, the #2 Privée KENZO Asset Shiden. Congratulations to the new team! Amemiya-san has put many hours into the new team. After clenching the 2006 Super GT series victory, it looks like 2008 is off to a very good start!

Hiroyuki Irie: "I'm happy, but I'm also relieved. I became the No. 1 driver for our team last season but was unable to win. Now I have won the first race of my second season. The Yokohama Rubber's tires have been a good match for our machine, and if we do things right, we should be able to get another win."

Ryo Orime: "This is my first win in the GT, so all I can say is that I am very happy. The machine is in very good condition, and it was great that the Yokohama Rubber's tires didn't lose their grip all the way to the finish. The last ten laps felt very long for me. Now I am going to do my best to help us get a second win."

Sunrise, FL (02/21/2008) -A limited edition (250 units) plaque with an actual lug nut from the winning #70 GT Mazda RX-8 for the 2008 Daytona Rolex 24 hour race. With 2 color pictures, one shot of the winning crew and drivers and the other, an action shot of a pit stop. A great way to help the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation (JDRF), as we will donate $10.00 for every plaque that is sold.