Another new member

[andyb]

Hi All,
 
Had my RX8 Kuro, my pride and joy, a couple of years now. Been a member of the RX8OC for as long as I\'ve owned the car so there are already a few familiar names on here. Been changing a few things on the car over the past couple of years, most recently some Tein Mono Flex coilovers which Clive supplied and fitted, hence my appearance on this forum. Very, very happy with them so thanks again Clive for all your help.
 
Looking forward to all the information on here about RX7\'s and all the other rotaries, looks like I\'ve got a lot of reading to do!
 
Also can\'t believe how quick the members pack comes through! Signed up Tuesday and got my pack Wednesday! Many thanks Lisa :Giggle.
 
Regards
Andy

[clive]

Welcome to MRC Andy:Thumbs-up,

Real pleased that your even happier with your very special Kuro than you was before ,

Must admit whilst I seen a Kuro before, I didn\'t realise they had used the top quality leather they had, and very nice it is too :chat

[Nik da Greek]

Hi and welcome to MRC :Thumbs-up. Nice to see another RX8OC member crossing over,as \'twere ! Pardon my ignorance, what\'s a Kuro then? Guessing a special edition \'8? Pics, then?

[Test Drives Unlimited]

Hi Andy & Welcome to the MRC
 
Nice to see even more Members of the RX8OC coming over to Join us

[SleepyDude]

Welcome mate

[clive]

Hi and welcome to MRC :Thumbs-up. Nice to see another RX8OC member crossing over,as \'twere ! Pardon my ignorance, what\'s a Kuro then? Guessing a special edition \'8? Pics, then?

Here you go Nik,
Had to put me anorak on and type for ages to answer this one :Giggle
(thank god for copy n paste)

Mazda RX8 Kuro Special Edition : KURIOSITY COMES IN BLACK
Expert Rating:  

In Japan it means black but over here, Mazda hope that Kuro will come to stand for a strong selling RX-8 special edition. Steve Walker reports

Japanese tends to be one of the trickier languages for westerners to master but heres a start; kuro means black. Now, on your next visit to Japan, you can describe for locals the visual impression experienced when no visible light reaches the eye, point out the shirt colour favoured by the New Zealand rugby team or advise ladies on the best ....tail dress to choose for a formal dinner. All useful stuff, if youre in Japan. If you happen to be in the UK, bandying the Japanese word for black about is only likely to get you a series of blank looks, unless youre in your local Mazda dealership where it could land you the latest special edition version of Mazdas RX-8 coupe.

The Mazda RX-8 Kuro is yet another in an ever lengthening line of Mazda RX-8 special edition models. Mazda set the president for sportscar specials by inundating us with adventurously themed versions of their previous generation MX-5 now the current MX-5 and the RX-8 are getting the same treatment so there must be something in it. Only 500 Kuro models will be available to UK customers and each one is individually numbered, so while RX-8 special editions as a whole seem destined to become increasingly commonplace, the Kuro will always retain an element of exclusivity. So what do you get? Well, predictably, you can have any colour you want as long as its black.

The Kuro comes in a special Sparkling Black Mica hue which accentuates the RX-8s aggressively curvaceous bodywork to brooding effect. It looks pretty mean with the 18" darkened alloy wheels, which are exclusive to this model, and the darkened light bezels pushing it further in the malevolent direction.

"Black, it seems, is back."

The Kuro is further differentiated from standard RX-8s and the growing band of other special edition models by the Stone-coloured leather trim that shows up on the seats and various other bits of interior trim. Theres also a leather steering wheel, gearknob and handbrake lever with coordinated stitching. Buyers will be able to tell which RX-8 Kuro theyve got by checking out the number on the Kuro branded stainless steel scuff plates. The beating heart of all Mazda RX-8s is that idiosyncratic engineering marvel, the RENESIS ....le rotary engine and the Kuro gets the most powerful version packing some 231bhp.

We wont go into the intricacies of how the ....le unit works but when you hear that this highly respectable power output is achieved from just 1.3 litres of capacity, youll get the gist its very clever. Quite unlike any other engine, the RX-8s unit wheezes and sighs its way around the road network with the sound growing in intensity as you approach the redline at a fearsome 8,200rpm. Its great fun and the whole experience is enhanced but the direct steering, the taught, grippy chassis and the snappy gearchange with its tiny palm-sized triangular shifter.

The 0-62mph sprint is covered by the Kuro in a handy 6.4s and theres a 146mph top speed so this is a serious performance car. Torque isnt a rotary engine strong suit and the 211Nm maximum at 5,500rpm means that theres not much muscle through the rev Range but that doesnt matter because the RX-8s top end is so intoxicating.

The RX-8 is nothing if not distinctive and the Kuro special edition makes it even more so but does it warrant selection ahead of capable and desirable rivals like the Mercedes C-Class Sports Coupe, Alfa Romeos Brera, Nissans 350Z or Audis TT? Lets look at it from a practical perspective where the RX-8s innovative layout should shine.


The dash is sensibly laid out with aluminium detailing and moody dark plastic of various finishes. The Kuro special edition adds a more aggressive element to the RX-8s distinctive visuals and it also tempts customers with a compelling pricetag. At £23,995, its £505 less than the equivalent model from the standard Range and when you add in that special leather interior, the fetching alloy wheels and the Kuros exclusivity, the deal looks better still. If you like the mean and moody look for your sportscars, the RX-8 Kuro has to be the model to go for.

Black, it seems, is back.

[Nik da Greek]

Wow! All that! Thanks for that, Clive, I\'ve got another badge to put on my anorak now too:rollin. That interior looks very nice, I have to say. Certainly an awful lot nicer than the "equivalent" 350Z leather in that weird orange colour that looks like it was made from Dale Winton hide lol

[Test Drives Unlimited]

Clive :2Rolleyes ,you got too much time on your hands

[andyb]

Jeez, that was a post and a half Clive! Thanks for all the welcomes. Yeah basically my car is another one of the long line of RX8 special editions lol, Mazda do seem to love \'em! Works for me though! Hope this piccy works, only took me half an hour to work out how to do it, bloody computers!
 
Hi Nigel, good to see you\'ve got your car back, when does your Swedish model arrive?  
 

[Test Drives Unlimited]

Nice picture Andy & hope to see you at a MRC Event
 
Hoping to see the Saab next week at the Dealer,as its due in Tomarrow on Part-Exchange for a New 9-3.Then I hope to have it parked outside my home,either the end of next week or the beginning of the following week
 
Then I can start driving again & getting back to work,all being well...................... :driving :Santa