The Mazda RX-8 is a sports car that was manufactured by Mazda between 2003-2012. It first appeared in 2001 at the North American International Auto Show. It is the successor to the RX-7 and, like its predecessors in the RX range, it is powered by a Wankel engine. The RX-8 began North American sales in the 2004 model year.Mazda announced on August 23, 2011, that the RX-8 was to be discontinued citing the 2011 model as the last line of production.