January 21, 2004

Australian mag names RX-8 Car of the Year

Sydney, Australia - The Mazda RX-8 has been named the 2003 Car of the Year by Australian-based Wheels magazine. Now in its 41st year, the Wheels Car of the Year is Australia's most prestigious automotive award.

The RX-8 was one of 28 eligible vehicles. Eight judges spent six days driving the cars over thousands of kilometres at a proving ground and on public roads. The winner was selected by secret ballot.

"The Mazda RX-8 represents the birth of a new and worthwhile category of car," said Wheels editor Ged Bulmer. "The RX-8 has achieved a genuine sports coupe experience, complete with four doors and four seats, thanks to a daring, ingenious design. It's good looking, clever, great to drive and a worthy winner of the Wheels Car of the Year."

Mazda has won the Wheels Car of the Year award five times. Past winners were the 323 in 1980, the MX-5 in 1989 and the 626 in 1983 and 1992.

Wheels magazine is Australia's biggest selling general interest motoring magazine and has a readership of 507,000 per issue, making it the country's second most widely read men's magazine.

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