http://www.fremontmazda.com 1 510 651 5600 The 1.3-liter RENESIS rotary power plant that is famously "Mazda" is good for 212 horsepower with an automatic transmission and 232 with a manual gearbox. This high powered engine coupled with the RX-8's nearly perfect 50-50 weight distribution make for an impressively powerful sports car. True to its sports car roots the RX-8 is most commonly equipped with a six-speed manual gearbox. In a nod to convenience Mazda is also offering a six-speed automatic transmission equipped with steering wheel paddle shifters on all trim levels.