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This 3 Rotor Mazda RX8 Rally Car Has A Spine Tingling Soundtrack

V8s such as an LS or a Cayote have a talent of thumping your heart as they thunder in to life. The way they tick over on idle is a pleasure to the ears. A V8 almost oozes dominance.

When you start driving a V8 however, I personally feel that the engine sound loses its appeal at the top of the rev range. Maybe I’m just too in love with a cammed idle, but I’d prefer to listen to them roar from their low end.

A rotary is a very different beast. It has a thin sounds, yes, but its waste gasses produce a symphony of harmonics that produce such a sound of aggression that only improves as you run up the revs. It’s difficult to match. This Rx8 rally car has a 20b rotary engine tucked away under its bonnet. That’s three rotors in case you didn’t know.

It produces 370 naturally aspirated horsepower and produces one of my favourite engine sounds in the world. It’s built specifically for rallying and hill climb events, and with its front-engine, rear-wheel drive layout, it certainly has the ability to go sideways. Especially on the kinds of low grip roads shown in the video.

It really is a sight and sound to behold.

What’s your favourite engine sound? Let me know in the comments below!

Alex Harrington

Alex started racing at a young age so certainly knows his way around a car and a track. He can just about put a sentence together too, which helps. He has a great interest in the latest models, but would throw all of his money at a rusty old French classic and a 300ZX. Contact: [email protected]

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