First drive: Mazda RX-8 R3    • Face lifted coupe driven   •
Updated exterior styling   • On sale now for £24,995 The coupe
world spins even more quickly than the rotary engine in the
Mazda RX-8.  If you're not the newest, funkiest or fastest,
you're old news.  That's why it was high-time for Mazda to face-
lift its five-year old coupe, and the new RX-8 R3 is the result.
Exterior changes amount to revised lights front and rear, new
wheels, slightly larger tailpipes, and a bodykit.  Underneath,
the body and suspension have been stiffened, the steering
sharpened, and the slick-shifting gearbox from the MX-5 fitted.
It all adds up to an RX-8 that's been to the gym for a few
months.  The 228bhp of the engine is unchanged from before, as
is the pulling power of 156lb ft, so straight-line performance
is largely as before.  The gearbox ratios have been lowered
slightly over those in the old RX-8, which helps acceleration
but means the engine is revving harder at 70mph.  This manifests
itself as a constant backgroun