(Mon 06 Feb 06)

For the first time since the car was launched, Mazda has introduced a special edition version of the rotary-engined RX-8 four-door coupé. The Evolve is based on the higher-powered 231PS RX-8 but, at £23,900, it costs the same as that car with optional leather trim.

You won't see many of them around, since Mazda is bringing just 500 into the UK. 400 of these will be painted in Copper Red (as pictured here) and the remainder in Phantom Blue. These colours are exclusive to the Evolve, which is also distinguished by dark silver 18" alloy wheels, a polished aluminium crest on the front airdam, dark silver bezel headlamps, sports door mirrors, polished aluminium air outlet fins on each side, chrome exhaust surrounds and Evolve badging.

Inside, the Evolve gets "stone" (light grey) leather/alcantara seat trim, plus black leather wrapping for the steering wheel, gearknob and handbrake lever. Mechanically, it's no different to the standard 231PS, which means a top speed of 146mph and 0-62mph in 6.4 seconds.

The name might lead you to assume that Mazda considers this an evolution of the standard car, but it's not quite that simple. "Evolve" is actually the name of the concept car which appeared at the 2000 Detroit Show and evolved to - not from - the RX-8.

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