The new Mazda RX-8 Type RS was launched on Monday in Japan with a base price tag of 3,150,000 yen, the equivalent of $30,875 in the U.S., Inside Line reports. The U.S. will get the car later this summer. The RX-8 isn't exactly a soft boulevard cruiser to begin with, but this latest club racer version includes a number of changes that also preview the refreshed 2009 RX-8.

The Type RS upgrades include a six-speed manual transmission, exclusive aero parts, 19-inch forged aluminum wheels, Recaro bucket seats, and Bilstein dampers. All of this should make the car feel even more buttoned down than before. Meanwhile, regular RX-8s will receive a host of updates for the 2009 model year, including larger air intakes in the front bumper, brand new wheels, and LED rear lights, the report said. Under the hood, the car will get new water and oil pumps to improve the rotary engine's performance and "provide a better acceleration feel." The six-speed manual will also receive revised gear ratios for better response at lower engine speeds.

The RX-8 is at a crossroads. The rotary engine makes the car, as it has since day one 30 years ago. But it's also renowned for its poor fuel economy and, at least with certain model years, iffy reliability. It remains to be seen if this is the last update we'll see to the rotary design, or if Mazda will engineer a more efficient version the next time around.