London, England - Mazda's RX-8 has been chosen as sports car of the year by an unusual forum - Britain's professional fleet managers.
The award was voted for by decision-makers who read Fleet Week, Fleet Management and What Van? Fleet magazines.
"The uniqueness of the four-door Mazda RX-8 with its 1.3-litre Renesis rotary engine enabled it to muscle aside more established German marques to win the Sporting Car award for 2005," said Fleet Management editor Guy Bird.
"Since the award's inception in 2002, it has been dominated by the Germans - the Audi TT (2002 and 2003), and BMW Z4 (2004). No longer.
"Where the RX-8 scores is in the high level of versatility that goes with its sportiness.
"A four-door coupe, with innovative door opening to allow easy access front and back, it's suitable for four adults and luggage while the rotary engine gives the driver a superb driving experience.
"Its residual values and whole life costs beat its competitors by some margin."
"The Mazda 6 was the model that put Mazda on the corporate sales map," commented Mazda fleet director David McGonigle.
"For the RX-8 to win recognition from such a discerning sector of the new car market is fantastic because the readers - our customers - are not only taking into account the vehicle's performance but also its whole life costs."