Mazda future plans- the rotary lives

[Nick R]

Car and driver- The rotary lives and CX-7 killed off

Exciting stuff, glad to see that Mazda didn't permanently kill off the rotary engine. A range extended EV using a rotary generator... I am intruiged. *strokes chin*

 

[beast3300]

I read yesterday Mazda produced the last rotary engine.

 

[SZR48207]

It would not surprise me if fuel economy was cited as a reason for phasing out the rotary engine in mass produced cars. Beyond being very novel and sounding great with an exhaust system, what practical advantages do the rotary engine provide for the average Joe car buyer?

 

[Nick R]

Originally Posted By: beast3300
I read yesterday Mazda produced the last rotary engine.


They stopped production of the current crop of rotary engines, used in the RX-8. But they will be bringing it back, better than ever, and I believe they are going to reboot the RX-7.

 

[beast3300]

Originally Posted By: Nick R
Originally Posted By: beast3300
I read yesterday Mazda produced the last rotary engine.


They stopped production of the current crop of rotary engines, used in the RX-8. But they will be bringing it back, better than ever, and I believe they are going to reboot the RX-7.


Now that's sweet!!! The RX8 is a turd.

 

[mpvue]

mazda discovered that hydrogen works better in a rotary than in a regular 4 stroke. they actually built some hydrogen RX-8's.

I really like mazdas, and the rotary intrigues me (though I've never owned one). it just seems to me that the advantages of the rotary (light weight, simple, fewer parts, great size/power ratio) mean nothing compared to the disadvantages (horrible mpgs, reliability and emissions)

 

[IndyIan]

Originally Posted By: Reddy45
It would not surprise me if fuel economy was cited as a reason for phasing out the rotary engine in mass produced cars. Beyond being very novel and sounding great with an exhaust system, what practical advantages do the rotary engine provide for the average Joe car buyer?

It's very small and very light, so its a good motor for a sports car. I've watched some RX-7's on lapping days and they do look and sound great out there.

 

[d00df00d]

Originally Posted By: beast3300
The RX8 is a turd.

Until you turn the steering wheel.

 

[rjundi]

Originally Posted By: beast3300

Now that's sweet!!! The RX8 is a turd.


I had some autocross time with a borrowed RX8 and beg to differ. Such a pleasure of a car to drive in the curves but that depends where you live.

I don't believe my friend paid more than $15k lightly used for it and it has extraordinary handling stock.

Fun to drive factor is high unlike the [censored] out there now that goes quick but is essentially rolling nova-cane.

 

[Quest]

Originally Posted By: beast3300
The RX8 is a turd.


Hmm..sounds a bit arrogant in that said response, you think?

IF it's the premature engine wear that you are talking about RE: RX-8, trouble is not with Mazda but the fact that Ford wants them RX-8 owners to use 5W20 (regular 4-cycle engine oils) as oppose to a rotary-engine specific oil blend (Idemitsu carries them, so are some older house blends branded under "RE-Amemiya", etc.), to keep the apex seals lubricated.

(*sadly, nobody out on the internet who ranted about RX-8 engine failures understand this matter fully, and thus the "echoing" ensues*)

While I must say that I'm a big fan of rotary engines (mainly on the early 80s RX-8 to the late 80s, except that dreaded turbo versions circa 1987), and I can see that with all the investments spent in improving the Wankel engines for reliability and such (since 1965), it's hard for Mazda to shelf such designs and go with conventional piston-type of IC engines while many other major manufacturers have, in one form or another, a bit of leads in various different technical advancements areas...

Q.

 

[IndyIan]

Originally Posted By: d00df00d
Originally Posted By: beast3300
The RX8 is a turd.

Until you turn the steering wheel.

Jeremy Clarkson totally fell in love with the RX-8 when it came out. Not that he's the final word on cars, but he gets to drive everything there is, hard as he can, on a track...

 

[SteveSRT8]

I used to have an 87, it was far from a turd. But it was a turbo model. Only owned it for 2 years, but even back then the dynamics were far superior to anything else I drove when I shopped for it.

Rotaries are completely misunderstood. Naturally aspirated they are torque free at lower rpms, but they can run well once they're revved hard. It was their HANDLING that made them really sweet.

 

[d00df00d]

Originally Posted By: SteveSRT8
Rotaries are completely misunderstood. Naturally aspirated they are torque free at lower rpms, but they can run well once they're revved hard. It was their HANDLING that made them really sweet.

Exactly.

 

[beast3300]

I guess I should revise my statement. In my opinion the RX8 was a turd compared to the RX7.

 

[NHGUY]

Leave the rotary for race cars,if they want to use it.For everyday driving,the torquey piston engine has it all over the Wankel.I wonder what rotary torque off idle is? Cant be all that great.

 

[mechtech2]

Rotaries get good power and bad economy for their size becasue they are not rated for the actual size of the engine!
Only 1/3-2/3, depending.
So no wonder they seem to have good power for their size! They only count one or two of the rotors!

 

[azjake]

On a related topic the current issue of Automobile magazine had a column about Mazda's financial woes. Apparently they've lost money the last four years and their banks recently had to raise capital by issuing more stock. The strong yen is also making it difficult for them to make a profit.

 

[typ901]

Originally Posted By: SteveSRT8
I used to have an 87, it was far from a turd. But it was a turbo model. Only owned it for 2 years, but even back then the dynamics were far superior to anything else I drove when I shopped for it.

Rotaries are completely misunderstood. Naturally aspirated they are torque free at lower rpms, but they can run well once they're revved hard. It was their HANDLING that made them really sweet.


I owned a '86 N/A and I agree 100%. I think I used to put 10w30 in mine year round. Never any problems outside of clutches.

 

[d00df00d]

Originally Posted By: NHGUY
Leave the rotary for race cars,if they want to use it.For everyday driving,the torquey piston engine has it all over the Wankel.I wonder what rotary torque off idle is? Cant be all that great.

I disagree.

The RX-8 had enough torque to get around town at normal-person speeds. You only had to rev it if you wanted to move significantly faster than traffic. Yes, it made you work more than a piston engine would. But that's not a bad thing for people who don't care for mindless press-the-pedal-and-go driving.

Meanwhile, the RX-8 handled better than literally any car at any price with back seats worth mentioning. This is largely because its engine was about the size of a FWD transaxle and about the weight of an aluminum inline-4 short block. For someone who wants a responsive and agile car, these facts are priceless.

Granted, most people want easy speed (if they want speed at all), are terrified of corners, and don't place a high value on responsiveness. So, if the RX-8 looks silly to you, you're in good company. However, for its target market, there simply was nothing that came close until the Scion FR-S/Subaru BRZ.

 

[KrisZ]

Mazdas are totally underrated.
I actually never considered getting a Mazda, but after Honda dealers [censored] me off with their shenanigans, Toyota's unimpressive offerings and nothing worth looking at from domestic three in 2006, I said what the heck, lets go to Mazda. I'm glad that in the end I did not fall for Honda or Toyota hype and got what I liked.

The best part is that after 6 years and closing on 100k miles, this little car still drives better than a lot of new comparable offerings.