Fair enough, but if I am  a businessman and I can make a better

mousetrap

for less $, lighter weight , same or better gas mileage, lower

emissions,

at some point CNN ( or Dan Rather ) is going to proclaim me a

visionary,

in

the vanguard !  Maybe there will be some movement with the renesis

engine.

bill

Bill,
An old engineer mate of mine (who is working on a new rotary) says with

the

current manufacturing world tooled-up for a certain type of engine, a

new

engine to get recognition, would be required to improve current

efficiency

from 30 percent to 90 percent and improve the size and weight to power

ratio

by about 5.
A big leap indeed, but now I guess I can now better understand the

people

with the money have the power.
George (down under)

Back when I was doing Engineering for money, with a big corporation in
aerospace, I had a low opinion for salespersons (PC) . But after working
in the kit airplane business I realized that having a good product, and
even the best price was no guarantee of success. Yes the guys with the
money have the power - they made most of it by knowing how to sell.

The overall public does not have a good image of the Wankel, They
remember the early problems, and the virtual stock scam by Curtiss
Wright. So it will take major improvements and millions in PR to
break a new engine concept or reinstate the Wankel in the public eyes.

The Eco-nazis have spent millions trying to make immissions the
primary driver for new products, even at the cost of all other things
that make a good product. I see an uphill road for the sales of the
RX8 - except for the innovation of the improved rotary, they do not
have a "hook" that will drag customers from a flock of "sport sedans"
of similar performance and price. (Paul is going to go postal on me
for this one) Vance J

I think you need to drive a rotary Vance before you place any
bets. The price to performance ratio will be outstanding.

I admit I am not sure that the RX8 will be a success.
I do know there are a lot of rotary enthusiast out there that are 
very loyal despite the fact the rotary has not been sold in
the states for the last ten years. If anything they seem to have
become more enthusiastic.

The key is a four rotor 500 HP Jag XKS. As you say 250 HP engines
are common now a days. Ford is sitting on the answer since
they have controlling interest in both Jaguar and Mazda.

As long as emissions are the major driving force
(Carbon dioxide is now classified as a pollutant. What are all 
the tress going to do for food?) the car industry as a whole is in a 
world of hurt. People in general are easily manipulated if you
appeal to their emotions. Making unsubstantiated claims that
the world is heating  up due to so-called green house gases 
is a prime example. It has heated up and cooled off before... 
long before the internal combustion engine. Global warming
is an environmental demagogue's dream come true. Scare the 
hell out of people and nobody can prove them wrong.

Paul Lamar
 
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