http://www.roadandtrack.com/future-cars/2014-mazda-rx-8

    Marc Wiese

    2014 Mazda RX-8 - New and Future Cars
    We have confirmation from various sources in Japan that Mazda is
indeed  working on the next-generation rotary engine dubbed the 16X.

    By Sam Mitani

    February 7, 2011

    "Also, we heard that the engine will feature some form of assist,
  though we?re not certain exactly what that will be."

    If we are lucky it could be a turbo compound.
    If not lucky an electric motor :)

    Paul Lamar

  Most likely a direct inject hydrogen or HOOH.
  I'll try to get one next year. Now if I could only convince
  Mitsubishi to make larger reversed turbine we'd be there.

  Doug in Japan.

  I think your MAC computer is converting incoming plain text
  messages to html Doug. Then you are adding a new plain text
  message on the bottom.  It creates havoc on this end. Please
  set your incoming to convert to plain text. If possible on a MAC.

  I don't think it is going to be hydrogen.
  Half the range and no trunk space. A 10% power
  penalty as well. Also no distribution infra structure.
  Not to mention it takes a lot of energy to make hydrogen
  and atomic power plants have a dubious future in Japan.

  There is a Mazda tech paper out on the subject SAE 925011.
  I did not scan it yet because the results were so
  impractical.

  The RX16 R&T press release is referring to acceleration
  assist. Not a change of fuel type. One of the problems of
  the rotary for car use is low RPM torque or lack there of.
  People in the U.S. are used to a huge engines that have
  grunt. My suggestion is a Formula 1 quick shifting paddle
  shifter transmission that would make the rotary powered
  car more fun to drive and much easier to shift down
  when acceleration was needed.

  Paul Lamar

  I would think the "boost" will be a hybrid style with regenerative
braking and  engine stop. They will also incorporate their Sky
technology as applied to the  gas and diesel (oops, compression
ignition) engines. They also have the Sky  Drive stuff they are
working on, for the transmissions. The electric motor  boost would
not be too bad, if also incorporated with a power recovery  turbine.
The one bit of released information stated "no more turbo chargers",
 which would eliminate the idea of power recovery. Things do have a
tendency to  change though.

  Dale Davies

Paul,

If its for acceleration assist, and re-gen braking then a small
suitcase size battery makes sense. We will order a 1300 hybrid Honda
Life (1400cc Jazz in USA)  if we decide to stay in Japan. I test
drove it and performance is incredible.  Battery weight is
negligible. This note sent using Western ISO Latin 1 setting.  Hope
it's Ok.

Doug in Japan

That seemed to be OK but I think the font is the least of our problems.

I hybrids are OK if the battery is charged. The problems come
climbing a long hill or passing on two lane roads when the battery
becomes discharged.

The other problems are handling and ride because of the narrow high
pressure tires.

In the case of the Prius many features of the car itself contribute
to the good gas mileage. Low aero drag factor, light weight materials
and hard low rolling resistance tires. If you apply those features to
any car with the same size engine it will improve the gas mileage
with out the cost and weight of the batteries and the electric motor.

I don't know about the Honda Life. Is there a non hybrid version?
If so how do all the performance and cost specs compare?

If you spend enough on materials (read carbon fiber) and focus on lowering
the drag any car will get better gas mileage. Tire rolling
resistance and cornering ability are at odds.

Paul Lamar.


Further to my last comment about possible "boost"; try
www.mazda.com/mazdaspirit/skyactiv/   I just searched Mazda Skyactiv. Supports
my comment about possible hybrid boost with regen braking.

I attached the file. I hope it is not too big.

Dale Davies

htm does not forward well. The link is all we need.

Paul Lamar