AUTOS: Mazda Plans Rotary’s Return The unique engine won’t disappear after the demise of the RX-8, the automaker says as it outlines the future for a rotary-powered sports car. The 2017 target for Mazda's next rotary sports car would coincide with the 50th anniversary of the first rotary-powered production car, the Cosmo Sport. Mazda is working on a new rotary engine expected to debut next year that will serve as a range-extender for an electric car, which will most likely be based on the next-generation Mazda3. This seems like a sad future for an engine that has powered some of the greatest sports and race cars, including a Le Mans winner. According to one of Mazda’s top engineers, the rotary’s future is actually much brighter than simply being a piece of an eco machine. Speaking with Car Sales, Nobuhiro Yamamoto, program manager for the Mazda MX-5, confirmed that a new RX-7 sports is was in the works and that it will be launched in 2017, the 50th anniversary year of the Mazda Cosmo Sport. The Cosmo was Mazda’s first rotary-powered car and the first volume production car to feature such an engine. Yamamoto has a very long history with the rotary engine. He was the power train manager for the last RX-7, and he designed the engine in the Le Mans-winning 787B race car. He revealed that the new RX-7 would feature Mazda’s still-in-development 16X rotary engine, which will retain the previous 13B’s twin-rotor design but will see its displacement increase to 1.6 liters. Peak output will likely come close to 300 horsepower without the aid of turbo charging. Yamamoto explained that special catalytic converters and Mazda’s latest Skyactiv technology will help the new rotary engine be much more fuel-efficient than previous versions. He also said there would be no hybrid tech on the RX-7 due to its intended purist sports-car positioning. To keep development costs low, the car is expected to utilize a stretched version of the platform underpinning the next-generation MX-5. Overall weight could be less than 2,800 pounds. In the U.S., the next RX-7 is expected to come as a strict two-seater, while in other markets a 2+2 seating arrangement would be offered. Although we’ ll have to wait five long years to find out. http://automotive.speedtv.com/article/autos-mazda-plans-rotarys-return/# http://www.motorauthority.com/news/1078803_future-mazda-mx-5-rumors-coming-2015-200-hp-1-3-liter-turbo http://www.motorauthority.com/news/1032153_new-mazda-rx-7-to-coincide-with-cosmos-50th-anniversary-report http://www.motorauthority.com/news/1078847_rotary-extended-range-vehicle-coming-next-year-says-mazda-ceo http://www.motorauthority.com/news/1060292_mazda-787b-four-rotor-race-car-returning-to-le-mans-after-winning-20-years-ago Lynn E. Hanover Paul, If the booster engine is slightly bigger than your 27 hp estimate for the secondary rx8 dual rotary concept, perhaps it might make a great LSA candidate.-- Michael S. Francisco IMHO 27 HP is no where near enough for a range extender. After the battery is dead the engine must be powerful enough to accelerate a 4000 pound car adequately for passing at 60 to 70 MPH cruising speed and to climb hills at up to 80 MPH. If it won't do that it won't sell. It will acquire a reputation of being a dog. IMHO that is why the GM VOLT is not selling. Surprisingly many auto company executives making these dumb decisions don't really understand cars. While it is true it only takes 30 HP to cruise at 70 MPH it is absolutely essential that a 3000 pound car has at least 200 HP in reserve for hill climbing and acceleration. The same number for a 4000 pound car is 266 HP. The weight of the batteries and generator really hurt. If what they say is true about the most effcient rotary RPM being 2000 then the answer is 7 gears and an automatic shifting, mechanical transmission like a Formula 1 car. The rotary is a small displacement, low torque, high HP, high power engine. With any such car engine a good transmission is essentail. Right now the RX8 is cruising around 80 MPH at 3000 RPM with no noticeable acceleration. It sorely needs to shift down to 6500 RPM for passing. It would get better MPG if you could cruise it a 2000 RPM and automatically shift down to 6500 RPM for acceleration and passing.. http://www.rotaryeng.net/RX8-TC-eng3.html Sooner or later an attempt to recover the 50% of wasted energy in the exhaust MUST BE MADE in all car engines. If only half the waste heat(HP-fuel) in the exhaust was recovered the rotary would become the most efficient internal combustion engine in the world. It has this potential because it has no exhaust valves to fail or to waste heat (HP-fuel). The best hybrid has two engines. One for cruise and one for acceleration and hill climbing. Mazda could build a prototype by bolting a small rotary on the back of the RX8 differential. Paul Lamar-- The Rotary Engine News Letter. Powered by Linux. ACRE NL web site. http://www.rotaryeng.net You Tube key word PaulLamar2 Copyright 1998-2012 All world wide rights reserved.
