Is Mazda bringing back the rotary engine?

Hooray! Great news to kick off the year that is 2021 in the auto world, folks. The Mazda MX-30 is coming to America in both fully electric and plug-in hybrid form. The latter will revive the beloved rotary engine at that.

Will the Wankel engine come back?

Mazda Confirms the Rotary Engine Will Return by 2022, but Not in a Sports Car. Mazda discontinued the RX-8 sports car in back 2012, and enthusiasts have been waiting for the brand’s iconic rotary engine to make a comeback ever since.

Does Mazda still use the Wankel engine?

Since the end of production of the Mazda RX-8 in 2012, the engine was produced only for single seater racing, with the one-make Star Mazda Championship being contested with a Wankel engine until 2017; the series’ transition to using a Mazda-branded piston engine in 2018 completely ended the production of the engine.

Will Mazda make an rx9?

Thanks to a new patent, there is now evidence that a Mazda RX-9 is actually happening. In October 2019 a new patent breathed a little bit of life into the possibility, and in early 2020 we learned that while the RX-9 would be a true sports car, it wouldn’t have a rotary engine.

Why are rotary engines banned?

The rotary was only banned because of rules that where already in the making. To be honest the 3.5L rule was supposed to be implemented the year of it’s victory, but the 3.5Ls where proved unreliable causing the the teams to switch to last year’s cars.

Why are rotaries unreliable?

Rotary engines have a low thermal efficiency as a result of a long combustion chamber and unburnt fuel making it to the exhaust. They also have problems with rotor sealing as a result of uneven temperatures in the combustion chamber since combustion only occurs in one portion of the engine.

Is the rotary engine dead?

Even after having certain advantages, the rotary engines died. No one in the automotive industry is using a rotary engine nowadays. The last car that sold with a rotary engine was the Mazda RX-8 which too was discontinued way back in 2011.

Why are RX-7 so expensive?

Over time RX7s have been destroyed in accidents, died from neglect, or become uneconomical to repair and been sent to the scrap heap. Basic laws of supply and demand therefore dictate that the RX7 will become increasingly more expensive over time (provided the bottom does not fall out of the classic car market).

Is the Mazda rotary engine still in development?

Just last month, Mazda said there’s still hope for a rotary-powered sports car, but it’s still not in development. Then, earlier this year, patents were discovered that appear to improve the rotary engine, including its intake efficiency and more. The patents also hinted at turbocharging the mill, too.

What makes the Wankel rotary engine so special?

The Wankel rotary engine is characterized by the unique triangular shape of its rotor. As the rotor turns at high speed, the apex seal, which is attached to each apex of the triangle to ensure air tightness, undergoes friction with the inside surface of the cocoon-shaped rotor housing.

Who is the head of the Mazda Research Department?

To tackle the challenge, Mazda assembled a team of 47 young engineers, who formed a rotary engine research department. Kenichi Yamamoto, the head of the department, compared the mission of the engineers, who were venturing into the uncharted territory of rotary engine commercialization, to that of the Shijyu Shichi Shi.

Who are the shijyu shichi shi in Mazda?

The Shijyu Shichi Shi is a legendary band of 47 samurai warriors who dedicated their lives, with unparalleled loyalty and perseverance, to the cause of avenging what they saw as the unjust death of their master. Yamamoto told the engineers: “From now on, the rotary engine must be on your minds at all times, whether you are sleeping or awake.”