A New Mazda Rotary Engine Has Finally Been Confirmed
A new Mazda rotary engine is officially coming within the next few years, but as expected it’s probably not the revolution in brap that you might have hoped for.
Wheels magazine in Australia has published an interview with senior Mazda figures ahead of the Frankfurt Motor Show, in which Mitsuo Hitomi, whose job title is very long and involves technical development, confirmed that a new rotary powerplant is in an advanced stage of development.
With 2020 approaching, bringing with it Mazda’s centenary, it’s possible that a rotary-powered sports car could be revealed as a celebration model, whether or not it takes the shape of the much-rumoured and much-denied RX-9.
However, Hitomi-san also confirmed that rotary fundamentally can’t match the emissions and fuel economy of modern cylinder-based petrol engines, but added that the company is looking at laser and plasma ignition to try to achieve a cleaner burn. We already know that Mazda is shying away from the heavy batteries and duller driving experiences of hybrids, but in all likelihood, a screaming rotary-powered sports car is probably not on the agenda unless it comes with hybrid mitigation.
The engineers are also focusing on trying to minimise oil consumption and apex seal wear, two recurring problems in older rotary engines that aren’t looked after to the manufacturer’s exact spec.
Some shareholders are still unconvinced by the amount of potential for profits in the rotary idea, according to Wheels, and don’t want to see a repeat of Mazda’s past decisions to put simply building fun cars before the interests of bank balances. That would be a shame, though, as Mazda’s brilliant eccentricity is one of its historic defining features.
Comments
Finally the brap brap brap will return.
Even if it is for hybrids
If this is in hybrid form it might still be fun, if it doesn’t get to heavy…
can it port?
[DELETED]
ALL ABOARD THE BRAP TRAIN
BRAP BRAP
I don’t know about any rotary train.
All aboard the rotary party BUS!!
Aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
There’s a difference between what Mazda says and what Mazda actually is doing behind the scenes…
#JustGiveUsTheRX9Mazda
Le Mans?
I wouldn’t count on it.
Rotaries are banned from Le Mans
Opened CT App.
Clicked News and Features.
Saw this.
.
.
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Shat self, dropped phone, screamed like a girl….
Yaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaayyyyyyyy
I pray that it will be a full blown lightweight sports car
Debodeep embrace hombre
So they are making a high maintenance horrible sounding engine, good idea Mazda.
How does this doesn’t have more downvotes
You’re kidding me right? The high maintenance part is so much bs.
JamesOConnor yeeee
I wont hold my breath man! Sounds like a load of conjecture to me. Ive been reading this since the rx8 went out of production in 2012 so will believe it when i see it in a showroom only I think!