A New Mazda Rotary Engine Has Finally Been Confirmed

With rotary engines long since having died a death from which most people assumed there would be no resurrection, Mazda has finally confirmed that a new one does exist, and that it's almost ready for production
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.

A New Mazda Rotary Engine Has Finally Been Confirmed

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.

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Comments

Mr.PurpleV12

I dont care if its a hybrid with plasma magic voodoo ignition/injection if its a rotary its a damn rotary.

09/06/2017 - 16:04 |
76 | 0

If it braps, it braps.

09/06/2017 - 17:44 |
64 | 0
[Flux]

Hm, this is pretty neat! I hope this new Wankel solves some of the issues the previous ones had.

09/06/2017 - 16:05 |
2 | 0

Flux, seriously man, explain to me the issues with rotary’s please, I don’t want to argue, I’m just curious!

09/06/2017 - 16:11 |
0 | 0
Ian MacDonald

Which sounds cooler:
Electric motors
A laser/plasma ignited, hydrogen powered rotary sports car.
(I know it might not use hydrogen but there is a chance.)

09/06/2017 - 16:17 |
30 | 0

I’ll take anything you put in it. Hell, give us propane, I don’t care, just give us a Rotary.

09/06/2017 - 19:48 |
14 | 0
Anonymous

It’s the second coming

09/06/2017 - 16:37 |
0 | 0
Jared G.

Me and my friend were literally discussing the rotary engine’s future about a minute before i saw this article.
Yes finally, dorito power is making a comeback!
Also I’m very interested in the idea of laser and plasma ignition, seems like a logical idea to me though.

09/06/2017 - 16:43 |
0 | 0
iCypher(Joel Chan)

Truat Mazda to do this. Honestly, I’m not too shocked. Never would Mazda leave its swansongs in the dirt for too long, that’s what I know about Mazda’s mentality.

09/06/2017 - 17:08 |
2 | 0
Anonymous

Yaaaaaaa boooooii

09/06/2017 - 17:15 |
0 | 0
Hawkoga
  • deep breath * BRAP BRAP BRAP BRAP
09/06/2017 - 17:21 |
0 | 0
MustangMike

cross your fingers

09/06/2017 - 17:38 |
0 | 0
Freewie

SR20VET.. you learn something new everyday.. sounds cool!

09/06/2017 - 17:43 |
0 | 0