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

Benjamin Ender Ammann

Everyone: “OH YEAH FINALLY A NEW WANKEL-CAR!!!”

3 Years later: Madza releases new Rotary Engine for a plane or generator

09/06/2017 - 17:46 |
0 | 0
Anonymous

I am really happy for those car bros that like this kind of stuff. I may be talked into driving it one day.

09/06/2017 - 17:58 |
0 | 0
Lucas Tekkan

I can see in a distant future Rx-9’s being LS Swapped

09/06/2017 - 18:07 |
0 | 0
InjunS2K

Tomorrow’s news: Mazda takes back confirmation of new rotary replacement

09/06/2017 - 18:31 |
2 | 0
Anonymous

My dog died today but this makes this day the best ever

09/06/2017 - 18:41 |
0 | 0
Antonio 3

Yep and half life 3 plot was leaked, what the heck is happening.

09/06/2017 - 19:03 |
0 | 0
Anonymous

New Zealand is pleased to hear this news

09/06/2017 - 19:14 |
2 | 0
Anonymous

In reply to by Anonymous (not verified)

Yes we are

09/06/2017 - 21:10 |
2 | 0
TheBagel

YES!!!

09/06/2017 - 19:35 |
0 | 0
RX8IsUnderrated

7.09.2017: BREAKING NEWS MAZDA DITCHES THE ROTARY AGAIN

09/06/2017 - 19:39 |
0 | 0
Ricardo Mercio

Life is good.

09/06/2017 - 19:49 |
0 | 0