Mazda Envisions Rotary Sports Car of the Future - With Audi?

Mazda will soon stop producing the RX-8, its only rotary-engined model; however, the carmaker hasn’t stopped developing the Wankel engine, which has been in production since 1964 when it was featured in the Cosmo R100 coupe. According to a InsideLine, there are currently fewer than a hundred engineers that are working on this
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theoptimisticpessimist - 6/14/2011 3:49:44 PM

0 Boost

Why not Audi still holds the patent for the rotary engines.

Joe_Limon - 6/14/2011 4:49:39 PM

+1 Boost

mmmm laser ignition, hopefully it comes out before HCCI engines make it redundant.

holmstar - 6/15/2011 3:36:26 PM

+2 Boost

I'm no expert, but from what I understand HCCI is nowhere near ready for prime time. It's still very difficult to reliably control the point of ignition under the widely varying operating conditions.

I'd be interested in knowing how the engineers are planning to keep the lens of the laser ignitor from becoming dirty. Maybe the energy of the laser is able to burn away any ash/combustion products, leaving the lens clean?

Joe_Limon - 6/15/2011 4:37:53 PM

0 Boost

From what I've read on laser ignition, that's exactly what happens to clean the lens.

Regarding HCCI engines, this is where GM was a couple years ago.

http://green.autoblog.com/2009/05/25/gms-hcci-engines-now-run-from-idle-to-60-mph/

holmstar - 6/16/2011 11:49:53 AM

+1 Boost

Oh, I see that they aren't trying to use HCCI exclusively. That would probably simplify things greatly, but they still didn't expect it to be available for five years from that time. So if they weren't too optimistic with their estimate then it would be a few more years before we see HCCI tech in a production car. I'm guessing it will be a bit longer, but there's a big push for fuel efficiency right now so who knows.

jtz7 - 6/15/2011 11:00:08 AM

-2 Boost

Please!!! The new BMW M5 will be ready for Mazda. So come on Mazda bring it on!!! Mazda wants in on BMW and Audi. Please!!! So what if that stupid Mazda sports coupe is the best in the world. It don't move BMW on bit.

Joe_Limon - 6/15/2011 11:34:21 AM

+3 Boost

Are you going to post about the bmw everyone has already seen on several threads already on a prius thread next?

holmstar - 6/16/2011 12:09:46 PM

+1 Boost

-1 Off topic

:-)

jtz7 - 6/15/2011 4:28:53 PM

-1 Boost

"Are you going to post about the bmw everyone has already seen on several threads already on a prius thread next?"

yup. What you going do huh? Give me some negative votes? Either that Or I'll get design you never thought in your life copied. The M5 will be ready you hear me. I'm test driving that baby once it debuts. so come on bring it on!!!!

Joe_Limon - 6/15/2011 4:39:55 PM

+1 Boost

lol you're a crazy sonofagun. Speaking of copying man that new BMW sure isn't bringing anything new to the table. Almost Porsche like in their development.

jtz7 - 6/16/2011 4:09:57 PM

0 Boost

So what. that BMW looks way better than the Buick Regal that copied the truckline from the TL. So come bring it I can get 400 to 500 cars you never thought in your live coiped. And you thought I was just a HKAG fanboy. I like BMW as much as Hyundai/Kia. I'll defend BMW, Hyundai and Kia. F Toyota, F Honda, F Nissan and F Suzuki. I'm jtz have nice day. Now where up and give me my negative votes or just leave it at Zero One or the other.