Mazda Pushes Ahead With Rotory Powered RX-9 Sports Car

It could be a success if only they could learn two new English word that have been foreign to them and have cost them millions of dollars and sales. The two words are: "Engine Option."
Give us the option to not have to put up with another torque-less gas hog unreliable boat anchor rotary. Throw in the left over engines from the speed 3 and I'll buy one. I've loved driving every RX car they've made but have never been able to force myself to own one because of all the above reasons. Great cars. Horrible engines.

I disagree with your statement. I owned 2 Mazda RX7s back in my college days. I had over 172K miles on mine and didn't do anything to them. Many people weren't aware you had to add about 1/4 quart of oil to them about every 7-8th fill-up. Mine was the brown color and I still have my manual from my car that I saved since it was one of my favorite cars I drove while in college (years ago). If you didn't do this on a regular basis, it created problems and excessive wear on that engine. Every wonder why it "puffed" a small cloud of oil when you first started it.I had no issues with my engine and loved how that thing just kept running for me. But I am one to read the owner's manual in detail. They were cool cars.

When I think of rotary engines, I ask: What are the pros and cons?

My understanding is that it's a *potentially* smoother engine than an equivalent with reciprocating cylinders.

Are there any other benefits to the user? More power per MPG? Better fuel economy than a regular engine with similar power? Increased reliability? Lower purchase price? Lower maintenance costs? Less frequent maintenance and repairs? If you're not ticking off boxes here in the "pros" section, then you're doing so in the "cons" section.

As far as I can tell, the rotary engine is an interesting concept without a compelling cost/benefit story for the consumer.

I'd do an MX9 and an RX9. The last RX7 failed because of stupid pricing. Mazda should make a Mustang.

Have the MX9 inhabit the Mustang V6's price band with a V6. The RX9 would inhabit the Mustang Ecoboost/GT's price band with a low boost turbo rotary to combat rotary torque issues. Mazdaspeed9 would be a high-pressure turbo rotary aimed at the GT350.

THAT would be a game plan.

I'd also do an MX5/RX5. The MX5 is for all the Miata idiots that think slow is a virtue. The RX5 would be a low boost rotary for those of us who do not fear speed. Hell, do a Miataspeed5 with the high boost rotary.

Mazda simply needs to expand based on its current line. A more powerful roadster one or two levels up from Miata, a V6 Mazda 6 (I'll never understand why they discontinued it), and a "Mazda 8" to battle Maxima and Genesis.

I didn't say they weren't cool cars. I loved all of them. Just couldn't bring myself to buy one because of the rotary. I had friends who raced them and they were reliable race cars. They just make no sense for the street. Everything TheSteve said about them is true. He nailed it. It's as if the designers said, "let's see if we can design an engine that has less power, less torque, Less reliability than a contemporary 4 cylinder but still gets the fuel economy of a V8."