We Can't Wait - Internal Mazda Source Says Rotary Engine Is Not Dead Yet

The rotary engine is terrible for a number of reasons:
1) Low horsepower compared to a piston engine
2) Low fuel economy
3) High emissions
4) Highly susceptible to wear (seals wear out quickly)
5) High oil consumption (oil is squirted directly into the combustion chamber. It's a consumable, not just a lubricant)

On the plus side:
1) Very smooth (low vibrations)

Here's just one video that explains why the rotary engine is a dud:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v3uGJGzUYCI

You get to decide if the 1 plus (smoothness) outweighs the 5 minuses for you.

4 years is a lifetime as far as technology goes

Hopefully they will build on the 1.3 liter with 280HP we saw in 2011

Yes torque is a factor but keep it in a low mass car and it will do fine.

Yes 23 MPG is not cutting edge

Seals really haven't been an issue in the last decade, but were an issue beforehand

several turbo cars currently consume a quart every 5 miles. The RX8's
are no worse

Power delivery is seamless across the RPM range

009, a quart every 5 miles? Goodness, I hope not!

My dad had the very first R100 in Washington State back in 1970. I took my drivers license test in it. Was an absolute blast to drive, but gas was about 40 cents a gallon then. I have no experience with anything newer in the way of rotaries. If they have solved the seal issue and figured out a way to improve MPG, that would be a fun rig to have.

Agreed. If the RX8 had been produced with an MX8 variant with a V6 sales would have been better. Similarly if there had been an RX5 companion to the MX5 people would have gone for the rotary over the squirrel on meth engine in the Miata.

IF Mazda can produce a new Rotary that fullfills its requirements - and government regulation - both in performance and monetarily - then there is no reason not to. However to make an engine for a single small sports car makes no sense based on the position Mazda has in the market. Producing a small regular engine that could be used in more than a few vehicles would be a better use for its capital

Great, let's bring back Pong and slide rules too.

Maybe Mazda has made a great break-through that solves the emissions and fuel consumption problem.

Maybe Mazda will use the rotary as an onboard generator for electric motors.

Actually - using a Rotary for an onboard generator for electric motors - if they could do it - would be an advantage. For the power produced - the rotary would be far smaller and lighter than a regular engine. ANd I suspect using a rotary at a maintained throttle - would make it easier to meet emission requirements.

Again though - the real problem would be mileage - since the rotary is currently less efficient than other possibilities. THe reduced weight may not be enough to offset it. Since you would use this set-up in a Hybrid of some type - the mileage would have to sell the vehicle - and currently - with gas prices so low - (Still far higher than when I first learned to drive - in the last century) - the mileage would need to be outstanding OR - the result would need to be required by law.

I had TWO RX7's and the dual turbcharged rotary engine was the star of the show. Smooth and powerful.