Mazda ends rotary production

[benhogan]

Mazda Ends RX-8 Production, No Rotary Successor In Sight

thanks for the memories

[flainn]

I was thinking to myself, "haven't I seen this before?" Then I looked at the date on the article, August 2011 ...

Old news, but still a shame. I like diesels a lot better though.

[t walgamuth]

it was a wonderful solution back when the emission laws sis not exist. the wonder is that they kept it in compliance for so long.

[cjlipps]

The power to weight ratio was good and the exponential horsepower curve was interesting but IMO they were very subpar from a practical standpoint.

[MTI]

I Had the Same Deja Vu Moment

[benhogan]

Originally Posted by flainn

I was thinking to myself, "haven't I seen this before?" Then I looked at the date on the article, August 2011 ...

Old news, but still a shame. I like diesels a lot better though.

correct but I believe they actually stop making the motors at the end of this month.

[TwitchKitty]

I think they just barely missed the mark with the rotary engine and if petrofuel holds up someone will refine this concept or something close to it. Never had one or really looked into the design details but I can't help feeling like there is something here that never made to the street. Maybe some hybrid/bastardization of a rotary/comprex/turbine?

[TylerH860]

I would not buy an RX8 at any price. Its a miracle if it makes it to 100,000 miles without so much oil getting in the combustion chamber that it constantly fouls the spark plugs, which are no small task to change.

See them all the time at auction with a miss on one chamber or whatever they call it.

[jcyuhn]

Originally Posted by TwitchKitty

I think they just barely missed the mark with the rotary engine and if petrofuel holds up someone will refine this concept or something close to it. Never had one or really looked into the design details but I can't help feeling like there is something here that never made to the street. Maybe some hybrid/bastardization of a rotary/comprex/turbine?

I don't think so. Rotary engines are inherently less efficient than reciprocating engines; they burn more fuel to make the same power. The durability isn't there, there's no torque, there's no efficiency. I see them as a novelty, there's no reason to buy it, no reason to build it.

[smiffy6four]

I had an RX3 wagon way back in the early 80's. 1100cc rotary engine. Used to enjoy blowing away conventional hot rods(until about 40mph anyway ) Thing was very quick off the lights, It did eat fuel like a V8 though.

[Emmerich]

They killed it last year but then made 1000 more RX8s called a special edition.

[Hatterasguy]

They are cool but as said above they are a novelty.


Their is nothing a rotary engine can do that a modern piston engine can't do a lot better.

[DslBnz]

Zombie News: Next-Gen Mazda Rotary Engines Could Arrive in 2017 - Rumor Central (8 - 2011)

Mazda rotary engine production ceases: the end of an era | Car Advice (Today)


Meh...Shelved for now. Perhaps revived again in the future.

[cmac2012]

The end of an error. I rode in an RX8 (I think that was it - the sport model in '78, maybe a different model) and it was a screamer, pretty zippy, but I was never interested in dealing with one.

[dkveuro]

Well, now Subaru has a boxer diesel, how about a Mazda Rotary Diesel ?

Anyone know what, if any difficulties there would be ? Sure would be novel.

....anyway, they think it's possible....
http://www.motortrend.com/features/auto_news/2010/112_1002_mazda_commits_to_lighter_more_efficient_vehicles/


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