The RX-7 confirmed to be in the pipeline for 2017---RX-Vision Unveil!!
11-18-16, 06:00 AM
#3352
I will be surprised if a new rotary is released in larger numbers than some sort of limited production run of 5,000 cars or less globally. I just don't think the engine makes sense economically anymore and it has far too many drawbacks. Even with advancements in various areas I still think the rotary will come up short. If more manufacturers had worked on the rotary over the years the story might be different but I think it will never see the light of day for mass production again as it is just too flawed of a design.
And I say that whilst being a huge fan of the rotary.
And I say that whilst being a huge fan of the rotary.
11-18-16, 09:43 AM
#3353
Senior Member
No, like half a normal V8, 2/3rds of a normal V6.
V4, with two cylinder heads. Like-a thees:
Not an uncommon configuration for motorcycles (Honda, Aprilia), but seldom seen in cars (Saab Sonnett, Porsche 919 are the only two that come to mind).
Anyway, it'd be a lot lower and shorter than an inline 4, allowing for shorter wheelbase and better mass-centralization and lower hoodline and cowl. Packaging benefits of the rotary in a "normal" piston engine...
V4, with two cylinder heads. Like-a thees:
Not an uncommon configuration for motorcycles (Honda, Aprilia), but seldom seen in cars (Saab Sonnett, Porsche 919 are the only two that come to mind).
Anyway, it'd be a lot lower and shorter than an inline 4, allowing for shorter wheelbase and better mass-centralization and lower hoodline and cowl. Packaging benefits of the rotary in a "normal" piston engine...
11-18-16, 02:45 PM
#3355
Senior Member
Shorter lengthwise than an I-4, but when you take into account intake/exhaust plumbing going over the top of it it gets taller than an I-4. Unlike a 90-degree V4 which is shorter length- and height-wise and intake plumbing can reside in the valley of the V.
Never a fan of the VW VR6, W8, or Bugatti WVR19 or whatever-the-fug-that-monstrosity-is engine layouts...
Never a fan of the VW VR6, W8, or Bugatti WVR19 or whatever-the-fug-that-monstrosity-is engine layouts...
11-18-16, 07:28 PM
#3356
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https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lancia_V4_engine
look how teeny that is. plus its still 1 cylinder head so emissions are doable.
plus a smaller engine = more room for crash stuff, so the car can be smaller
look how teeny that is. plus its still 1 cylinder head so emissions are doable.
plus a smaller engine = more room for crash stuff, so the car can be smaller
Last edited by j9fd3s; 11-18-16 at 07:31 PM.
11-25-16, 11:18 PM
#3357
Junior Member
This car is right around the corner now to being released. Does anyone know why Mazda decided to give the rotary engine another shot after all these years? Seems pretty strange to bring back something they ditched.
11-27-16, 10:18 AM
#3358
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in a longer fashion Mazda ditching the rotary was probably not what they wanted to do. when Ford took over in 1996, they closed the R&D department, and got rid of all the rotary engineers except for 1. so the Rx8 was a last minute revision of an engine Mazda had kicking around since 1994, and this is mirrored in the results.
so the Rx8 only came along because when Ford ran Mazda, Ford had sales and profit targets, and Mazda exceeded these, and then Ford decided to reward Mazda with a rotary car, but instead of doing the one Mazda wanted (Rx-01), they put it in a show car the styling department was working on, (Rx-Evolve).
tweaking this gave us the Rx8, which is something that nobody at Mazda was really excited about. This is all from the Yamaguchi Rx8 book.
near the end of the Rx8, sales had slipped, and the economy had just tanked, so it probably wasn't a hard choice to stop making the thing. remember the last air cooled porsche turbo is worth like $250k today, and $80k in 2007, but in 2009 you could buy them for under 40k
12-06-16, 09:53 AM
#3362
It's never fast enough...
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Looks like thats all she wrote, folks. We can close this thread now. Mazda gave us enough blue ***** for the year.
https://www.carthrottle.com/post/mazda-kills-rx-9-and-relegates-rotary-power-to-hybrids/
https://www.carthrottle.com/post/mazda-kills-rx-9-and-relegates-rotary-power-to-hybrids/
This would have been my very 1st new car purchase.
12-06-16, 04:09 PM
#3364
Rotary Enthusiast
What a sad day. Still, I'd rather they do a proper job than rush something that makes the wrong compromises.
12-07-16, 10:13 AM
#3366
RX-Vision
I personally think Mazda will bring the car out but it will be more of a luxury hybrid utilizing the rotary engine as a motor generator, thus extending the range to a level they would want to have. This way they can run the small single rotor engine at it's optimum RPM to generate the appropriate amount of electricity needed to charge the batteries. To me that is an interesting approach as all of the manufacturers seem to have moved in that direction. I think I read an article a few years ago that implied BMW was interested in this very concept but I don't know what happened with that.
12-07-16, 10:49 AM
#3368
It's never fast enough...
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So the FD will be the last great rotary powered sports car. Hey I have no problem with that. Looking forward to when stance and references to F&TF are a distant memory. 
12-08-16, 09:59 AM
#3370
(Terraplane)
THIS PISSES ME OFF. What is going on?
Mazda CEO shoots down new RX-7 RX-9 rotary sports car
Wishy Washy Japanese. Yes means No.
^video, :28 cop out.
Mazda CEO shoots down new RX-7 RX-9 rotary sports car
Wishy Washy Japanese. Yes means No.
^video, :28 cop out.
Last edited by TRRAPLN; 12-08-16 at 10:17 AM.
12-08-16, 10:22 AM
#3371
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I'll be glad when stance is forgotten but I will always remember The Fast and The Furious. The rice can be forgiven just as some over the top Hollywood silliness but man, watching Dom "decimate all" in that FD complete with a neat CG scene showing the spinning doritos... That movie really affected me as a 15 year old working my first summer job just to make sure I could afford my first car and it really opened my eyes to the idea that there was more to the car world than Mustang vs Camaro or laughing at terribly modified Hondas. I believe it had a strong influence on getting an FC as my first car that winter
12-09-16, 01:07 PM
#3373
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That's exactly what I thought, though I don't own one.
But there seems to be something fishy going on here.
I feel like another RX may not be possible unless Mazda can find a way to make the rotary work well in a hybrid setup first. I've read that they were trying to use a smaller version rotary as a charger for the electric motors as it has ideal power/weight.
Maybe the promise that one was coming was due to positive R&D but still too early to claim what will definitely happen or probably not happen.
In the meantime the value of the RX7 will remain intact, possibly even through another RX generation since it may just be hybrid.
This is all speculation and opinion btw
But there seems to be something fishy going on here.
I feel like another RX may not be possible unless Mazda can find a way to make the rotary work well in a hybrid setup first. I've read that they were trying to use a smaller version rotary as a charger for the electric motors as it has ideal power/weight.
Maybe the promise that one was coming was due to positive R&D but still too early to claim what will definitely happen or probably not happen.
In the meantime the value of the RX7 will remain intact, possibly even through another RX generation since it may just be hybrid.
This is all speculation and opinion btw
12-10-16, 02:34 AM
#3374
Full Member
This is the interview that started it all: http://www.autonews.com/article/2016...-move-upmarket
Notice one of the last questions:
That was edited. When the article came out it was:
Obviously all other websites picked up the first version and promptly called for the rotary being dead.
It is also explained in the description of the video I posted.
Notice one of the last questions:
Q: No plans for a larger sports car entry with a range extender?
A: No.
A: No.
Q: No plans for a larger sports car entry?
A: No.
A: No.
It is also explained in the description of the video I posted.
