Mazda developing rotary-charged Hybrid to compete with Volt
08-29-08, 12:46 PM
#1
Mazda developing rotary-charged Hybrid to compete with Volt
Wow:
http://blog.wired.com/cars/2008/08/mazda-building.html
http://www.autocar.co.uk/News/NewsAr...llCars/234607/
http://blog.wired.com/cars/2008/08/mazda-building.html
Autocar quotes unnamed "senior sources" saying Mazda is testing an electric car that uses a Wankel rotary engine to charge the battery. It's the same approach GM is taking with the Volt, which will feature a 1.4-liter gasoline engine and lithium-ion battery. Things are going so well for Mazda that it's got a prototype -- a modified a Mazda MPV -- undergoing road tests. Mazda's brass hats are inclined to produce the car but won't make a firm decision until battery costs come down. GM, on the other hand, is willing to lose its shirt on the Volt.
Last edited by DivinDriver; 08-29-08 at 12:48 PM.
08-29-08, 02:21 PM
#2
chuck is watching you
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I got this news too, but from another site, im so pumped that mazda is stickin to rotaries. Here is a little more info, even though they dog the rotary a little i thought i would post:
http://www.leftlanenews.com/mazda-re...olt-rival.html
http://www.leftlanenews.com/mazda-re...olt-rival.html
08-29-08, 04:29 PM
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Awesome, I don't know if you can really consider rotaries less fuel efficient though as stated in one of those articles. Thanks to great engineering, for the amount of power to weight or power to volume they are just as fuel efficient as a comparable car. Compare it to a Honda S2000 which is a high output 4 banger. 1.3L 238 Hp 22mpg, compared to 2.0L 240 hp 22mpg and piston engines have been around how long? Both get similar gas mileage because they are high output tuned engines, so I'm sure mazda can make a more fuel efficient rotary if the goal is to tune it for some lower rpm operation and made to recharge a battery...don't you think...by changing the size and location of intake and exhaust ports I'm sure they can come up with what's necessary. I mean they reintroduced a new engine for the rx-8 in order to meet current emissions and fuel standards didn't they? How about a hydrogen powered rotary engine that recharges the battery...? but of course here on rx-7 club I'm preaching to the choir.
08-30-08, 11:37 AM
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Mazda developed the hydrogen rotary in 1991 i think (!) so who knows what theyll do next, and at least they were ahead of the the game. I'm still leaning towards electric though, cause i honestly think that will be the future.
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