Does anyone else think that this may be the end of the line for Mazda's rotary?
After the anemic results from the great looking RX8 in C&D and the fact it gets terrible milage may point to the end.
I think the way to go with the rotary would be to make an *** kicking RX7 3 rotor with minimal boost and to hell with the mileage.

I do not believe the rotary will ever be fuel effecient and would like to see them go for all out performance instead of a compromise.

The Mazdaspeed 3 is pretty quick non rotor but for some reason they made it a fwd??

I hope that Mazda keeps making the rotary and puts some thurst behind the next offering if there is one.

Jim

 

I have hopes for direct injection. I don't think we have seen the end. We will have to see though. They have done a lot with turbos since the last turbo rotary engine car was produced. I think we will see improvements along those lines.

 

I'm not really sure this is the right section ....

but I have high hopes for the 16X, it's supposed to get better gas mileage than the renesis and get about 300 hp... the rotary is by no means dead

 

The key is to put the rotary in vehicle that consumers don't buy for fuel efficiency.... which would mean, "not compromise 4-seaters for guys who want sporty handling but need a back seat for wives, kids, and groceries".

In a proper sports car that kicks ***, nobody will care.

 

The current Renesis engine should be offered as an option in the Miata. I know I would consider buying one.

 

^ +1
With a lighter chassis (not that the new Miata is light compared to older models),
Mazda could use a more conservative rear gear to get highway fuel economy more reasonable.

 

same here and the 16X is suppose to have a 20% better gas mileage then the 13b.

 

I think rotary is too embedded in Mazda's history that sooner or later, whether it be now or sometime in the far future, they'll make another rotary car.

 

I still believe a rotary is best when implemented as a pure performance engine, but right now automakers can't afford to make a pure performance car. Mazda still has the concerns of Ford to attend to.

Because of CAFE rules they are limited in how many gashog models are in their product line. Back in 92 it wasn't a big deal since there were few SUVs in the lineup. SUVs sell really well even today, so that doesn't leave any headroom in the CAFE cap to sneak in a proper rotary-powered sports car.

 

Maybe Mazda will take notice of this...
http://www.timeattack.com.au/forum/viewtopic.php?p=1000

 

The Renesis hardtop Miata is such a no-brainer, it's hard to believe that Mazda hasn't done it. Slap the RX8 mechanicals in (per the thread, most of the stuff blots on!), and style the body a bit more aggressively. Call it an RX5. Done and done.

 

Pretty frickin cool

 

Sorry cant call it a RX5, a miata isnt anything like a RX5

 

And its not heavy enough to call an RX9

 

i want...

 

wow, that build is awesome.

 

Whats wrong with MX5-RE?

 

Huh? The Miata is the MX5. With a rotary, it's the RX5. Rotary. Smaller than an RX7.

The Miata and RX8 already share most of a platform. Besides, there's no such thing now as an RX5, so how do we know what it is or isn't like.

 

i saw a picture of a mazdaspeed RX8 in japan that looked sick as hell. but iam not sure if its a real mazdaspeed or not. if so though it should come to the USA.

 

Apparently you need to go back and review your Mazda history.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mazda_RX-5#1975_-_1981

 

I think if even a rotary enthusiast has to review wikipedia for a reference, the "RX5" brand wasn't worth much. That was over a quarter century ago. In current nomenclature, it would make perfect sense as a "baby RX7/rotary-powered MX5 Miata".

 

It would probably make more sense to go back to an RX-3 or even RX-2. No reason not to bring one of those back.

 

Rmx5

 

Man that is some big nuts saying that the Rx5's arnt worth anything.....

How about a Rx6, that hasn't been done.

 

Have you guys ever read an SAE paper that stated what a good "variant" the rotary is? John Deere still manufactures rotaries for stationary multi-fuel powerplants.

The SAE paper went in depth using the rotary on Hydrogen. It's also really good with propane and I think I read it's also good as a diesel. I do think it's days are numbered as an automotive powerplant in production form. The current administration is going to make it too tough to justify production of one. There will be penalties for manufacturing one and maybe even buying one.
It's got potential if you look outside the box...

gd