Oh yes, folks, Mazda is bringing rotary engines back! It has just been confirmed in Tokyo that the Mazda Sports Concept that will be unveiled at the 2015 Tokyo Motor Show this week will indeed feature a Wankel motor. Not only that, the technology has been given a brand name – Mazda SkyActiv-R. Sounds good, no?
The rotary-powered concept’s reveal will coincide with the 50th anniversary of the very first rotary Mazda hitting the streets, according to the brand. At the Tokyo show, it will be displayed next to a 1967 Mazda Cosmo Sport 110S, Mazda’s first rotary-powered mass-production model.
It’s said that the concept previews a new breed of rotary engines. “In the not too distant future, rotary will return,” announced Mazda’s head of research and development, Kiyoshi Fujiwara. Mazda design head, Ikuo Maeda then said that “this model represents our dream, but we’re not going to let it stay a dream forever.”
It’s pretty clear, then, that Mazda is dead set on bringing SkyActiv-R rotary-powered machines into production in the near future. Will it be a new RX model? The RX-9, perhaps?
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One major downfall of t he rotary engine is fuel consumption & emissions.
Its a concept. If it’s going into production most likely it wouldn’t pass EU regulations
Not only that, lubrication is also a big problem for rotary.
Not only that, lubrication is also a big problem for rotary. Rotary need to feed a small amout of lubricant into the chamber to lubricate the seals
As much as the typical wankel rotary engines go, maybe with the new version, they have solved the issues. Every wankel, they managed to solve a little problems by little. Can’t be too harsh on them as only Mazda is taking on the challenge all these while.
Agreed with you. We can`t just shot down the idea of alternative engines. If they can come up with improved wankel engine, who would not want it?
Using past experience to judge? Wait until the product come out then comment about it la
yea, if they confident to bring it back most likely mean their engineer found the solution.
Bring it back so can let owners pay for Mazda rotary experiment. Best business strategy.
And tiny torque figures. In the world of turbo with mighty torque figures it won’t fit. Unless Mazda engineers are really top notch.
My RX7 makes 250lb/ft from 1380cc
Tiny torque?
That’s because it’s turbocharged. Try the fuel consumption……
And all signs point to this being turbocharged, so what’s your point?
Mazda learned the hard way with the RX8 that N/A was not the way to go.
Also, what do you mean by “try the fuel consumption” ??
I don’t particularly care about my RX7’s fuel economy. I can afford it ;)
… with fuel economy worse than 370z?
Lol, that 370z has more torque.
It will be Rotary Hybrid!
Bring it on!!
All hail rotary
Maybe a brief introduction on rotary engines would help the uninitiated.
Braap braap braap.
About time, let’s hope it brings back the RE to pre rx8 levels. The older rotaries were very reliable, even the Fd’s if you left then within range! I have 2 and one my wife drives 65 miles round trip to work. Fuel economy is 18mpg stuck in traffic, not bad for 320hp and 90’s tech!
my 90’s tech proton wira clock slightly “better” FC than that at around 9-11km/l city drive. but guess what, the power figure is 3.6x lesser. lol
Bring them on, Mazda!
For those don’t understand engine technology, then paliah comments above should be well received. Mazda is not that paliah and infect is one of the top auto company that innovate the hell out of the combustion engine. Based on previous testing they did, it seems like a hybrid + rotary is arriving. This is a match made in heaven for torque and address the issues they had.
Keisuke & Ryosuke Takahashi are going to buy this.