Mazda Working on mulitple rotary engines

[DIG1992]

The minds at Car and Driver recently took a moment to speak with Robert Davis, senior vice president of Mazda U.S. operations, about the automaker's plans for the future. According to Davis, the rotary engine will continue to play a role in the company's products moving forward, with engineers applying the lessons learned through the SkyActiv program to the powerplant. That means the next-generation rotary will likely feature reduced internal friction and lightweight internals in a quest to reduce emissions and increase fuel economy. But the engine may find applications outside of its traditional role.

Not only is Mazda pursuing a rotary engine to power a vehicle, Davis admits Mazda is also investigating ways to use the design in tandem with an electric motor, with the pistonless engine responsible for charging an extended-range EV's batteries. Given the compact size and relatively low torque supplied by a rotary, this application would seem to hold promise. Of course, we've heard some of this before.

And what of a SkyActiv V6? Davis makes it clear there's no room in the SkyActiv stable for a six-cylinder, saying that the company will focus on lighter platforms and forced-induction four-cylinder engines instead

[SUB-FT86]

I wonder if this means there will be a N/A and a F/I Rotary?

[SpeedR]

NO make them stop

[SkullWorks]

Direct injection rotary with ~14:1 compression...yes please,

Rotary generator for EV....might even get me a little intrigued IF it turns the right tires...

[Sparkplug]

Don't believe it until I see it.

[serialk11r]

Originally Posted by SkullWorks

Direct injection rotary with ~14:1 compression...yes please,

Rotary generator for EV....might even get me a little intrigued IF it turns the right tires...

I don't think 14:1 is physically possible on a Rotary due to the shape, even if you get rid of the recessed part in the rotor face which is crucial for combustion.

If friction reduction goes well, they could try spinning it at higher speeds and using fancy coatings and stuff to counteract the poor combustion chamber shape, but that doesn't seem like it will give it competitive efficiency. I guess we'll just wait and see what they come up with.

[ahausheer]

Since I have heard this a few times I guess you could say this story keeps going round in circles? or perhaps when the rotary is reintroduced it will have gone full circle?

[00NissanNinja]

I wonder if they are still looking at using hydrogen in their rotary engines, I remember a couple years back they mentioned some plans about research in using hydrogen in their rotary engines.

[old greg]

Originally Posted by 00NissanNinja

I wonder if they are still looking at using hydrogen in their rotary engines, I remember a couple years back they mentioned some plans about research in using hydrogen in their rotary engines.

They did that years ago. Dual fuel hydrogen/gasoline RX8's were available for lease in Japan back in ~2007.

[Levi]

I don't want the new RX-7 to be a hybrid.

[Sparkplug]

I forget which company designed it, but a hybrid rotary already has been made. It was only a static rotary engine though (designed to spin at a single rpm) and only act as a generator to charge the batteries for the car. The real power was provided by the electrical motor.

I really don't think Mazda has it in them to make another rotary car. Things do look better now that a new Miata is coming out, as the last RX was made on a heavily modified MX-5 chassis, but I'm still skeptical. 16 mpg combined throughout the lifetime of a car is a tough pill to swallow. The only time I've even broken 20 mpg was on VERY long (300+ mile) trips. It wasn't even to how I treat the car, but just the general nature of how the motor runs; very rich at first and then it will finally lean out.