Peace out Mazda RX-8

[82mm 4g63]

Originally Posted by Dimman

^ Isn't part of the problem that they can't do all the fancy valve-timing stuff for emissions, because their 'camshafts' are the ports that are carved and unmoveable in the housings?

That is one of the many problems the Rotary has to overcome. The 16x is going to have much narrower rotors (70mm down from 80mm) which will reduce hydrocarbon emissions as a result of "wall quenching." Rotaries have a much larger surface area per volume than a piston engine and the combustion chamber moves which results in unburned fuel being swept along and pushed out through the exhaust port. The reason for the second spark plug is to ignite that unused fuel, but much of it is still just dumped out the exhaust port. The 16x's narrower wall helps both of these issues because their is less "wall" to quench and a higher ratio of volume to surface area = lower hydrocarbon emissions. They're also adding DI which is a big step if they can get it to work, and more torque from their new higher essentricity(more peanut shaped) design.

[serialk11r]

Originally Posted by Dimman

^ Isn't part of the problem that they can't do all the fancy valve-timing stuff for emissions, because their 'camshafts' are the ports that are carved and unmoveable in the housings?

I've been thinking, what if they try to add valves :O They have less ports to work with than in a typical cylinder engine so it would be easier. Although right now, the losses due to not having a fancy valve timing system are much smaller than the losses due to the low compression ratio, crap combustion efficiency, etc. so it's not a priority now.

Down the road I imagine they'll have to do it sooner or later. The rotary engine's lower frictional loss is more than compensated with by the higher thermal loss, so to compete with cylinder engines with fancy valves they'll need to cut the pumping loss to a minimum.

There's also hope for a ceramic rotary engine since the shape is simpler than your typical cylinder engine, but that's probably a long way off. If they get it to work, it just might replace the piston engine :O With valves, it's possible to eliminate pumping loss, with ceramics, lowered thermal loss and no more apex seal issues...the only problem is you can't increase compression ratio easily.

Anyone know if there's a physical limit to the compression ratio of the rotary engine design? Right now the 16x is at like, 10:1 or something which still isn't very high...

[cliffJ]

Too bad, I heard Mazda Motors has ceased the RX-8 -Mazda takes the R-8 out of rotation, the sports vehicle with the rotary engine that succeeded the legendary RX-7. There were a number of reasons why the car will now be pushing up the daisies. Sales were poor, the economic conditions for Mazda aren't too hot and the vehicle unsuccessful to meet emissions laws. :3 I liked the car, truthfully.

[Allch Chcar]

Originally Posted by serialk11r

Anyone know if there's a physical limit to the compression ratio of the rotary engine design? Right now the 16x is at like, 10:1 or something which still isn't very high...

Yes. 10:1 is well within the safety zone. I have heard that the limit is 11:1 but the Renny is already very unsafe on premium as is. Any detonation could kill the engine before the knock sensor can retard timing .

Originally Posted by cliffJ

Too bad, I heard Mazda Motors has ceased the RX-8 -Mazda takes the R-8 out of rotation, the sports vehicle with the rotary engine that succeeded the legendary RX-7. There were a number of reasons why the car will now be pushing up the daisies. Sales were poor, the economic conditions for Mazda aren't too hot and the vehicle unsuccessful to meet emissions laws. :3 I liked the car, truthfully.

Yes, very sad. But Mazda only sells a Rotary for a 8 year lifecycle now. Not much hope that the RX-8 will continue in any form. They'll probably just dump it for a new chassis and new Rotary engine.

[S2kphile]

Mazda ends Rotary Production

R.I.P. RX

EDIT: I stand corrected

[Mr.Jay]

SAD SAD NEWS

I love me rotaries!!! I thought they had made massive strides in their 1.6 Rotary design

[Asterisked Accolade]

To be honest, i always wanted the RX8 to have a regular engine-- perhaps a V6. I never liked the inconvenience of rotary (Gas, Oil, Maintenance). I don't feel that the death of rotary is a terrible thing-- and i've loved the RX cars. I figure they'll be replaced with new performance models. I know they had advantages of weight and being mounted low, but honestly, if they could build a good I4 or V6 i think they'd do fine. Maybe throw a turbo in there.The Speed3 and Speed6 were both amazing, so there's still hope for Mazda performance.

[R8]

For those who already own rotary powered cars such as Kiyotake Naoi, the sound and feel of the engine on his 1989 RX-7 coupe will be hard to replicate, no matter what the fuel efficiency is. “It’s like the car is a part of you,” said Naoi,

Too true. And too sad. Imagine hearing that the boxer engine was discontinued

I get the wish for a V6 or turbo, etc. But it just wouldn't feel or sound the same, even if it made more reliable power. The rotary gets into your soul over the years, it becomes an amusing, cherished friend you just love being around in spite of everything else, lol.

[serialk11r]

Didn't say R&D stopped...
Anyhow alternate engine designs are a good thing, what the rotary can really use is some advanced composite materials, and it stands to benefit much more from them than any piston engine possibly could. Low compression ratio will still suck though :/

[Lonewolf]

I was really hoping to see a 1.6 liter Rotary in the next RX car...

[old greg]

They are not ending R&D, they are ending production on the 13b.

Originally Posted by The F'ing Article

The company... has said it will continue research on rotary engines to test more environmentally friendly technology.
Separately, Mazda is also planning to introduce an electric car next year using hydrogen to fuel the rotary engine and generate power for the car’s battery.

The 13b is dead, the rotary lives on.

[rice_classic]

WOOOOOOO HOOOOOOO!!!!!!!

For anyone who doesn't have a rotatory engine at the race track: Mazda, THANK YOU.

They are loud, obnoxious and incredibly offensive to the nose. Drafting an RX3 or RX7 down the straightaway will make my eyes water inside my helmet.

From a street car perspective... definitely sad news, super cult following and it's always a bummer when a company stops making cars you love. I went through that with Honda.

[shadoquad]

I was holding out hope for a new RX-7

[husker741]

[ame]http://youtu.be/ffu0chtm-CY[/ame]