New Mazda RX Vision concept

[rice_classic]

Originally Posted by reni

How do you guarantee you'll look like an ignorant retard on a car forum?
Answer: post something stupid about rotaries

[GH05T]

I think the new RX7 is going after the new Toyota/BMW Supra that'll supposedly be coming out the same time.

[Grishbok]

my first car was a rotary, my first track car was a rotary, my first race was a rotary, my first win was a rotary, and, oddly, so was my last. but ANYWAY, the rotary engine is a fantastic engine, though it had several inherent design flaws as mentioned.

What isnt mentioned here, is that with todays tolerances, and what is known about modifying the ports and reinforcing the seals, it would not be inconceivable for a 3 rotor 2l +- engine to break 300 with 25-30mpg. The real kicker and pain in the design, and its fatal flaw, is how to keep the seals lubricated. Yes, injecting oil works, or using 2stroke solution, however it is impracticle in todays market.

If you can figure out a way to keep the seals lubricated without injecting oil, you may revive the rotary.

[njccmd2002]

and here you are all yapping about rotaries on a boxer forum, ironic...

[rice_classic]

We're yapping about rotaries in a RX7 thread. Not really ironic.


I have to ignore the Rotary fanbois... sorry, there's just not enough of you for the economics of it to pan out and the rotary engine absolutely doesn't appeal to anyone outside your itty bitty demographic.

Hence the comment: Want to make sure it fails, put a rotary in it, holds true.

Mazda was smart to drop it and should keep it dropped. They are making massive progress forward with their SkyActiv lineup and for every 1 person you could find me that likes rotary Mazdas, I can find you 50 that that like non-rotary Mazdas and while were at it, I could find you many that can't wait for the diesels. The (under $80k) sports car demographic is very small to begin with, putting an undesirable power plant in one makes the economic equation that much worse. You can talk about the numbers all day long: "the engines revs to this, and sounds so good and makes this much HP"... but it just doesn't do the job it needs to well enough nor does it appeal to enough. Period, end of story.

From an economic stand point, the low budget sports car is already a mathematical struggle for these companies but a low budget sports car with a triangle... Does not compute.

Now if it's a high-budget sports car (80k+) with some really big triangles might be a better equation but then again, if I have 80k to spend on a sports car am I really buying a Mazda, am I really buying a triangle?

[edboc]

Would there be a market for a RWD SkyActiv 4-Cylinder Coupe based on the ND Miata that would compete against the FR-S/BRZ?

[Lonewolf]

Originally Posted by Trashed675

Considering the 1.3L RX-8 only got 16/22mpg with 250hp, i'm doubting the 1.6L with 300hp will get much closer to the 30mpg mark. Rotaries have always been too thirsty for my particular tastes, maybe i'm just a cheap skate

They actually downrated the hp figures several times over and finally ended up at 232 hp...even then many rx folks we're saying that figure was off

[chulooz]

An engine that has 3 moving parts and can fit in a backpack is very unique. If gas and oil consumption are priorities maybe a sports car isnt in the cards.

[ZDan]

Originally Posted by chulooz

An engine that has 3 moving parts and can fit in a backpack is very unique.

Which is cool and all, but I wouldn't build a car around it unless the major issues (fuel consumption, reliability/longevity) are mitigated.

If gas and oil consumption are priorities maybe a sports car isnt in the cards.

To me, the first thing a *real* sports car should be is light weight. A small, lightweight, aerodynamic car should get decent fuel mileage. Not enough real minimalist lightweight sports or sporty cars on the market, too many oversized/overweight monstrosities.

I remember quite a while back that for years the highest observed fuel efficiency in the car spec summary in the back of road and track was a 1st gen Elise that they got 35mpg with.

I sincerely hope Mazda builds a new RX-7, but unless they can do some kind of magic with the rotary to make it fuel efficient, they should make that an optional powerplant. I've always thought they should make a rotary version of the Miata as well. Keep that part of the Mazda identity while allowing "normal" people to enjoy piston-engine versions at the same time.

[dem00n]

Listen, i want a rotary. A I4 with a nice turbo on it isn't special anymore and hasn't been in a long time.

[chulooz]

Originally Posted by ZDan

To me, the first thing a *real* sports car should be is light weight.

Do you think you should ask ferrari to build a *real* sports car? Their lightest is +3,200lb. And their flagship is +4,000.

I prefer light sports cars, but I realize many models easily overcome their heft.

Rotary heads get rx8s into the +200k, but if you treat it like a piston engine forget it.

[ZDan]

Originally Posted by chulooz

Do you think you should ask ferrari to build a *real* sports car? Their lightest is +3,200lb. And their flagship is +4,000.

Yes, I think they should build a car closer to the 206/246 Dino, that's less about maximum performance and more about real-world enjoyment of minimalist sports car ideals.

I prefer light sports cars, but I realize many models easily overcome their heft.

In terms of going fast and making numbers for people to gawk over, yes. But what's missing is the feeling of being in a small fun car.

Rotary heads get rx8s into the +200k, but if you treat it like a piston engine forget it.

For every 200k rotary, there are thousands of 500+k piston engines.
If you can't treat it with utter neglect and still get 150k+, it's not going to fly in the market, even if the fuel efficiency issue is "fixed" (not likely).

[YukiHachiRoku]

In 2017 all cars will have magnetic levitation. The internal combustion engine is dead!

[speedy07]

Originally Posted by njccmd2002

and here you are all yapping about rotaries on a boxer forum, ironic...

You know this is in the Other Vehicles & General Automotive Discussions right?