"Most people don't realise the numerous advantages the rotary engine offers over a standard 4-stroke engine," explains MazdaPartsUSA.com manager and director Frank Mitchell. "Dare I say it, but rotary engines are in many ways the best engine option available," says Mitchell.
The RX-8 Renesis Rotary powertrain.
The graphic highlights advantages that Wankel rotary engines enjoy over Otto 4-stroke engines, including:
> A substantially simpler design, as rotary engines do not require a crankshaft, rods, valves, or a camshaft. This makes rotary engines inherently more durable.
> A more efficient design, at least in terms of power to weight ratio. Because rotary engines have fewer moving parts, they produce about 3 times as much power as a similarly sized Otto 4-stroke engine (by weight).
> Smooth acceleration with a very high redline, making the rotary engine a perfect choice for many racing applications.
The graphic also mentions the rumoured return of the rotary engine in a production Mazda product, specifically in a new RX-9. The graphic includes an image of Mazda's RX-Vision concept car, which is said to be a preview of the next generation RX sports coupe.
"I don't have any insider info, and I'm not offering any predictions here, but I'd be shocked if Mazda brought back the RX without offering a rotary engine," says Mitchell. "While the rotary's emissions aren't as clean as other engines, Mazda's SKYACTIV technologies are impressive. It wouldn't surprise me at all if Mazda has found a way to make the rotary engine meet future emissions standards," explains Mitchell.
