We all have heard some of the griping re: the RX-8s fuel economy relative to its competitors which are faster and have better torque, too. (i.e, the G35 coupe.) Maybe the ultimate best application for the rotary isn't the RX-8 or even a new higher performance RX-7 with a wide-rotor Renesis. Imagine, if you will, a Ferrari 360 Modena with a four-rotor Renesis displacing 3.6 liters.

This engine would fit perfectly in the Modena's engine bay. It would be lighter than the 360's 3.6 liter V8 and probably make 500+ hp instead of 400. Given that a 1.3 liter Renesis makes 159 lb-ft of torque and the 360 has 275 lb-ft, the Wankel Modena would even be torquier. Imagine how it would rev and feel driving it. Best of all, less complication- those Ferrari engines are stressed as hell to get the power-to-displacement that they do. The Wankel Modena would just need oil, filter, and spark plug changes instead of a $5,000 service every 5,000 miles.

Fuel economy? Who cares. Probably not that far off the wimpy-by-comparison boinger 360 anyway.

I am sending my idea to Ferrari and Mazda though I doubt they will act on it- their loss! Wouldn't it be cool if Mazda produced this supercar killer for say, $60,000? I'd start saving right now!

A 4 rotor would be much too long to fit in place of the 3.6L V8. Probably by about 10". In addition a 4 rotor would weigh about 425 lbs which is likely a bit more than the Ferrari V8.

I stand corrected. Still, what about the Mercedes C111 wankel supercars?

Originally posted by DonG35Miata
Imagine, if you will, a Ferrari 360 Modena with a four-rotor Renesis displacing 3.6 liters.


It would not be a Ferrari! There are some things you can't mess with, although I do agree with you about a 3 or 4 rotor performance car by Mazda (Modena Spyder style). Count me in for 60K!!

precisely what i mean... these are the sorts of applications in which the RENESIS is home: up against high revving, high power motors, you just can't top the wankel.

The day you can make a Wankel engine sound like any Ferrari engine THEN you might have a case.. untill then you know you're barking up the wrong tree..:p

...what??? a wankel, properly ported (bridge or all the way to the invincible P-Port) sounds as good as any Ferrari race engine ever made... a really sick lope (the almost stumbling "brap brap brap" idle), the uncanny VOLUME of unmuffled short headers, the high pitch of revs, the "small" sound of the lowish displacement chambers (compared to a muscle motor)... i'm tellin' ya, the 787B is the best sounding sports car EVER made EVER.

http://www.scuderiaciriani.com/rx7/movies/4-rotor_Le_Mans.mpeg

http://www.scuderiaciriani.com/rx7/movies/4-rotor_Le_Mans.mov

http://www.scuderiaciriani.com/rx7/movies/4-rotor_Le_Mans2.mov

Originally posted by wakeech
.http://www.scuderiaciriani.com/rx7/movies/4-rotor_Le_Mans.mpeg

http://www.scuderiaciriani.com/rx7/movies/4-rotor_Le_Mans.mov

http://www.scuderiaciriani.com/rx7/movies/4-rotor_Le_Mans2.mov
Great links.:D I can never get enough of the 787B's roar.

The 360 is the sportster of the ferrari line, it should use a 3 rotor wankel.
A quad rotor should be the replacement for the V12 cars.

Originally posted by cueball1029

Great links.:D I can never get enough of the 787B's roar.

Get a load of this video ;)
http://www.astro.psu.edu/users/jwise/videos/CarGraphicTV-02.mpeg

It's low resolution, 14 min, and 39MB, but it's the best display of the R26B at work without going to the race track. Enjoy.

we already have a wankel ferrari . . . it's called RX-8

Originally posted by Ahura


Get a load of this video ;)


Ahura man, you freakin' rock :D

Originally posted by MikeW
The 360 is the sportster of the ferrari line, it should use a 3 rotor wankel.
A quad rotor should be the replacement for the V12 cars.

Good point.

Listen to us, revamping Ferrari's model line... Enzo is probably spinning in his grave... his engines replaced with a German-invented, Japanese-refined engine.

Given the horrific maintenance of Ferrari engines, I think a Wankel Ferrari would be a superior product to the current offerings. I would buy a used 308 as my toy car, were it not for the reliability and maintenance issues.

I think the Ferrari 308 is the most beautiful car ever made. (YMMV) My local exotic dealer can even finance them through a local bank. They have a red Quattrovalvole on the floor that is really tempting me to do something stupid. What holds me back is I know that compared to contemporary cars, it is more rolling artwork than anything else. My Miata offers a superior sports car driving experience and my G35 will smoke it effortlessly. But neither of my cars look or sound close to a 308!

Damn, need to get home to listen to those links.. I've never heard that engine..

Me too! The 308 GTB quattrovalvole and the later 328 GTB (with the bonnet slats) are the prettiest cars I have ever seen. The only reason I liked the Ferrari GTO (Gruppe B Porsche 959 competitor) was because it looked like a 308.

Just need $40k for a good car and about $10-$15k per year to run them (servicing at a Ferrari dealership is $5k or more every time I think). Personally I would put it in the formal living room as an object d'art/conversation piece.

Originally posted by pelucidor
Just need $40k for a good car and about $10-$15k per year to run them (servicing at a Ferrari dealership is $5k or more every time I think). Personally I would put it in the formal living room as an object d'art/conversation piece.

The maintenance is not that bad. If you drive 3,000 miles per year, it works out to around $5,000 every five years, or $1,000 per year.

The trick is getting a "good car". If you do, you can pay the maintenance and throw a few hundred a year into glitches and stuff. If you don't get a 'good car" you can have an additional $10,000 in repair bills VERY quickly.

If my newspaper column (see www.multimediaanswers.com) ever gets syndicated, I get a book deal and I make it big, I always thought I would go for a 360 Modena Spyder. The more I think about it, though, I would probably be happy with a primo condition 308 and have lots of money left for fixes!

I have a meeting with a publisher this Friday- let's hope! I'll let you guys drive it... :)