77mjd

Either way, I don't think Mazda would have even unveiled the concept if they weren't already close to what they were after with the engine. Who knows...maybe it's already a done deal and they are now working on a few years of rigorous testing to ensure better reliability this time around.

9krpmrx8

iTrader: (46)

Nah, there won't be another rotary powered sports car from Mazda.

gwilliams6

And if and when Mazda does make a new rotary powered sports car will all the nay-sayers admit they were wrong. For the record, I am betting on Mazda making it a 2020 Model for their 100th Anniversary.

9krpmrx8

iTrader: (46)

Wanna put some money on that bet?

ASH8

Not going to go into the argument, BUT...

It is now over 4 years since Rotary Engine production stopped, never before have they (MMC Japan) actually stopped production completely.

What concerns me is all the working talent in Japan, the guys who actually put engines together has stopped, re-deployed or retired.

And this 'Mazda has 50 or 100 Engineers' working on RE is just BS, they are not dedicated to Only RE, they are engineers working on all engines, mainly Skyactiv-G II.

Having said that we did see a recent US Patent for the flip RE (turned 180 degrees)...so..
We also witnessed 2 years ago a full MR Hard-Top US Patent for the new ND MX-5 that never eventuated.

gwilliams6

Sure, how much are you willing to risk losing !

comebackqid

iTrader: (13)

well there is the miata RF https://www.mazdausa.com/vehicles/2017-mx-5-miata-rf

not hard top exactly buy retractable hardtop

wannawankel

I remember lusting after the 1992/3 FD and couldn't afford that $. Ended up with a 1992 Acura Integra GS-R and drove the stink out of it through 2006.

9krpmrx8

iTrader: (46)

$100.00. You say the next rotary will be released in 2020 for the 100th Anniversary and I say not.

Yeah I was in high school and my boss bought one and as I was out in the parking lot getting shopping carts, I would lust over it. I also still own a 1998 GSR and I gave my 1997 GSR to my son a few months ago

Bladecutter

Nope, your post says ever, not just 2020.
Just to remind you of yourself:

So if Mazda EVER releases another sports car with a rotary engine in it, you owe him $100. We should extend this bet to all of your kin, until the end of humanity.

Or you guys could do the bet until 2025, whichever comes first.

BC.

9krpmrx8

iTrader: (46)

My response is to this bet "I am betting on Mazda making it a 2020 Model for their 100th Anniversary."

But I also don't think a sports car powered solely by a rotary engine will ever be released to market by Mazda ever again so I would take that bet as well.

MattMPS

i think that @ the next Tokyo MS (Nov. 2017) we'll see an evoluted concept of RX-Vision, closer to production, and some info on powertrain.

Production car @ 2019 Tokyo MS.

right in time for Tokyo Olympics , like Cosmo 110S

P.S. That will be the last rotary car produced by Mazda...world of car is becoming electric.

gwilliams6

9krpmrx8 I will take your bet that there will never be a rotary sports car. But not for chump change of $100, but I will take that bet for $1000 !. So for as long as this RX8 club and forum exists if there is ever a new Mazda rotary sports car, you owe me $1000. Man up or shut up !!!

fmzambon

I agree with everything, except (partially) for the part in bold. It may very well be the last purely rotary powered car, but by the time that the new Rx goes out of production (around 2030?), IC engines should still be around, even if in hybrid form.
Therefore there may still be more rotary powered cars after this, with the caveat that they will almost certainly be hybrids.

Just my opinion though.

wankelbolt

iTrader: (21)

By 2030 you won't be allowed to drive in most major cities and on many highways.
Only automated vehicles will be permitted on highways and only ride-sharing vehicles will be allowed in cities.

Internal combustion engines will be treated like cigarettes are today.
Anybody using them will be a pariah. The price of gasoline will be 80% taxes.

wankelbolt

iTrader: (21)

$2000 says your bet there will be a Mazda rotary sports car in production by 2020 is wrong. I'll even put it in escrow.

So "man up", Mr. Journalist.

I'll even give you a break and say so long as it's in production by 2020 I won't care what model year it is.

Like taking candy from a baby.

77mjd

No matter what happens, at least I know Porsche will still gladly accept my money if Mazda doesn't want it. Mazda will lose their credibility if they keep teasing with this rotary stuff and never delivering.

9krpmrx8

iTrader: (46)

So I guess you are giving up on your 100th Anniversary rotary release bet?

I don't make $1,000.00 bets with people I don't trust.

9krpmrx8

iTrader: (46)

I agree, and a Porsche is the goal for me anyway, I would never buy a new rotary sports car again. IF (big if) they every make another, and it was good, I would consider buying one used after someone else took the depreciation hit.

fmzambon

Possibly. But automated driving has nothing to do with the powerplant moving the vehicle.

Again, possibly. But moving to 100% electric vehicles for anyone would demand a complete restructuring of the infrastructure surrounding the road.

Want battery powered cars for everyone? Then everyone must be able to recharge all of their cars at home during the night (what's the alternative? Fast charging every single time? Then say goodbye to your brand new battery... Battery swap? still a new infrastructure to create from scratch, Every parking equipped with charging stations? Again, more infrastructure to create).

Assume a car that consumed 40kWh during the day. You get home at, say, 6pm and you need your car ready by 8am the next morning. That's 10 hours to recharge 40kWh, so an average power of 40 / 10 = 4kW. That's assuming 100% efficiency. And what if there's more than one car to recharge at the same time? With two cars you need 8kW. And that's on top of any consumption that already exists today (lighting, heating/air conditioning, cooking and so on).
I don't know about the USA, but here in Italy the standard electrical connection is a 3kW one, so even just one car would be a problem. And I think that with two cars, even a 12kW connection would struggle.

Using solar energy at home to recharge the cars at night requires a huge accumulator at every house that must be charged during the day in order to recharge the cars at night. Doable, but very expensive.

The only option is to upgrade the electrical grid at a huge cost.

Or maybe hydrogen? Then filling stations have to pop up everywhere there's a gas station now. And a production and distribution network must appear. Again, very expensive.

In any case it's a huge undertaking, and I doubt that it can happen everywhere in less than 15 years. Granted, I think that at least one of the things that I mentioned will happen, but not in 15 years. At least not to the extent that cas will disappear or even be replaced as the primary automotive energy carrier.

And if car manufacturers continue seeing a market for fuel-powered vehicles, they'll continue to build them. At least in hybrid form.

All of this IMHO, obviously.

gwilliams6

9krpmrx8, I don't know or trust you either. But if you want to make pronouncements about taking the bet in this forum, then take the bet, or be quiet. !!!!!

ASH8

Mazda Motor Corporation sold a record 775,000 vehicles in the first half of its 2016-17 fiscal year, slightly more than the previous record set last year. Europe contributed 123,000 units, up 12% year-on-year thanks above all to robust sales of the Mazda CX-3, a small SUV, and Mazda MX-5 roadster. The company also reported solid growth in China (+22% to 133,000), the ASEAN region (+18% to 54,000) and Australia (+4% to 60,000).

North America still missing as they are going backwards...
You guys really need to maybe change your politics as it aint working for Mazda.

9krpmrx8

iTrader: (46)

So you don't want to bet then right? I just want to clarify for later when your ridiculous anniversary theory falls flat three years from now.

9krpmrx8

iTrader: (46)

Damn, 22% growth in China? I am surprised they buy Japanese cars there.

ASH8

Next year Mazda (FAW) China are on track to sell more cars than North America....crazy.
Even Europe will if they keep up their 12% growth (which they wont).
Australia at 4% is high when you consider only about 8 years ago they were selling roughly 38,000 units a year, this year they are looking at 117,000.