Why a rotary engine?
 

What are the advantages of having a rotary engine rather then a piston engine? It is bad on gas, drinks oil, and isnt that powerful. So, what are the pros of having one? Don't get me wrong, I love the rotary engine but I do not know why. haha

Well there are so few moving parts for one. I mean really, the whole engine has 3 main moving parts. And despite it thirst for gas and oil, it really is a power efficient engine when you look at the displacement to power ratio. The engine is also very small and light, allowing for an optimal front/center engine placement and also very low to the ground for an excellent center of gravity.

It obviously has it's downsides too, - it requires a top notch and smooth running cooling system, it doesn't tolerate detonation like a piston engine, etc.

The main issue (in my opinion) is that the engine still doesn't have the same about of evolution that the piston engine has. I mean Mazda is the only company that has ever really gotten it to work, and it's only been used mainstream since the late 60's whereas the piston engine as been around for far longer obviously, and has many many other car manufacturers working to make each new engine better than the last. Mazda has just itself doing the research.

Power to weight and size. In the proper package it makes a ton of sense and oh what sensuous feelings it brings. Those who know it know it. Smooth with a capital S. It's packaging is advantgious for weight distribution also.

Because then you can tell people who ask "how many cylinders is it" or "didja get the V8" that it's a zero-cylinder car.

power to weight

weight distribution

higher rpm = more agressive gearing.

that's what make a 240hp engine be in the running with 350+ hp engines. there's a very wide powerband. basically from just over idle to sky's the limit if the rest of the accessories can handle it. The renesis itself is good to 15k+ problem is the clutch pressure plate and a/c and alternator start to blow up at these high speeds.

Eh, I'd say 350+ is a bit much. That's Corvette territory and a Vette will smoke the 8 - straight line or autox, it just has that brute power to stomp our cars. I'll go ahead and say it's in the running with cars up to about 300hp.

To reiterate others remarks and add, the high power to weight and power to displacement ratios that you can achieve with a rotary allow the manufacturer to deisgn a car that's fairly light, well balanced, and has a very low center of gravity, while still having a capable power train.

Also, the engine and layout is pretty unique. Not only is it a rotary, but since the engine sits completely between the front and rear axles, it's techincally a mid-engine design.

Cool, I love learning. :)

* 9000 RPM redline with 9500 cutoff. A 9,000 RPM street engine. Did I mention 9,000 RPM?
* Isn't that powerful? 238 hp from 1.3 liters? So a new Vette is 500 hp. Nice but do the math on a 6.0L rotary.
* Put an engine of comparable power in the 8 and the weight distribution is no longer 50/50. Try to even out the distribution and the 8 is no longer light. And on and on.
* You're driving the only car on earth that isn't piston based.
* Oil? C'mon , quart every 3-4K miles? Oh the agony.
* MPG? Well, er, uh... did I mention 9,000 RPM redline?

"The most appealing part of a rotary engine isn't the power from the light and compact engine, but that it makes the car agile by providing an ideal front rear weight balance. I like the spirit of aiming higher, which can be felt in rotary engine cars. " - Ryosuke Takahashi, Initial D.

Best quote ever. :D

Seriously, the engine is just so damn smooth. I find it very difficult to go back to any piston engine car after driving in my RX-8. It revs up high so quickly and effortlessly, and it's so much fun to pop it up to 5k RPM around town and and listen to that rotary whine, and yet barely feel it. It's also audibly so unique that I'll just sometimes sit in my garage for a few minutes while idling, just to hear that rotary purr reflect off the garage walls. Driving a piston engined car after driving a rotary is like...using a blaster over a lightsaber. So uncivilized! :D

Size and simplicity ... and with a turbo you can make insane power. But the best things are that they rev to oblivion, and feel as smooth as an electric motor. Oh, and that pistons are gay.

well, like what he said....yep thats exactly it, uh, zero... :p what he said :D

I forget what the Japanese company is named but I've seen the videos of the 26B four-rotor in an FD. They claim 500hp N/A. If that's true then it may be possible for a rotary's power to scale linearly with the displacement per chamber. I doubt a piston engine car can do that.

Okay, I'll do the math. A 6.0L Renesis theoretically would be over 1000 hp.

Damn, that RX7 is a thing of beauty section8...

Nothing else feels like it. At any price. There's only two engines I truly lust after, over all others. One is made in Maranello.

I'm driving the other one.

:D

in addition to all the technical and dynamic advantages mentioned, RE's also have a bit of underdog/cult status

what is a rotary?? :confused:

i believe for the most part, its being different that really gives the rotary engine its appeal or lack of appeal.

I'm one week short of my first anniversary. This is my first (and hopefully not last) rotary. I absolutely love this car. I can only say that if you don't like a rotary engine car, then you have never driven one.

I like it because it's different. Makes good conversation with the girls.

I like being able to say that a B Series engine has more displacement, and half the horsepower?

^haha..yeah i get a kick out of that too :D

Engine in the Middle
 

Guess this accounts for all the excess heat in the center console and cabin...

Another drawback is the heat produced... Runs almost twice as hot as a conventional piss-on engine (comparing to a 4-cyl). The fact that Mazda is the only current mass producer of rotaries is the reason for a lot of our problems. Imagine if the rotary was invented first... Maybe I should consider purchasing that time machine on ebay...

FS