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Bloomberg Article On Rotary's End

 
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Old Jun 27, 2012 | 08:55 PM
  #26  
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Originally Posted by olddragger
as a man that is 62 years old and that has been around and interested in cars all my life--this is indeed a sad time.
The rotary engine is ahead of its time and other manufactors are agaisnt it's design. It would cost them too much to revamp.
The rotary engine could be made more powerful and lighter easily, but it would cost to do so.
I still don't understand why Mazda doesn't sell a limited production 3 rotor RX8. You would not have to put force induction on it and a limited production model would not have to concern itself with the strict polution laws currently in place. Mazda needs a signature car and currently they dont have one. Maybe Mazda is trying to rebrand itself?

Well, as someone who just turned 60 and has driven high performance cars all of his life, the rotary just burns oil and fuel too dirty to pass the kind of emissions standards out there. I understand the RX-8 couldnt pass EU standards, and of course, these metrics will continue to tighten. They had enough trouble moving these off the showroom floor as it was, even though every magazine gave the car a sterling review. For me, I needed 4 seats and performance, and the car delivered. But those emissions and fuel mileage at that performance level speak to a time that has already passed.
Old Jun 27, 2012 | 09:58 PM
  #27  
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8 years ago, yeah. Mazda is finishing the next though. And it meets those requirements...
Old Jun 28, 2012 | 04:00 AM
  #28  
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Originally Posted by MattMPS
Nope. Anfini

citation:
Introduces Anfini MS-6 and Anfini MS-9.

Introduces Anfini RX-7.

link
http://www.mazda.com/profile/history/1990_1999.html
Well it is efini, atleast it says so on the imported RX-7 but maybe Mazda spelled it wrong ;-)
Old Jun 28, 2012 | 07:05 AM
  #29  
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Originally Posted by RIWWP
8 years ago, yeah. Mazda is finishing the next though. And it meets those requirements...
If they were anywhere near done with another rotary car that met Mazda's power/emissions/mpg requirements, we should have at least seen a concept already. As it is, most people that originally bought 04s and '05s have moved on to other brands since Mazda has offered us nothing to "upgrade" to.
Old Jun 28, 2012 | 09:31 AM
  #30  
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Originally Posted by olddragger
I still don't understand why Mazda doesn't sell a limited production 3 rotor RX8.
Probably because of emissions.
Old Jun 28, 2012 | 09:38 AM
  #31  
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Originally Posted by 77mjd
If they were anywhere near done with another rotary car that met Mazda's power/emissions/mpg requirements, we should have at least seen a concept already. As it is, most people that originally bought 04s and '05s have moved on to other brands since Mazda has offered us nothing to "upgrade" to.
Such a pessimist

Having the engine ready is different from having the chassis ready, and I think the chassis is nearly complete, in the form of the chassis that the next Miata will use. Or even the one that the current NC uses.

As for the engine, yes, it's probably at least 2 years away from production, but did you miss this article? http://wardsauto.com/vehicles-amp-te...otary-new-life

Mitsuo Hitomi, general manager-powertrain development, says the auto maker soon will complete development of an all-new rotary engine that meets future fuel-economy and emissions standards.

While Hitomi won’t confirm a completion date, his disclosure is evidence the rotary is alive and well at Mazda and that a new car powered by the engine could be on the way.

“We think we’ve found a way to improve the rotary’s fuel economy to be truly equal to that of conventional piston engines and, if so, we believe we can reintroduce the rotary to the market,” he tells WardsAuto in an interview.

Hitomi declines to pinpoint when that might happen, but suggests the timeframe roughly would be equivalent to any other engine plugged into one of Mazda’s vehicle programs. Best guess is two years, once the application has been determined.


And if you care so much about upgrading, move on... Many of us are keeping our 8s and waiting.
Old Jun 28, 2012 | 05:54 PM
  #32  
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Originally Posted by RIWWP
Such a pessimist

Having the engine ready is different from having the chassis ready, and I think the chassis is nearly complete, in the form of the chassis that the next Miata will use. Or even the one that the current NC uses.

As for the engine, yes, it's probably at least 2 years away from production, but did you miss this article? http://wardsauto.com/vehicles-amp-te...otary-new-life





And if you care so much about upgrading, move on... Many of us are keeping our 8s and waiting.
I'd be happy to wait it out if I knew for sure I'd get another 3 years out of my engine...but I don't think I want to take the chance.

Last edited by 77mjd; Jun 28, 2012 at 10:15 PM.
Old Jun 29, 2012 | 06:02 PM
  #33  
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This article is mentioned on MotorTrend's website:

http://wot.motortrend.com/say-sayona...ow-225145.html

The 8 needs to be shown some love in the comments.
Old Jun 29, 2012 | 08:37 PM
  #34  
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Originally Posted by 77mjd
I'd be happy to wait it out if I knew for sure I'd get another 3 years out of my engine...but I don't think I want to take the chance.
It's easy to avoid taking that chance

Either sell the car or buy a spare engine to keep on hand!
 
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