Bloomberg Article On Rotary's End
06-27-2012, 08:55 PM
#26
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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?
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.
06-28-2012, 04:00 AM
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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
citation:
Introduces Anfini MS-6 and Anfini MS-9.
Introduces Anfini RX-7.
link
http://www.mazda.com/profile/history/1990_1999.html
06-28-2012, 07:05 AM
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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.
06-28-2012, 09:38 AM
#31
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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.
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.
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.
06-28-2012, 05:54 PM
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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.
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.
Last edited by 77mjd; 06-28-2012 at 10:15 PM.
06-29-2012, 06:02 PM
#33
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.
http://wot.motortrend.com/say-sayona...ow-225145.html
The 8 needs to be shown some love in the comments.
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