Japan8

I just read today in the "My Car" Magazine about upcoming models.... they had a "scoop" article. I didn't have time to read the entire article, however, the major headlines, etc. that I caught said that they have confirmed info. that Mazda is going to use the Rensis engine in the next Miata... it's light, compact and powerful... everything that platform needs.

Looks like the world may turn rotary yet... :D

Skyline Maniac

Rotary in Miata, that would absolutely kick ***.

mikeb

I wish it was only in the 8

PaulieWalnuts

You have a link to the story or anything? I couldn't find it. I know that the next Miata is supposed to share the same platform as the 8, but I haven't seen anything about the rotary. In fact I recall Mazda being firmly against a rotary in the Miata.

Japan8

There is no link. I said it was in a magazine not a website...re-read the above. Japanese magainzes aren't big on the web like C&C or R&T yet. No there are no scans or pics, because I didn't buy it. I also did say that there is some margin for error, because I didn't read the whole article as I didn't have time. I'll give a good once over the next time I'm in the store.

whosyourbaba

i agree. Makes our car more unique.

Japan8

Never happen. It'd also be in the next 7. Besides, more unique = more expensive and less reliable. Who cares if all mazda's have a rotary engine, your car is still unique. How many other car companies use rotary engines? And it's not like mazda sells as many cars as GM or Toyota...

neit_jnf

I'll buy a rotary miata in a heartbeat!! Imagine 2400 lbs and more than 200 hp... drool!

Japan8

That's what I'm talking about.

RX-8 = luxury rotary sports sedan $27k-35k 238hp

RX-7 = high-perfomance rotary sports car $30k-40k? 350hp??

MX-5/Miata/Roadster = rotary sports coupe $20-30k? 200hp??

Zio

Imagine how great the handling would be!

CERAMICSEAL

Japan8, I hope you're correct. It would be a mistake for Mazda to not capitalise on this opportunity to marry these concepts and technologies. Please keep us posted.

RobDickinson

Problem mazda have is the renesis is an expensive hand built engine, unlike the 4 pot in the mx-5/miata.

60,000 RX-8's a year is pushing mazdas production of the 8 already (maily because of the engine, and uless they have a well identified long term market they wont increase production levels.

The 8 is very important for the rotary. Its doing well so hopefully we see other rotary powered cars, a new 7 or even 9.

PaulieWalnuts

Japan8 - I don't need to re-read it. I did read and understand that it was a magazine. I guess I needed to be more clear by asking if there was an online version.

Japan8

I generally try to post sites or pics together with info if I have any. I was actually hoping to just get discussion started and come back later to post some more info and maybe pics (if I buy the mag). If I sounded a bit short, it was unintentional... I wrote that post shortly after getting up.

AaronElCampeon

Once again, my heart is throbbing insanely.

PhineasFellOff

I agree with Japan8. The long-term survival of the rotary engine rests on that its use be extended to other models.

If it really might be used in the next Miata, I can see a base Miata using an inline-4 making 140 to 170 HP (and getting high gas mileage) and a top-of-the-line Miata using a rotary up to 200 HP.

It would be awesome.

DMRH

Hate to point out the obvious, but if this was the case, they would have installed a 13B in the MX-5/Miata 15 years ago.

PaulieWalnuts

From what I understand, the Miata's current design would require too many changes to accomdate a rotary. Mazda has announced that the next Miata, as well as the RX-7 if it makes production, will share the same platform as the RX-8. This would make the probability of a rotary Miata much higher.

Japan8

Not necessarily. THey didn't have the Renesis back then. They only had the 13B-REW... which has it's share of problems, costs and most importantly emissions. Plus the Miata platform wasn't developed to hold that engine. It doesn't mean a swap is impossible, just that the platform couldn't take full advantage of it unless it was redeveloped.... and opps... what are they doing now?

RotorGeek

I read somewhere that the renesis production is maxed out on the 8. They would have to expand the engine plant in order to produce the engines for 2 cars much less 3. I too would love to see a miata with a rotary. That would show that it is here to stay

Japan8

Maxed out or not, it will have to be increased. As we know the 8 isn't selling THAT much and the 7 is under development. So even without a rotary miata, they need to up capacity. What better reason to justify the costs than to say they need to build for 3 models...

GTRay

Aparently you guys missed the tech article that circulated on the board a while back describing mazda's recent increase in rotary production capacity.

Indeed, production is at an all-time high for rotary engines and it's finally in a hot-selling model. However, the recent investment that mazda has put into the rotary production facilities WILL NOT be ammortized by a single model.

this engine will be part of the future - especially for hydrogen powered vehicles. no other prototype exists that can so easily be adapted to hydrogen as well as this engine.

if you think that's impressive, wait until you see what happens to this thing when you combine it with a couple electric motors.

Current production may be reaching it's limits but that is simply a matter of trained hands to put these things together.

the futur looks good my friends - it looks very good!

Ray

Japan8

Or the RE + electric assisted turbo (one consideration for the 7) when running on hydrogen... talk about an asskicker!

thew

that would be sweet

Icemastr

Too bad it makes 100HP when running on Hydrogen, I doubt you will be kicking too much @$$ with that.