http://www.autoblog.com/2010/04/14/r...y-into-europe/

Came across this on autoblog. Bummer for Mazda and rotary enthusiasts in europe.

"Mazda RX-8 won't be coming back to Europe for the 2011 model year. Why? The rev-rific rotary can't pass the Euro-5 emission standards and a replacement won't arrive until 2013.

Mazda Germany exec, Joseph Alois Schmid, told AMuS that retrofitting the current engine would be too cost prohibitive and the Wankel can't adapt quickly enough to Europe's stringent emission standards.

Although a replacement is in the works – and a hydrogen version could arrive within the next few years – the next rotary mill will have to be significantly reworked to adhere to the new standards. But even a revised rotary could have problems in 2014, when the new Euro 6 emission rules take effect."

 

Hydrogen rotary? I didn't think this was possible, unless the hydrogen is burnt as fuel in the combustion chamber rather than used as a fuel cell to power an electric motor.

Hopefully the 8 will continue to pass CA and EPA standards and continue to sell in the US., so we can continue to buy them used. Would suck to not have the 8.

Emissions aside, gas hitting 5 dollars a gallon could be the real death knell for the rotary. Luckily i have a beater that i can use for the commutes when gas goes up and keep the rx-8 as fun car for weekends. Considering how cheap the 8 is to buy and to insure for its worth, gas shouldn't really be that big of a deal for people with short commutes or those who have a 4 cyl beater.

 

http://www.mazda.com/mazdaspirit/env/hybrid/hre.html
There's been a hydrogen RX-8 around for years. http://www.mazda.com/mazdaspirit/env.../rx8_hre2.html
I hear it's really slow.

I think Mazda put a hydrogen rotary in a minivan, too. I didn't bother to look it up.
edit: found it: http://www.mazda.com/mazdaspirit/env...emacy_hre.html

Of course without some sort of infrastructure (hydrogen stations), nobody's going buy any hydrogen cars.