Nothing new really, but FYI:

http://www.autoweek.com/article/2011...NEWS/111109998

 

I've been stating for years that the rotary engine's survival is going to be centered around generator applications in hybrid use. It is the perfect engine for such a use. Others think it would suck but what some people may want and what the engine is truly perfect for aren't necessarily in agreement. I have suspected that if the RX-8 isn't the last vehicle powered mechanically by a rotary engine, it is next to last with any future iterations of the engine being in hybrid applications. Use it where it works best.

 

I don't mind if it gets used in a hybrid application. But, I won't be excited about it unless it is used for the primary source of power to the wheels.

 

I agree with both rotarygod, and alnielsen.

It would make a great compact, range extender, but I would be a little disappointed to see it disappear as a primary power source.

 

I think that day may already be here.

 

given Audi's recent e-tron concept that used a rotary engine, and rumors of a research alliance between the two companies, I could see both of them releasing a rotary hybrid using shared technology.

One thing Mazda needs to cut back on is their hydrogen rotary research. It doesn't seem like the market is going that way any time soon. Investing in a hybrid application, perhaps a new single rotor engine, would be a better way to spend those resources. Mazda definitely has the ability to make a 30+mpg rotary sports car that is not hybrid. The question is whether they can keep the cost down, given the level of technology it may require.

 

Mazda's reported last quarter loss ($185 Million) is not going to help..
Higher Yen!!

They REALLY need to bring forward new models as fast as they can, particularly the new 6.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/busine...oeM_story.html


TOKYO — Mazda reported its fourth straight quarterly loss Wednesday after vehicle sales slumped amid a sluggish global economy and high yen. The company now projects a big annual loss instead of a profit.

Mazda Motor Corp. is facing the same tough business environment as other Japanese manufacturers whose production was just starting to recover from the devastating March 11 earthquake and tsunami in northeastern Japan.

Mazda said its loss for the July-September quarter came to 14.4 billion yen ($185 million).

The Hiroshima-based automaker now expects a loss of 19 billion yen ($244 million) for the fiscal year through March 2012, down from an earlier projection of a 1 billion yen ($12.8 million) profit.

Mazda said it is struggling with slower growth in Asian markets, a limping U.S. economic recovery and the debt crisis in Europe.

The company has also been hit by the strong yen, which has reached several record highs against the dollar. Every time the yen climbs, the value of the company’s repatriated profits shrinks when converted back to yen. A strong yen also makes products more expensive overseas.

Mazda’s red ink for the latest quarter follows a 25.5 billion yen loss in the April-June period.

Quarterly sales at the Hiroshima-based automaker totaled 551 billion yen ($7.1 billion), down from 579.66 billion yen a year earlier.

The maker of the Miata and RX-8 sports cars said it sold 604,000 vehicles worldwide for the July-September quarter, down 8.3 percent. Sales declined in Japan, Europe and China, Mazda said.

For the first six months of the fiscal year, the company reported a loss of 40 billion yen ($512 million), compared to 5.5 billion yen profit a year ago.

Mazda shares closed down 5.4 percent at 158 yen on the Tokyo Stock Exchange just before the company released the earnings results.

 

They already have a 30 mpg sports car. It's called the Miata. If they put the Skyactive tech in there, they could increase it even further.

 

Don't tell zoom44 that. He loves hydrogen in spite of it's endless list of shortcomings in return for few if any benefits. I've been saying hydrogen is worthless for a long time as well.

 

hahahah and you're still wrong

 

Why aren't you driving around in a hydrogen powered car? Why haven't you done a conversion to this miracle fuel?

 

Burned? :P

 

1. there are not any available to me as yet in my price range.

2. i dont want to run my rx-8 on it

 

Your more likely to see CNG as an alternative fuel than H2.

 

not in norway.

 

We're not in Norway. The US is the world leader in natural gas reserves.

 

we are also the leader of corporate greed so we probably not gonna see cng widely used cuz of all the oil companies ... Same thing for hydro ...

 

The one big question I would ask is how much money has Mazda thrown at the R & D and implementation of the new SkyActive tech over the last couple of years. I'm sure it was a boatload and that investment would certainly cut into their current profits. Long term, I definitely see this technology taking off as the other models are unveiled and those numbers will definitely turn into the black.

 

and we should use more ng for transportation fuel.

 

Mr. Fusion would be a great power source for future rotaries...

With jokes aside,

I really hope the author was joking about the hybrid rotary...
That would kill the whole aspect of how light the RX series cars are.

 

Moderator fight!!!

 

Where...

 

BTW..How is your Mazda 2 going Todd?

Fresh Air break..."breath guys.."

 

These development costs are budgeted for, just like SA and 16X, money is allocated and then used.

What is hurting Mazda (for the 1000th time) is the currency (YEN), notice how Mazda Cars and Parts in the US are going up and up.

Then the Tsunami (even though MMC was not damaged, electricity was the issue for them and distraught workers).
NOW, the Thailand flood, again Auto-Alliance factory not damaged but suppliers are.
So no Ford Ranger, Asian Fiesta, Mazda 2 and BT-50 for a while.

YES, Mazda SA is great but please they are not the only company that is achieving great fuel mileage numbers.

Other makers (particularly Korean) have caught up and passing Mazda.
Mazda are a VERY conservative and slow to react car company..always have been.

IMO the main reason for slowing sales is their product range, once on top they are now down the list as their model generation cycle is at the end (almost), now just wait for the next 3 years you WILL see a huge number of all new models in the pipeline which will put Mazda in a great position.

 

The Skyactive Mazda 3 is being marketed here as a performance car that also gets great economy. I'm not sure how well this comes through to the masses in the TV commercial.