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Pretty cool article around the team of 10 guys at the Hiroshimo plant who are still to this day building and shipping Rotary Engine parts.
Some of these machines they're using are still the same ones that they used back in the day to make FC parts and they still manage to not only keep them online but to churn out parts for our beloved little fire breathing cars.
Mazda Refuses To Let The Legendary Rotary Engine Die
The RX-8 went out of production in 2012 but its engine hasn't.
Production of the Mazda RX-8 ended close to a decade ago in 2012. The quirky sports car was famed not only for its unique styling but its rare 13B Renesis rotary engine. With its 9,000 rpm redline and light weight, the engine was an engineering marvel and provided the RX-8 with a distinct emotional character.
Rumors about the return of the RX-8 and the rotary engine have swirled for years but while another rotary-powered sports car hasn't materialized, the engine isn't dead. In fact, Mazda has announced that the 13B engine - or at least its key components - is still being produced.
A lengthy post on Classic Mazda shared a behind-the-scenes look at the continued production of this special engine.
"Many people don't know, but in fact, Mazda continues to manufacture rotary engines," said Tetsuya Sato who works at the Mazda Headquarters Factory. In a translation translated from Japanese, he continued: "It will be installed in new cars until the RX-8, but even after that. We continue to manufacture the 13B type repair parts and the bare engine body assembled with new parts." Essentially, this means that older RX-8s can continue to be equipped with a new rotary engine or engine parts.
The factory, which has manufactured rotary engine parts since 1973, now runs with an exceptionally small team. There are only 10 people in total and they combine to manufacture parts like the rotor housing, eccentric shaft, and side housing.
This small team manages to ship 200 to 400 rotary engine parts around the world each month.
It's heartening that as we enter the electrification era, companies like Mazda are still willing to dedicate resources to an engine that wasn't exactly renowned for either reliability or efficiency. Honda pulled a similar trick last year when it announced that parts for the classic S2000 roadster - another Japanese car with a high-revving engine - would be made more widely available.
The rotary engine may only live on as a range-extender in the new MX-30 EV but for owners who want to extend the lives of their RX-8s, Mazda is happy to help them do that.
Great news. I spent quality time over the 4th Holiday weekend revving the @#@#$^ out of my 2010 GT - here's a picture from Stowe. With about 800 miles clocked , I saw not a single RX- any where from Boston up to Burlington-Waterbury-Stowe VT and back.
they started reproducing and selling *new* REW engines (3rd Gen FD3 RX7) a few years ago
as per my B@W post; helped someone finish and start up a Renesis reman engine yesterday and was pretty impressed with it. Think he bought it through Pettit. His engine core was shot and he decided to just stick with a reman rather than the additional cost of a blueprinted & balanced engine with RX7 apex seals. Even though that’s the best option, it’s a big chunk of cash to fork over.
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Great news. I spent quality time over the 4th Holiday weekend revving the @#@#$^ out of my 2010 GT - here's a picture from Stowe. With about 800 miles clocked , I saw not a single RX- any where from Boston up to Burlington-Waterbury-Stowe VT and back.
Dana in Stowe, VT
You would have seen me if you were in eastern NY near the Mass border. I was visiting my nephew and his 911.
Great news. I spent quality time over the 4th Holiday weekend revving the @#@#$^ out of my 2010 GT - here's a picture from Stowe. With about 800 miles clocked , I saw not a single RX- any where from Boston up to Burlington-Waterbury-Stowe VT and back.
Dana in Stowe, VT
Great shot of your 8 in Stow!!! It made me remember one of the many ski trips we took there!!! Good Times -Mine is still running strong in New Jersey soon to be in Strathmere.
Right, just found a specified 'new' engine from Pineapple.
Quite a difference.
Now the question for me is, how much is too much?
Is it wise spending more than the car is worth?
Probably not in a strictly practical sense, but really, nothing's practical about an RX8.
Have to really start saving my pennies.
they started reproducing and selling *new* REW engines (3rd Gen FD3 RX7) a few years ago
as per my B@W post; helped someone finish and start up a Renesis reman engine yesterday and was pretty impressed with it. Think he bought it through Pettit. His engine core was shot and he decided to just stick with a reman rather than the additional cost of a blueprinted & balanced engine with RX7 apex seals. Even though that’s the best option, it’s a big chunk of cash to fork over.
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About a $1500 difference between new and factory reman/rebuilt.
I think if one is going to invest more money into a car than it's actual worth (according to KBB or Edmunds) might as well spend the extra $1500.
I hope Mazda would do to the RX-cars what they are doing for the NA Miatas by offering rebuild services. Afterall, the rotary is a Mazda distinctive engine technology and performance heritage.
Pretty damn cool, I was suprised myself when I went to rotary doctor and just got a brand new engine installed in my RX8. Thought they stopped in 2012, awesome to hear that they're still making them!
are they still making the new REW engines as TeamRx8 mentioned?
Good to know Mazda maintains modest manufacturing #s of 13B core engines and components to support keeping our little guys spinning well into the future.
Back to the thread - I do think its great that Mazda has 10 people dedicated to the rotary engine support effort.. I've seen a few articles over the years on other companies - even Gillette still produces their double edge blades, Atra Trac ][ and Sensor 2-blade cartridges for those that still use the 1960s era handle.
