It's official: Mazda to drop the rotary

I hope this isn't a repost:

Mazda to drop production of vehicles with trademark rotary engines

TOKYO — Mazda will stop making cars with its signature rotary engines after a 45-year production run that included powering the first and only Japanese car to win the 24-hour Le Mans endurance race. Poor sales and the high costs of meeting modern emissions standards have made rotary engines uneconomical to produce. Mazda Motor Corp. said Friday that the latest edition of the Mazda RX-8 will go on sale Nov. 24, targeting sales of 1,000 vehicles, but will end production in June 2012.

Off to go pour out a quart...

I'm curious to see what Mazda can come up with now that the resources which went into rotaries can be applied to other stuff (e.g. the future of the SkyActiv stuff and so forth).

I wonder if they are really going to give up on it this time or if it will be just a hiatus until they think up a new RX7.

I love the concept of the rotary.

BUT, I completely understand this. What would the real performance disadvantages have been to stuffing the MS3 motor into the RX-8? You'd have all the power, significantly more torque, better fuel economy... and what? Worse weight balance? Pull a 944 and stuff the trans in the rear.

I'd seen articles where they had paired the rotary with DI and multipoint ignition to increase torque, power, gas mileage and at the same time reduce emissions.

iSad

carguy123 wrote: articles [exist] where they had paired the rotary with DI and multipoint ignition to increase torque, power, gas mileage and at the same time reduce emissions.

OOOOHHH... links? Inquiring minds want to know more!

The rotary lives, just not as we know it. Rotaries make great power at a steady RPM and are quiet NVH-wise so Mazda is developing a single-rotor powerplant to power generators in electric-first hybrids (Volt specifically). Kind of neat to read about.

There's also the 16X, but at this point I'll believe it when my E36 M3 turns purple and smells like rainbow sherbert.

4cylndrfury wrote:

carguy123 wrote: articles [exist] where they had paired the rotary with DI and multipoint ignition to increase torque, power, gas mileage and at the same time reduce emissions.

OOOOHHH... links? Inquiring minds want to know more!

Sorry, I didn't bookmark any. They were so common for a while I just assumed it was a done deal. Most of the comments were in articles about DI or the new laser ignition, etc. For a while it seemed there were comments in just about every article I read.

Thank you Mazda!

ReverendDexter wrote: I love the concept of the rotary. BUT, I completely understand this. What would the real performance disadvantages have been to stuffing the MS3 motor into the RX-8? You'd have all the power, significantly more torque, better fuel economy... and what? Worse weight balance? Pull a 944 and stuff the trans in the rear.

I love the rotary and have owned many and continue to own my 3rd gen RX7.

That said, I'd love a non-rotary powered RWD sedan from Mazda. Call it a 3 series fighter.

Stretch the wonderful RX8 chassis with a 4-6 inch longer wheelbase in a look similar to the current Shinari concept, throw the 2.3L Turbo 4 up front, power it through the 6 speed (where 6th is an overdrive gear) and keep the awesome suspension and RWD.

A 2door sports car or 2+2 doesn't make sense to me but a sportily sized RWD, manual trans sedan or hatch in the 25-35k price range does.

That would be an awesome DD and all around car.

sad story... always wondered how the wankle would do with a 1st gen honda insight type hybrid setup... think that was something that SCC mag had talked about at one point... would be fun to see what it could do.

Sad to hear that, it was inevitable

In reply to amg_rx7:

The 2+2 format is actually my preference (it's one of the huge plusses for me with the Bronco and Mustang), and one of the things that has always kept my interest piqued with the RX-8.

But what you're talking about would just be a continuation of the 929, and completely sensical for the Mazda lineup.

I always loved the concept of a rotary engine but have never driven one. I wanted to testdrive the RX8 back when I bought my Mustang, but the local dealer's sales person was such an asshat that I drove back by to show her my new Mustang when i bought it.

Unfortunately, even 6 years ago the mileage vs HP numbers weren't holding up well against the competition, not to mention the "make sure you take a quart of oil with you" thing. When the new generation of fullsize trucks is not far behind in MPG, it's only a matter of time.

Never been a big fan of the rotary engine. I probably would have bought a RX8 for my wife if had come with MS3 motor.

They are stopping production of the car which has a rotary engine. Doesn't mean they have given up on the rotary.

I want an RX8 with an Ecoboost V6 and 6 speed. Forillydoe.

iceracer wrote: They are stopping production of the car which has a rotary engine. Doesn't mean they have given up on the rotary.

THIS. Mazda realizes the rotary doesn't sell well and as the article said they have been losing money since Ford relinquished most of their stock. They have had problems getting the 16X to pass emissions even though it has met power and fuel economy targets. However, I've read multiple sources that have said Mazda is not abandoning the rotary altogether yet, despite what the haters wish.

Whether or not Mazda does pick up the rotary again (or even survives at this rate) depends greatly on the SkyActiv Mazda3 and CX-5 becoming sales hits. If SkyActiv is a hit, Mazda will consider picking up where they left off with rotary development. They aren't in the lurch as bad as Suzuki or Mitsubishi yet, but if sales continue to slide, we may not have any Mazdas at all in the near future.

They need to stop building the rotary by building a limited run of Furais. And then giving me one.

JUST LISTEN TO IT

I am sad to here this. For a while I was obsessed with all things Wankel.. . . Wait .. . .That did not sound rite.. . . .

Really I went through a period where I lived breathed ate RX7. 25 years, three 1st Gen's, and a second Gen later and the obsession has dulled but I would snap either of these car's up in a heart beat should the opportunity arrive. IT is something I now would like My 6 year old son to experience before they are all gone.

For some reason the 3rd Jen was different. At the time it was a true supper car. It was so different! It was such a leap in budget and technology compared to the other cars that back in the early 90's it was nothing more than something that was on my "someday" list. Quite honestly I am not sure I would want one now.

It is sad to see the Rotary go away. It paved the way for all things Miata. Thanks to the RX7 and a fanatical group of local rotary enthusiasts, I made a lot of good friends that I still have today. It really was a lifestyle thing back in the 80's and early 90's.

Thanks for the memories MAZDA!!!!!!!!

Do you think they would continue the RX name plate but with pistons? Wait.. . . That is a miata.

Whoa, wait a minute, I just read that link. They are still continuing development of the rotary, they are just discontinuing the RX name plate. Doesn't mean they won't revive it in the future.

“Although R-X production is ending, the rotary engine will always represent the spirits of Mazda, and Mazda remains committed to its ongoing development,” he said.

Also, this will be the last 1000 cars. The Rx-8 Spirit R.

Do'h. Swing and a miss on the post title, reading comprehension fail.

I had hoped Mazda would announce their answer to the Toyota/Subaru coupe by now.

dean1484 wrote: Do you think they would continue the RX name plate but with pistons? Wait.. . . That is a miata.

They could always call it an 808.