R.I.P Rotary 1951-2011

Little write up I found


For 60 years, the rotary engine captivated the imagination of enthusiasts world wide. It’s use in motorsport included Group B, IMSA, N1, and even a win at Le Mans(which prompted its ban from the event). Of all the manufacturers that experimented with these amazing engines, only Mazda dared use them in actual production cars.
Viewed by many as unreliable, un-economical, and under powered, the wankel and renesis engines caught a lot of hate over the years, mostly due to owners who just didn’t understand the capability of their machines. Rising fuel costs and awareness for lower emissions were the coffin nails. In 2011, only about 1100 RX8′s were sold.
In Japan, Mazda used rotaries in many applications. Some are well known, others not. What’s important though, is that we as enthusiasts remember these vehicles and preserve them for future generations to enjoy.
Unfortunately though, this is a harsh reminder that fun Japanese cars are becoming extinct, and fast. No more exciting Hondas, Mitsu gave up the ghost, Toyota decided its only interesting car should cost more than a house, Subaru is injecting salt water in its cars veins, and its only a matter of time before Nissan says Z cars don’t make any sense.
So pour some out for the rotary, because we won’t be seeing it ever again. Your time came way too soon.

yea i thought that the full potential of this engine hasent been explored, and now probably never will be, and yes, its only a mater of time before all our cars will not be built any more, we as a generation are on the cusp of what is going to be the death of th petrol engine. over the next ten years we will see dramatic changes on our roads, at the moment with the recession in full tilt it has kind of slowed down the precess a bit, but the change is on the way and will be here shortly. so enjoy your gas guzzlers while you can and get ready to say hello to euro

i dont like it. jesus ya cant change from petrol cars to electric crap waitin at a garage for 6 hours thats jus not on. why is these emmisons things pushing all the manufactors to stop producin the good cars . global warmin is a natural earth cycle how they think we had the last ice age

Have a feeling this will be the future, the piston design isnt as good as the rotary for hydrogen power.

http://www.mazda.com/mazdaspirit/rotary/hre/about/index.html

That's very interesting, we could probably see this sooner than expected. But what are the tuning possibilities of hydrogen engines, turbo??

well it apparently can match an rx8 13b for acceleration but thats not a turbo? I think. I'd imagine turbos would be possible but the bearings would need to be lightened so they could spin easier.

http://www.auto-types.com/autonews/2012-mazda-rx-7-is-a-sports-coupe-with-rotary-engine-7273.html

Its Back!

That is mean lookin. Should be saweet!