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Mazda rotary engine production ceases: the end of an era

By David Zalstein |
FIND DEALS

The last Mazda to use the famed but sadly doomed rotary engine rolled off the assembly line at the company’s Hiroshima factory and headquarters in Japan last Friday bringing to a close the life of an extraordinary little powerplant.

“Production of the RX-8 will end, but the rotary engine will live on as an important part of Mazda’s spirit,” said Mazda president Takashi Yamanouchi.

From the Mazda Cosmo of 1967 and RX series of the 70s through to the RX-7s in the 1980s and 90s and into the new millennium with the RX-8, the rotary engine has been a staple for the Japanese manufacturer, although not without its difficulties.

Mazda RX7 1999

The rotary engine won fans with its lightweight and high-revving ability to generate more power than conventional piston engines out of the same or less capacity, but being renowned for poor fuel economy and having a penchant for oil, the Wankel had a mixed career over its 45-year rise and fall.

Mazda first licensed the technology of German mechanical engineer Felix Wankel in 1961 after the engine was presented for the first time in 1960. The oval chamber design with three-cornered rotor meant fewer moving parts than a piston engine allowing additional power and acceleration without the bulk of traditional piston engines. The downsides were the oil injection used to lubricate the apex seals and a higher proportion of unburned fuel being wasted. These led to both poor fuel economy and higher emissions.

Mazda RX-8 Rotary Engine

Annual rotary-powered production peaked for Mazda at 239,871 vehicles in 1973, unfortunately the Arab oil embargo took effect that same year signaling the beginning of the end for the iconic motor. In 1991 Mazda’s rotary-powered 787B became the first Japanese-made car to win the 24 Hours of Le Mans endurance race but by 2003 only the Mazda RX-8 was keeping the rotary flame alive.

Mazda 787B

With the RX-8 failing to pass the 2010 Euro 5 emission requirements that govern what cars can be sold in Europe, the company made just 2896 RX-8s that year. Following this was the last production run of Mazda RX-8 Spirit Rs.

Mazda RX-8 Spirit R - 1

While Mazda’s newest SkyActiv technology is reigning supreme in the current efficiency-focused climate with Mazda planning to have eight models that fully adopt the Skyactiv concept, we still may yet see a new breed of Wankel engines in the future. Mazda’s been leasing hydrogen-powered rotary cars to Japanese organisations since 2006, including the Hiroshima and Yamaguchi prefectural governments, and the company is also planning to introduce an electric car next year using a hydrogen rotary engine to generate power for the car’s battery.

It may yet prove to be a case of: The king is dead. Long live the king.


 
  • http://twitter.com/holotropik Holotropik

    Sad :(

  • Doctor

    Very sad, I hope we see it reappear soon.

  • Altezza

    At least they could’ve tried to impletement Skyactiv technology or even hybrid into rotary engine to give the rotary engine new breath of life. Subaru has successfully do the diesel version of their signature boxer engine. I understood it will cost too much for Mazda to develop, hence they are already making the loss. However long live the rotary engine and I hope Mazda may reintroduce it again in future.

  • Ckeller

    Very sad indeed.   I remember literally melting my bias tires on 70′s mazda.   Boy that rotary hummed!

  • Matt

    What a beautiful era it was.

  • Andrew

    I think it’s Honda that make several hundred thousand wankel powered generators for use in remote locations in the oil industry in the middle east. They say they are brilliant for wear and efficiency at constant lowish revs.  Sounds like they will fit the bill perfectly for charging the Mazda electric car, pity they will just sit there at 3,000rpm constantly rather than being able to hear it rev its apex seal off!

  • Sydlocal

    What is this “penchant for oil” statement CA?  I would be more concerned if a rotary didn’t burn any oil! 

    I find it rather ironic that you mentioned the poor fuel economy of a rotary, yet showed a picture 787B that won Le Mans. Its superior fuel economy under racing conditions over the Mercedes and Jaguar was the reason why it won the race, as well as its reliability. The 1991 race was the last done to the “fuel economy” formula where teams were given a limited amount of fuel to last the entire race. The 787B was able to run flat out for the whole 24 hours with fuel to spare. The other cars had to back off to conserve their fuel allocation, however reliability issues eventually made that redundant for the Mercedes! 
    IMHO the 787B is one of the top 10 race cars ever made with a noise like no other! Many have said it was the loudest car to ever race at Le Mans.  Also the 787B was not only the first, but is still the only Japanese car to win the 24hr.

    Lastly the FD RX7 is to me still one of the best looking sports cars to come out of Japan. Even now it still looks relatively fresh on the outside.

  • falcodore

    Nothing will beat the sound of that awesome 787B. Apparently the loudest car ever to have raced  at Le Mans.

  • falcodore

    Totally agree Sydlocal. And the RX7 was one of the most successful at the Bathurst 12hr. Great cars, great engines. Mazda has always punched above its weight racing rotary powered cars.

  • Michael Lock

    Why have they not placed a rotary engine in the MX-5, surely that would be a perfect match helping to reduce weight and no need to say….more power than a IL4? Can someone enlighten me here, have they at least tried it in test mules or has someone done this transplant in the aftermarket yet?

  • Andrew

    Bullet Cars were/are doing rotary powered mx5s.  I’m assuming Mazda have only kept them in the RX range because of their heritage, but to put it into any other model would result in a fuel guzzling thing with no sales volume. Bit like the RX8 was.

  • Schn

    Very sad indeed. Rotary engine powered cars were great. Will truly miss these great cars. Hopefully one day they do what Toyota has done recently with their new GT86 reviving their old cars. 

    • gt86.com.au

       So True! and the public has responded magnificently to Toyota & Subaru’s effors. A  big lesson for other manufacturers!

  • Simon Dale

    Nooooooooooooooooooooo! I love the wankel engine. They are fun to drive if you don’t mind wringing their guts out. 

  • Noel

    Sad sad day.  I remember my bridge port 13B RX5, what a car……. 

  • Amlohac

    maybe one day, itll be back.

    Heres hoping.

  • Rod

    13B turbo (or similar rotary) in a Toyota 86,  who will be first?

    • gt86.com.au

       ha ha :) Lead the way Sir. Rod :D

  • Beewee

    What about the 16X?

  • Mike

    So how many of the mourners assembled here ever even considered putting down money for a car with rotary engine themselves?

    • Sydlocal

      I never considered it, I have actually put down money on a rotary over the years thank you very much for asking! As well as my brother (2), my father (2) and my brother in-law (1). :-)

  • Mazdarx7

    Better not be the end, I’ve had 2 RX4′s, RX7, and currently RX3 and 20B Cosmo. It will end my enthusiasm for cars. Emissions? If it can run on the most abundant element in the universe, and emit only steam, what’s the issue? Oh, the middle east will starve.

  • Ted

    This is a shame, as I had (some years ago) 2 x R100 and a RX3 and should had kept at least one of the cars.  However, when women get in the way they make the decisions – if she knew what they are worth now, she may had wanted to retain them…