## Are There Any Cars Today with Rotary Engines?
The rotary engine, also known as the Wankel engine, is a type of internal combustion engine that uses a triangular rotor that spins within a figure-8 shaped chamber to create power. Rotary engines are known for their smoothness, high power output, and compact size. However, they also have some drawbacks, such as poor fuel economy and high emissions.
As a result of these drawbacks, rotary engines have never been as popular as piston engines. In fact, there are only a few cars today that still use rotary engines. These cars include:
* **Mazda RX-8:** The RX-8 was the last car produced by Mazda with a rotary engine. It was discontinued in 2012.
* **Eunos Cosmo:** The Eunos Cosmo was a luxury sports car produced by Mazda from 1990 to 1996. It was powered by a twin-rotor rotary engine.
* **Mazda RX-7:** The RX-7 was a sports car produced by Mazda from 1978 to 2002. It was powered by a single-rotor rotary engine.
Why Are There So Few Cars with Rotary Engines Today?
There are several reasons why there are so few cars with rotary engines today. Some of these reasons include:
* **Fuel economy:** Rotary engines are less fuel-efficient than piston engines. This is because rotary engines have a higher surface area-to-volume ratio than piston engines, which means that more heat is lost to the environment.
* **Emissions:** Rotary engines also produce more emissions than piston engines. This is because rotary engines burn oil to lubricate the rotor, which can lead to increased emissions of hydrocarbons and carbon monoxide.
* **Reliability:** Rotary engines are not as reliable as piston engines. This is because the rotor in a rotary engine is subject to a lot of wear and tear, which can lead to premature engine failure.
Are Rotary Engines Dead?
Although there are only a few cars today that still use rotary engines, it is not accurate to say that rotary engines are dead. There are still a number of companies that are working on developing rotary engines, and there is still a small but dedicated group of enthusiasts who love rotary engines.
It is possible that rotary engines could make a comeback in the future. If engineers can overcome the challenges of fuel economy, emissions, and reliability, rotary engines could offer a number of advantages over piston engines, such as smoothness, high power output, and compact size.
## Conclusion
Rotary engines are a fascinating type of internal combustion engine with a number of advantages and disadvantages. Although there are only a few cars today that still use rotary engines, it is possible that rotary engines could make a comeback in the future. If engineers can overcome the challenges of fuel economy, emissions, and reliability, rotary engines could offer a number of advantages over piston engines.
