How Many Cars Have Had Rotary Engines?

The rotary 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 are also known for their poor fuel economy and emissions.

The first rotary engine was invented by Felix Wankel in 1954. Wankel’s engine was initially used in a variety of experimental vehicles, but it was not until the 1960s that rotary engines began to be used in production cars.

The first production car to use a rotary engine was the Mazda Cosmo Sport 110S, which was introduced in 1967. Mazda continued to use rotary engines in a variety of its vehicles throughout the 1970s and 1980s, including the RX-2, RX-3, RX-4, and RX-7. Other manufacturers that have used rotary engines in their vehicles include NSU, Citroën, and Mercedes-Benz.

How Many Cars Have Had Rotary Engines?

It is difficult to say exactly how many cars have had rotary engines, as there is no definitive record of all of the vehicles that have been produced with this type of engine. However, it is estimated that over 2 million cars have been produced with rotary engines.

The majority of cars with rotary engines have been produced by Mazda. Mazda has produced over 1.8 million cars with rotary engines, including the RX-2, RX-3, RX-4, RX-5, RX-6, RX-7, and RX-8.

Other manufacturers that have produced cars with rotary engines include:

• NSU: NSU produced over 50,000 cars with rotary engines, including the Ro 80 and the Wankel Spider.
• Citroën: Citroën produced over 10,000 cars with rotary engines, including the GS Birotor and the CX 2200.
• Mercedes-Benz: Mercedes-Benz produced a small number of cars with rotary engines, including the C111 and the CLK GTR.

Why Aren’t Rotary Engines More Popular?

Rotary engines have a number of advantages over traditional piston engines, including their smoothness, high power output, and compact size. However, rotary engines also have a number of disadvantages, including their poor fuel economy and emissions.

The main reason why rotary engines are not more popular is because of their poor fuel economy. Rotary engines typically get worse gas mileage than piston engines, which is a major drawback for many consumers.

Another reason why rotary engines are not more popular is because of their emissions. Rotary engines produce more emissions than piston engines, which can be a problem in areas with strict emissions regulations.

The Future of Rotary Engines

Despite their drawbacks, rotary engines still have a number of advantages over traditional piston engines. Rotary engines are smoother, more powerful, and more compact than piston engines. This makes them ideal for use in a variety of applications, including sports cars, lightweight vehicles, and aircraft.

In recent years, there has been a renewed interest in rotary engines. A number of companies are developing new rotary engines that are more efficient and less polluting than previous designs. If these new engines can be successful, it is possible that rotary engines could become more popular in the future.

Conclusion

Rotary engines have a number of advantages over traditional piston engines, including their smoothness, high power output, and compact size. However, rotary engines also have a number of disadvantages, including their poor fuel economy and emissions. Despite these drawbacks, rotary engines still have a number of advantages over traditional piston engines, and they could become more popular in the future if new, more efficient designs can be developed.