How Many US Cars Had Rotary Engines?

The rotary engine was invented by Felix Wankel in the early 1950s. It is a type of internal combustion engine that uses a triangular rotor that spins within a figure-8 shaped chamber. Rotary engines are more compact and lighter than piston engines, and they can produce more power with less vibration. However, they also tend to be less fuel-efficient and more prone to emissions.

US Cars with Rotary Engines

There have been a number of US cars that have been produced with rotary engines. The most notable of these are the Mazda RX-7 and the Mazda RX-8. The RX-7 was first introduced in 1978, and it was produced until 2002. The RX-8 was introduced in 2003, and it was produced until 2012.

Other US cars that have been produced with rotary engines include the Chevrolet Vega, the Ford Mustang II, and the AMC Pacer. However, these cars were not as popular as the Mazda RX-7 and the Mazda RX-8.

Total Number of US Cars with Rotary Engines

It is difficult to say exactly how many US cars have been produced with rotary engines. However, it is estimated that the total number is somewhere between 500,000 and 1 million. This number is relatively small compared to the number of US cars that have been produced with piston engines.

Reasons for the Decline of Rotary Engines

There are a number of reasons why rotary engines have not become more popular in the US. One reason is that they are less fuel-efficient than piston engines. Another reason is that they are more prone to emissions. Additionally, rotary engines can be more expensive to manufacture than piston engines.

Conclusion

Rotary engines have a number of advantages over piston engines, but they also have some disadvantages. As a result, they have not become as popular in the US as piston engines. However, rotary engines are still used in a number of niche applications, such as in racing cars and aircraft.