How Many USA Cars 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 more compact and lighter than piston engines, and they can rev higher and produce more power for their size. However, rotary engines also have some disadvantages, including higher emissions and fuel consumption than piston engines.

The first production car to use a rotary engine was the Mazda Cosmo Sport 110S, which was introduced in Japan in 1967. Mazda continued to produce rotary-powered cars for decades, and the rotary engine was also used in a few other vehicles, such as the Citroën GS Birotor and the NSU Ro 80.

How Many USA Cars Had Rotary Engines?

In the United States, only two cars were ever sold with rotary engines: the Mazda RX-2 and the Mazda RX-3. The RX-2 was introduced in 1971, and the RX-3 was introduced in 1972. Both cars were powered by a 1.3-liter rotary engine that produced 100 horsepower.

The RX-2 and RX-3 were not particularly popular in the United States, and they were discontinued in 1975 and 1978, respectively. However, Mazda continued to produce rotary-powered cars for the Japanese market, and the rotary engine is still used in the Mazda RX-8, which is the only car currently sold in the United States with a rotary engine.

Advantages of Rotary Engines

* **Compact and lightweight:** Rotary engines are more compact and lighter than piston engines, which makes them ideal for use in small cars and sports cars.
* **High revving:** Rotary engines can rev higher than piston engines, which gives them more power for their size.
* **Smooth operation:** Rotary engines run very smoothly, with less vibration than piston engines.

Disadvantages of Rotary Engines

* **Higher emissions:** Rotary engines produce higher emissions than piston engines, which makes them less environmentally friendly.
* **Higher fuel consumption:** Rotary engines also consume more fuel than piston engines, which makes them less fuel efficient.
* **Reliability:** Rotary engines are not as reliable as piston engines, and they require more maintenance.

Conclusion

The rotary engine is a unique type of internal combustion engine that offers some advantages over piston engines, such as compactness, lightness, and high revving. However, rotary engines also have some disadvantages, such as higher emissions, higher fuel consumption, and lower reliability.

In the United States, only two cars were ever sold with rotary engines: the Mazda RX-2 and the Mazda RX-3. Both cars were discontinued in the 1970s, and Mazda is the only automaker that currently sells cars with rotary engines in the United States.