Cars with Rotary Engine

Introduction

A rotary engine is an internal combustion engine that uses a triangular rotor that spins within a figure-eight shaped chamber to convert pressure into rotating motion. Rotary engines are more compact and lighter than piston engines, and they can operate at higher speeds. However, they also produce more emissions and are less fuel-efficient than piston engines.

History of Rotary Engines

The first rotary engine was invented in 1954 by Felix Wankel. Wankel’s engine was a two-rotor design that was used in a number of prototype vehicles. However, it was not until 1964 that the first production rotary-engine car, the Mazda Cosmo 110S, was released.

Mazda continued to develop rotary engines and used them in a number of their production cars, including the RX-2, RX-3, and RX-7. The RX-7 was particularly successful, and it was produced for over 20 years.

Advantages of Rotary Engines

* **Compact and lightweight:** Rotary engines are much more compact and lighter than piston engines. This makes them ideal for use in small vehicles, such as sports cars and motorcycles.
* **High power-to-weight ratio:** Rotary engines can produce more power than piston engines of the same size and weight. This makes them ideal for use in high-performance vehicles.
* **Smooth operation:** Rotary engines operate very smoothly, with no vibrations. This makes them ideal for use in luxury vehicles.

Disadvantages of Rotary Engines

* **High emissions:** Rotary engines produce more emissions than piston engines. This is because the combustion process in a rotary engine is less efficient than in a piston engine.
* **Low fuel efficiency:** Rotary engines are less fuel-efficient than piston engines. This is because the combustion process in a rotary engine is less efficient than in a piston engine.
* **Short lifespan:** Rotary engines have a shorter lifespan than piston engines. This is because the rotors in a rotary engine are subjected to more wear and tear than the pistons in a piston engine.

Conclusion

Rotary engines have a number of advantages over piston engines, including their compact size, light weight, and high power-to-weight ratio. However, they also have a number of disadvantages, including their high emissions, low fuel efficiency, and short lifespan. As a result, rotary engines are not as common as piston engines in production vehicles.