Rotary Engine Cars
What is a Rotary Engine?
A rotary engine is a type of internal combustion engine that uses a triangular rotor that spins within a figure-8 shaped chamber. This design allows for a smoother, more powerful, and more efficient engine than traditional piston engines.
Advantages of Rotary Engines
- Smoother operation: Rotary engines have no reciprocating parts, which means they operate with less vibration than piston engines.
- More power: Rotary engines can produce more power than piston engines of the same size.
- More efficient: Rotary engines can convert more of their fuel into power than piston engines.
- Smaller and lighter: Rotary engines are smaller and lighter than piston engines of the same power output.
Disadvantages of Rotary Engines
- Shorter lifespan: Rotary engines typically have a shorter lifespan than piston engines.
- Higher emissions: Rotary engines produce more emissions than piston engines.
- Less fuel efficient: Rotary engines are less fuel efficient than piston engines at low speeds.
- More complex design: Rotary engines are more complex to design and build than piston engines.
History of Rotary Engine Cars
The first rotary engine car was built in 1957 by Felix Wankel. Mazda began producing rotary engine cars in the early 1960s, and the company has been the only major automaker to mass-produce rotary engine vehicles.
Mazda’s first rotary engine car was the Cosmo Sport, which was released in 1967. The Cosmo Sport was a small, lightweight sports car that was powered by a 1.0-liter rotary engine. The Cosmo Sport was a success, and Mazda went on to produce a number of other rotary engine cars, including the RX-2, RX-3, and RX-7.
Mazda’s rotary engine cars were popular for their smooth operation, high power, and light weight. However, they were also known for their short lifespan and high emissions. Mazda stopped producing rotary engine cars in 2012, but the company has said that it is continuing to develop rotary engine technology.
Current Rotary Engine Cars
There are no current production rotary engine cars. However, Mazda has announced that it is developing a new rotary engine car, which is expected to be released in 2023.
Conclusion
Rotary engines have a number of advantages over piston engines, including their smooth operation, high power, and light weight. However, they also have a number of disadvantages, including their short lifespan and high emissions. Mazda has been the only major automaker to mass-produce rotary engine cars, and the company is continuing to develop rotary engine technology.
