## What is a Wankel Engine?
A Wankel engine is a type of internal combustion engine that uses a triangular rotor to convert pressure into rotating motion. Unlike a conventional piston engine, which uses a crankshaft to convert the reciprocating motion of pistons into rotating motion, a Wankel engine uses a trochoidal chamber and a triangular rotor to create a continuous rotary motion.
History of the Wankel Engine
The Wankel engine was invented by German engineer Felix Wankel in the 1950s. Wankel was inspired by the simplicity and efficiency of the rotary engine, and he believed that he could create a more powerful and efficient engine by using a triangular rotor instead of a crankshaft.
In 1957, Wankel filed a patent for his new engine design. In 1960, the first Wankel engine was built by the German company NSU Motorenwerke AG. In 1964, NSU introduced the first Wankel-powered car, the NSU Spider.
The Wankel engine quickly gained popularity due to its compact size, light weight, and high power output. However, the engine also had some drawbacks, including poor fuel economy and high emissions.
Advantages of the Wankel Engine
* **Compact size and light weight:** The Wankel engine is much more compact and lighter than a conventional piston engine. This makes it ideal for use in small vehicles, such as sports cars and motorcycles.
* **High power output:** The Wankel engine can produce a high power output for its size. This makes it ideal for use in high-performance vehicles.
* **Smooth operation:** The Wankel engine operates very smoothly, with no reciprocating parts. This makes it ideal for use in vehicles that require a quiet and vibration-free ride.
Disadvantages of the Wankel Engine
* **Poor fuel economy:** The Wankel engine has poor fuel economy compared to a conventional piston engine. This is due to the fact that the Wankel engine has a lower thermal efficiency than a piston engine.
* **High emissions:** The Wankel engine produces higher emissions than a conventional piston engine. This is due to the fact that the Wankel engine has a higher surface-to-volume ratio than a piston engine.
* **Reliability:** The Wankel engine is less reliable than a conventional piston engine. This is due to the fact that the Wankel engine has more moving parts than a piston engine.
What Cars Have a Wankel Engine?
The following cars have been powered by Wankel engines:
* **NSU Spider** (1964-1967)
* **NSU Ro 80** (1967-1977)
* **Mazda Cosmo** (1967-1995)
* **Mazda RX-2** (1970-1978)
* **Mazda RX-3** (1972-1978)
* **Mazda RX-4** (1972-1978)
* **Mazda RX-5** (1975-1980)
* **Mazda RX-7** (1978-2002)
* **Mazda RX-8** (2003-2012)
The Future of the Wankel Engine
The Wankel engine has been in decline since the 1980s due to its poor fuel economy and high emissions. However, there is still some interest in the Wankel engine for use in niche applications, such as sports cars and motorcycles.
In 2013, Mazda announced that it was developing a new Wankel engine with improved fuel economy and emissions. The new engine is expected to be released in the next few years.
It remains to be seen whether the Wankel engine will ever regain its former popularity. However, the engine’s unique advantages make it a potential candidate for use in future vehicles.
