Contents
What Cars Came with a Rotary Engine?
Mazda
Mazda is the only automaker to have mass-produced rotary engines in passenger cars.
- Mazda Cosmo 110S (1967-1972)
- Mazda RX-2 (1970-1975)
- Mazda RX-3 (1972-1978)
- Mazda RX-4 (1973-1978)
- Mazda RX-5 (1975-1981)
- Mazda RX-7 (1978-2002)
- Mazda RX-8 (2003-2012)
NSU
NSU was a German automaker that produced rotary engines in the 1960s and 1970s.
- NSU Spider (1964-1967)
- NSU Ro 80 (1967-1977)
- NSU KKM 500 (1970-1971)
Citroën
Citroën, a French automaker, partnered with NSU to produce rotary engines in the 1970s.
- Citroën GS Birotor (1973-1975)
- Citroën CX 2400 GTi (1975-1976)
Other Manufacturers
A few other automakers have experimented with rotary engines, but none have mass-produced them.
- Chevrolet Corvette XP-89 (1959)
- Mercedes-Benz C111 (1969)
- Fiat 128 Experimental (1971)
- Lancia Stratos HF Zero (1973)
- Mazda 929 (1979)
- BMW 2002 Turbo (1983)
Advantages of Rotary Engines
- Smooth power delivery
- Lightweight and compact
- High power-to-weight ratio
- Fewer moving parts than a piston engine
Disadvantages of Rotary Engines
- Poor fuel economy
- High emissions
- Short lifespan
- Difficult to maintain
Conclusion
Rotary engines are a unique and interesting type of engine that offer some advantages over piston engines. However, they also have some significant disadvantages. As a result, only a few automakers have ever mass-produced rotary engines.
