What Cars Come with Rotary Engines?
Rotary engines are a type of internal combustion engine that uses a triangular rotor to convert the pressure of expanding combustion gases into rotating motion. This design is fundamentally different from the more common reciprocating piston engine, which uses pistons moving up and down in cylinders to convert pressure into motion.
Rotary engines offer several advantages over reciprocating piston engines, including:
- Smoother operation
- Higher power output
- Lighter weight
- Smaller size
However, rotary engines also have some disadvantages, including:
- Poorer fuel economy
- Higher emissions
- Shorter lifespan
The first car to be mass-produced with a rotary engine was the Mazda Cosmo 110S, which was released in 1967. Mazda has continued to produce rotary-engined cars ever since, and the current Mazda RX-8 is the only car on the market that still uses this type of engine.
Other car manufacturers that have produced rotary-engined cars include:
- NSU (Germany)
- Citroën (France)
- Alfa Romeo (Italy)
- General Motors (USA)
Here is a list of all the cars that have come with rotary engines:
Mazda
- Cosmo 110S (1967-1972)
- RX-2 (1970-1973)
- RX-3 (1971-1978)
- RX-4 (1972-1976)
- RX-5 (1975-1981)
- RX-7 (1978-2002)
- RX-8 (2003-2012)
NSU
- Ro 80 (1967-1977)
Citroën
- M35 (1969-1971)
- GS Birotor (1973-1975)
Alfa Romeo
- 2000 Spider Veloce (1982-1985)
General Motors
- RE-5 (1974-1975)
Rotary engines have a unique sound and feel that is unlike any other type of engine. They are also very powerful and efficient, which makes them ideal for use in sports cars and racing cars.
However, rotary engines are also more expensive to produce than reciprocating piston engines, and they have a shorter lifespan. This has limited their popularity in the automotive market.
Despite their disadvantages, rotary engines remain a fascinating and unique type of engine. They offer a number of advantages over reciprocating piston engines, and they have a loyal following among enthusiasts.
