## What Cars Have a Wankel Engine?
The Wankel engine, also known as the rotary engine, is a type of internal combustion engine that uses a triangular rotor that spins within a figure-8 shaped chamber to create power. Wankel engines are known for their smooth operation, high power output, and compact size. However, they are also known for their high fuel consumption and emissions.
The first car to use a Wankel engine was the NSU Spider, which was introduced in 1964. Since then, a number of other cars have been produced with Wankel engines, including:
* Mazda Cosmo Sport 110S (1967)
* Mazda RX-2 (1970)
* Mazda RX-3 (1972)
* Mazda RX-4 (1973)
* Mazda RX-5 (1975)
* Mazda RX-7 (1978)
* Mazda RX-8 (2003)
The Mazda RX-8 was the last car to be produced with a Wankel engine. Mazda discontinued the RX-8 in 2012 due to declining sales and increasingly strict emissions regulations.
Advantages of the Wankel Engine
* **Smooth operation:** Wankel engines are known for their smooth operation, which is due to the fact that they have no reciprocating parts. This makes them ideal for use in sports cars and luxury vehicles.
* **High power output:** Wankel engines can produce a high power output for their size. This is due to the fact that they have a high surface area-to-volume ratio, which allows for more efficient combustion.
* **Compact size:** Wankel engines are very compact, which makes them ideal for use in small cars and motorcycles.
Disadvantages of the Wankel Engine
* **High fuel consumption:** Wankel engines are known for their high fuel consumption, which is due to the fact that they have a poor thermal efficiency. This makes them less fuel-efficient than other types of internal combustion engines.
* **High emissions:** Wankel engines also produce high levels of emissions, which is due to the fact that they have a poor combustion process. This makes them less environmentally friendly than other types of internal combustion engines.
Future of the Wankel Engine
The future of the Wankel engine is uncertain. Mazda has discontinued production of cars with Wankel engines, and there are no other major automakers that are currently producing cars with this type of engine. However, there are a number of small companies that are developing Wankel engines for use in niche applications, such as sports cars and motorcycles.
It is possible that the Wankel engine could make a comeback in the future, as new technologies are developed to overcome its disadvantages. For example, there are a number of companies that are developing Wankel engines that use hydrogen as a fuel, which could help to reduce emissions.
