What Cars Have Rotary Engines In Them?
Rotary engines are 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 and more efficient power delivery than traditional piston engines. Rotary engines were first developed by Felix Wankel in the 1950s, and they have been used in a variety of cars over the years.
Some of the most famous cars to use rotary engines include:
Mazda RX-7
The Mazda RX-7 was a sports car that was produced from 1978 to 2002. It was powered by a 1.3-liter rotary engine that produced up to 255 horsepower. The RX-7 was a popular choice for racing, and it won the 24 Hours of Le Mans in 1991.
Mazda RX-8
The Mazda RX-8 was a sports car that was produced from 2003 to 2012. It was powered by a 1.3-liter rotary engine that produced up to 238 horsepower. The RX-8 was praised for its handling and performance, but it was also criticized for its poor fuel economy.
NSU Ro 80
The NSU Ro 80 was a luxury car that was produced from 1967 to 1977. It was powered by a 1.0-liter rotary engine that produced up to 115 horsepower. The Ro 80 was the first car to be mass-produced with a rotary engine, but it was not a commercial success. It was plagued by reliability problems, and it was discontinued in 1977.
Citroën GS Birotor
The Citroën GS Birotor was a hatchback that was produced from 1973 to 1975. It was powered by a 1.0-liter rotary engine that produced up to 107 horsepower. The GS Birotor was a technological marvel, but it was also a commercial failure. It was expensive to produce, and it suffered from the same reliability problems as the NSU Ro 80.
Rotary engines have a number of advantages over traditional piston engines. They are smoother, more efficient, and more compact. However, they also have some disadvantages. They are more expensive to produce, they require more maintenance, and they produce more emissions. As a result, rotary engines are not as common as piston engines.
Why Are Rotary Engines Not More Popular?
There are a number of reasons why rotary engines are not more popular than piston engines. Some of the main reasons include:
- Cost: Rotary engines are more expensive to produce than piston engines.
- Maintenance: Rotary engines require more maintenance than piston engines.
- Emissions: Rotary engines produce more emissions than piston engines.
- Fuel economy: Rotary engines have worse fuel economy than piston engines.
Despite these disadvantages, rotary engines still have some advantages over piston engines. They are smoother, more efficient, and more compact. As a result, rotary engines may still have a future in the automotive industry.
