## **Which Cars Have Rotary Engines?**
A rotary engine is a type of internal combustion engine that uses a triangular rotor that spins within a figure-8 shaped chamber to convert pressure into rotating motion. Rotary engines are known for their small size, light weight, and high power output, but they also have some disadvantages, such as poor fuel economy and high emissions.
Only a few car manufacturers have ever produced rotary engine vehicles. The most well-known rotary engine car is the Mazda RX-7, which was produced from 1978 to 2002. Other rotary engine cars include the Mazda RX-8, the NSU Ro 80, and the Citroën GS Birotor.
**Mazda RX-7**
The Mazda RX-7 was a sports car that was produced from 1978 to 2002. It was the first mass-produced car to use a rotary engine. The RX-7 was available in both coupé and convertible body styles. It was powered by a 1.3-liter rotary engine that produced 100 horsepower. The RX-7 was a popular sports car and won numerous awards, including the Motor Trend Car of the Year award in 1979.
**Mazda RX-8**
The Mazda RX-8 was a sports car that was produced from 2003 to 2012. It was the last mass-produced car to use a rotary engine. The RX-8 was available in both coupé and convertible body styles. It was powered by a 1.3-liter rotary engine that produced 230 horsepower. The RX-8 was a popular sports car and won numerous awards, including the Top Gear Car of the Year award in 2003.
**NSU Ro 80**
The NSU Ro 80 was a luxury car that was produced from 1967 to 1977. It was the first production car to use a rotary engine. The Ro 80 was available in both sedan and coupé body styles. It was powered by a 1.0-liter rotary engine that produced 115 horsepower. The Ro 80 was a popular luxury car and won numerous awards, including the European Car of the Year award in 1967.
**Citroën GS Birotor**
The Citroën GS Birotor was a hatchback that was produced from 1973 to 1975. It was the only car produced by a French manufacturer to use a rotary engine. The GS Birotor was powered by a 1.0-liter rotary engine that produced 107 horsepower. The GS Birotor was not a popular car and only a few thousand units were produced.
## **Advantages of Rotary Engines**
Rotary engines have several advantages over traditional piston engines. These advantages include:
* **Small size and light weight:** Rotary engines are much smaller and lighter than piston engines of comparable power. This makes them ideal for use in small vehicles and aircraft.
* **High power output:** Rotary engines can produce more power than piston engines of the same size. This is because rotary engines have a higher surface area-to-volume ratio than piston engines, which allows them to burn more fuel per cycle.
* **Smooth operation:** Rotary engines operate very smoothly because they have no reciprocating parts. This makes them ideal for use in high-performance vehicles.
## **Disadvantages of Rotary Engines**
Rotary engines also have some disadvantages compared to traditional piston engines. These disadvantages include:
* **Poor fuel economy:** Rotary engines have poor fuel economy compared to piston engines. This is because rotary engines have a lower thermal efficiency than piston engines.
* **High emissions:** Rotary engines produce more emissions than piston engines. This is because rotary engines have a higher surface area-to-volume ratio than piston engines, which allows them to burn more oil per cycle.
* **Short lifespan:** Rotary engines have a shorter lifespan than piston engines. This is because rotary engines have more moving parts than piston engines, which can wear out more quickly.
## **Conclusion**
Rotary engines are a unique type of internal combustion engine that offer several advantages over traditional piston engines. However, rotary engines also have some disadvantages, such as poor fuel economy and high emissions. Only a few car manufacturers have ever produced rotary engine vehicles, and the Mazda RX-7 is the most well-known rotary engine car.
