you remember Mazda Cosmo Sport 110S ? Published on Tokyo in 1967this two-seater coupe was Mazda’s answer to the Japanese sport time Toyota 2000 GT and Honda S800. It was a concentrate of innovation, starting with him very original design, and its unprecedented size. And especially its mechanics, which we had never seen in a Mazda before: a Wankel engine ! No V-shaped, flat or in-line cylinders, no camshafts or crankshafts here. But one two-piston rotary engine ! This is German engineer Felix Wankel who was at the origin of this technology developed at that time for the manufacturer USN. Several models of the brand were equipped with it, including Prince, spider or baroque itself sedan RO80 (RO for rotary, of course).

Trademark

Mazda bought the rights to it in 1961., and the first production car from the manufacturer to be equipped with it was this little Japanese sports car! At the time, it heralded Mazda’s big rotary engine period. Like the models R100, RX-2, RX-3, RX-7 or even Mazda RX-8, removed in 2012. But why did you trust this technology and why did you abandon it? One of the advantages of the Wankel engine was its approvalmany less noise and vibration than a conventional heat engine. But this high consumption – gasoline, like oil – did not make it the most economical. Only NSU and Mazda trusted this technology, but it was never really democratized…

Again in electricity

Ten years after the RX-8 disappeared and the end of the Wankel engine, it’s back! Mazda really has it confirmed for 2023, in a completely different form than the known one. It will no longer be the main driver, but will perform its functions range extender for powering the electric motor ! It’s on Crossover MX-30which it will initially appear but may be applied in the future The entire Mazda electric line. When we talk about Wankel engine or rotary engine here, we are referring to how it works. It will use the same principle as before: a a triangular rotor that rotates in a circular chamber. But here gas station is cooked, only electricity is produced. New Mazda MX-30 R-EV still has its share of surprises, but will be presented – along with its technical characteristics – next Brussels Motor Show, January 2023.