Mazda Will Continue to Develop Rotary Engines

Mazda is committing to fuel economy with its new SkyActiv technology, which was expected to render the companies rotary engine lineup defunct. Not so says Mazda, confirming that development continues on the next generation of rotary. 

The RX-8 was the last Mazda to use the rotary engine setup, and after production was ended, it was assumed by many that the rotary technology would die with the car. Especially with SkyActiv taking over as Mazda’s new engineering setup, the gas-thirsty rotary engines seemed destined for discontinuation.

To keep up with SkyActiv, the rotary engine must become more fuel efficient, a feat which Mazda claims they have figured out how to achieve.

“While the majority of the company’s engineering resources are focused on the development of our revolutionary Sky Activ technology, work does continue on the next-generation rotary,” said Mazda.

Rotary engines are easily adaptable to run on fuel sources other than gasoline, and the company has said that this is an option as well.

“Additionally, work continues on the use of fuels other than gasoline, taking advantage of the rotary’s unique ability to operate on multiple fuels without extensive reengineering,” said Mazda.

A rotary engine range extender would also serve well in a hybrid setup, as small displacement numbers can be made into big power rather easily in a rotary engine.

[Source: AutoCar]