For years, we’ve heard rumors that Mazda was going to deliver again the rotary engine and provides us a brand new sports activities automotive as a successor to the RX-7 and RX-8. And but, arguably unsurprisingly, it hasn’t occurred. Nicely, technically, Mazda did deliver again the rotary engine, nevertheless it serves as a variety extender on the MX-30, which is unquestionably not a sports activities automotive. However possibly, simply possibly, that’s about to vary.
CarBuzz discovered that Mazda filed six patents with the Japanese Patent Workplace, all of that are associated to a brand new two-rotor rotary engine. In contrast to the single-rotor engine used within the MX-30, this two-rotor design seems to be designed to energy a automotive as a substitute of serving as a variety extender.
What automotive? We are able to’t say for certain, nevertheless it’s undoubtedly the RX-9 (or no matter Mazda decides to name its follow-up to the RX-8), proper? It needs to be. Why else would Mazda develop a brand new rotary engine? Simply to tease us with the potential to lastly get what we actually need, solely to by no means put it into manufacturing? Really, that could be what finally ends up taking place. We’ve been burned earlier than, and we don’t need to get our hopes up till there’s an precise automotive in entrance of us that we will drive.
If the RX-9 truly does make it to manufacturing, it’ll should be much more gasoline environment friendly than the RX-8’s 16 mpg metropolis and 22 mpg freeway ranking. (Technically, the automated acquired barely higher fuel mileage, however we don’t wish to acknowledge that it got here with something however a handbook.) And that’s precisely what three of the patents concentrate on: adjustments to the rotor design that may enhance gasoline effectivity. So possibly there actually is a few potential right here.
CarBuzz has a fantastic, in-depth breakdown of every of the patents, so should you’re fascinated about studying extra, undoubtedly try the unique article. And possibly, simply possibly let your self really feel the tiniest little bit of hope that we’ll get another rotary-powered sports activities automotive from Mazda at first goes electrical.
