On June 22, 2012, Mazda, the only major manufacturer of rotary engines of the Wankel design, produced the last Renesis engine installed in the RX-8 .
Thus ends a long era of small-volume engines hungry for revolutions. However, it is heard from the mouth of the Mazda management that although the production of the RX-8 is ending, the spirit of rotary engines will live on with the Mazda brand still indelibly written in the history of motoring.
At the same time, they add in one breath that although they are working on the next generation of a rotary engine, the classic Skyactiv piston engines are much more efficient, and most of the efforts and funds will thus fall on the improvement of these power units working with an extremely high or extremely low compression ratio of 14:1 as for both petrol and diesel engines.
For a long time, we have not seen a rotary engine in a model that could make a significant impact on the market. The question is whether the notoriously short lifespan of these engines, the reluctance of customers to try and demand something different from automakers, or emission limits are to blame. But it is rumored that Mazda is working on a power unit combining a hydrogen-electric drive, which will use Wankel's internal combustion engine design.
What do you think? Do you want to see the famous, tuner sought after engines alongside the technology of the future or would you rather see a supercharged 3-rotor Wankel spitting fire from the tailpipe? You can write your opinion in the comments or on our Facebook page .
