Mazda’s Rotary Engine Big Reveal

Mazda’s vice president of sales and customer service revealed the automotive brand’s plan to restart production of the Wankel rotary engine again last March. The VP also hinted that production would begin on electric cars in 2019. Although not much information has been released, car lovers cannot help but feel excited about Mazda’s big revival of the rotary engine!

Unlike traditional engines, rotary engines do not contain pistons. Instead, rotary engines contain triangular shaped rotors. The rotors ignite when air and fuel is pumped between their interior walls. This creates an explosion that turns the rotors. As a result, power is created.

Rotary engines are preferred among car aficionados for many reasons. Not only are they lighter than traditional piston engines, but they are smaller as well! Also, rotary engines are much smoother than piston engines. Rotary engines do not produce the vibrations that piston engines do.

Although there are many pros to using Wankel rotary engines, they have their cons as well. Rotary engines have a long history of being fussy and not as efficient as traditional engines. Further, it would be exceptionally difficult for rotary engines to meet today’s emissions standards.

It might seem hard to believe that a prominent brand, such as Mazda, would revive the Wankel rotary engine, but Mazda may have found a way to combat the negative elements of the rotary engine. Mazda plans to include the Wankel rotary engines in their new fully electric vehicles as a range extender. It is much more plausible to assume that Mazda will use the rotary engine as a range extender for electric vehicles instead of as the sole engine.

Could this be the start of a whole new generation of electric vehicles? We hope so! Click here to browse Mazda vehicles for sale, or visit your Mazda dealer near Oak Lawn to view the extensive selection of new and pre-owned Mazda’s for sale near you!