July 30, 2003. Copyright, 2003, Graphic News. All rights reserved

Rotary-engine powered Mazda RX-8 coupe
By Neil Winton

LONDON, July 30, Graphic News:  The Mazda RX-8 is powered by a rotary engine, spinning and whirling to thrust it forward at Porsche-like speeds for Volkswagen prices.

Starting at 28,380 euros, the RX-8, which looks like a coupe, is big enough to provide ample room in the rear for two, with access enhanced by unique rear doors hinged at the back.

No other mainstream manufacturer sells rotary engines, which produce a lot of power for their size compared with conventional power plants. Crankshafts and valves are unnecessary. The downside has been their unacceptable greed for fuel, and their inability to curb noxious emissions.

Mazda of Japan, controlled by American motor giant Ford, says it has curbed the rotary engineÕs great thirst. The base 190-brake horse power (bhp) version delivers 26.2 miles per gallon (10.8 litres per 100 km), and the top-of-the-range 231 bhp car, 24.8 mpg (11.4 litres per 100km). Emissions meet upcoming Euro Stage IV regulations.

Rotary engines first appeared in the 1960s with the NSU Ro80, but were unreliable and they were dumped after VW bought NSU in 1969. Mazda also produced rotary engines in the 1960s, and never gave up, producing over 1.8 million. The rotary powered Mazda 787B won the Le Mans 24-hour sports car race in 1991.

The rear-drive Mazda RX-8Õs engine displaces only 1.3 litres, making it seem the equivalent of a Nissan Micra or VW Polo. But unlike conventional reciprocating engines with cylinders, the Mazda twin-rotor has triangular shaped rotors which spin to generate a lot more power. 

Initially, the rotary engine makes a strange whirring noise, which becomes more of a high-pitched but sophisticated-sounding whine as you move through the gears. The engine spins at much higher revolutions than conventional engines, with the red line starting at about 7,000 revolutions per minute (rpm) and peaking at 9,400 rpm. Regular petrol engines seldom reach more than 6,000 rpm. The higher-powered RX-8 produces maximum power at 8,200 rpm and races from 0-100 km/h in 6.4 seconds.

The RX-8 is already on sale in the U.S and Japan. European sales start in October.
/ENDS