New Mazda Rotary Engine Rumored to Pack Over 450 HP
Mazda previewed a possible rotary revival at the 2015 Tokyo Motor Show with the RX Vision Concept and now rumors on a new production rotary engine have surfaced.
According to a report from Motoring, the production rotary engine will make its debut in 2017 when Mazda celebrates the rotary’s 50th anniversary year. But rather than using the 1.3-liter 13B Renesis rotary from the RX-7, the new production RX model will feature a larger, twin-rotor 1.6-liter 16X engine boasting a twin-800cc rotor setup that will generate at least 450 horsepower. It is also believed that the Japanese automaker is working on a two-stage turbo system that takes advantage of electric turbocharging to provide high performance in the lower rpm band before the exhaust-driven turbo takes over at higher revs.
As a result, the new Skyactiv-R rotary engine should spin beyond 8,000 rpm and be more fuel efficient than Mazda’s previous rotary engine.
SEE ALSO: Mazda RX-Vision Concept Previews Rotary Revival
As for the sports car itself, expect the RX-9 to have a dual-clutch transmission that will be integrated into the rear axle to improve weight distribution. More importantly, as is evident with the new Mazda MX-5 Miata, the production RX model is looking to use lightweight components to bring its weight to around 3,100 pounds. If it all comes to fruition, the next-generation Mazda RX sports car would be competitive with even Porsche 911 models, but for now, these are just rumors.
[Source: Motoring]
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Jason Siu began his career in automotive journalism in 2003 with Modified Magazine, a property previously held by VerticalScope. As the West Coast Editor, he played a pivotal role while also extending his expertise to Modified Luxury & Exotics and Modified Mustangs. Beyond his editorial work, Jason authored two notable Cartech books. His tenure at AutoGuide.com saw him immersed in the daily news cycle, yet his passion for hands-on evaluation led him to focus on testing and product reviews, offering well-rounded recommendations to AutoGuide readers. Currently, as the Content Director for VerticalScope, Jason spearheads the content strategy for an array of online publications, a role that has him at the helm of ensuring quality and consistency across the board.
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Great, another 90 thousand dollar car I wont be able to afford.. lol
I will have to wait for the Mazda RX-9 when it comes out in 2017-18, it will be high class sport's enthusiast prized car to possess. A dream car must have for the hobbyist. This baby will rock!