New Mazda Rotary Confirmed... and it will be in the MX-30

"Manwich - now Keto-Friendly" (manwich)
10/14/2020 at 16:47 • Filed to: None

... as a range-extender.

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Edit: And this makes me think of something I read a while back that rotary engines can be fairly efficient when running continuously at their optimal rpm and what really kills the efficiency in a rotary are the RPM changes... more so than with a piston engine. I’ll see if I can dig up where I read that.

DISCUSSION (15)

Who is the Leader - 404 / Blog No Longer Available > Manwich - now Keto-Friendly
10/14/2020 at 17:01

Pretty sure I read that same thing. . . in a comment here on Oppo the last time this was brought up.

I'm really looking forward to hearing Wankels wailing away at stoplights in an electric clamshell doored Mazda though.

Michael > Who is the Leader - 404 / Blog No Longer Available
10/14/2020 at 17:10

I brought it up, here’s an example from Popular Mechanics

It’s a variant on Wankel, but the idea remains the same - pin everything at the most efficient point (peak BSFC Brake- Specific Fuel Consumption) and design everything around that RPM (basically just an alternator/generator)

Goggles Pizzano > Manwich - now Keto-Friendly
10/14/2020 at 17:11

How small could it be to produce the estimated 30-40 hp? And what can I put one in ?

Who is the Leader - 404 / Blog No Longer Available > Michael
10/14/2020 at 17:15

It’s true though that running it at a set RPM would make it easier to design and refine further. No need for variable valve timing and complicated continuously adjusting parameters. A rotary really makes sense as a generator.

duurtlang > Goggles Pizzano
10/14/2020 at 17:17

And what can I put one in?

One? Why not 10?

Manwich - now Keto-Friendly > Goggles Pizzano
10/14/2020 at 17:26

If the power level of the RX-8 is anything to go by, I’d say if it was a single-rotor with 0.13L of displacement (or 0.26L if you go by the other way of calculating rotary engine displacement) , you’ll have a 30-40hp rotary.

Manwich - now Keto-Friendly > Who is the Leader - 404 / Blog No Longer Available
10/14/2020 at 17:28

“I’m really looking forward to hearing Wankels wailing away”

Chances are they’ll have it refined down to a very quiet whirring sound.

Aremmes > Who is the Leader - 404 / Blog No Longer Available
10/14/2020 at 17:31

You can’t put variable valve timing on a Wankel engine anyway.

Who is the Leader - 404 / Blog No Longer Available > Manwich - now Keto-Friendly
10/14/2020 at 17:34

Better than the sound of wailers wanking away for sure. Yeah I don't expect it to sound like a modded RX-7 but it'll be a unique sound.

Who is the Leader - 404 / Blog No Longer Available > Aremmes
10/14/2020 at 17:35

Shows what I know. It's just easier to design something for a narrower use case, especially given how different engines can behave at the extreme ends of their RPM range.

Goggles Pizzano > Manwich - now Keto-Friendly
10/14/2020 at 17:36

T he sound it makes? Squeeeeeeeeee .

Chariotoflove > Manwich - now Keto-Friendly
10/14/2020 at 17:36

And they are already pretty quiet to begin with; so, it shouldn’t take too much insulation.

Aremmes > Who is the Leader - 404 / Blog No Longer Available
10/14/2020 at 17:48

I was just being facetious, y’know. Wankels don’t have valve trains. And y ou’re right about designing for a narrow use case.

Manwich - now Keto-Friendly > Goggles Pizzano
10/14/2020 at 18:52

Dash-doorhandle-6 cyl none the richer > Manwich - now Keto-Friendly
10/14/2020 at 18:55

Cool, I can see wankels and gas turbines and other things that didn’t quite work out finding their stride in hybrids.