Next MX-5 to be Rotary?
Discussion
Did anyone else notice this?
http://www.convertiblecarmagazine.com/2015-mazda-m...
Could be interesting.
http://www.convertiblecarmagazine.com/2015-mazda-m...
Could be interesting.
The whole thing is wild speculation and just to make things worse they talk about the new Sky Active engines and then send out a film of the new car that is obviously turbo charged.
The new rotary will be much better according to what we hear but as far as we are concerned the longevity of the old unit is not in question if you look after it properly, we regularly get cars in for rebuild with milages in excess of 100k and the record is 200k
The new rotary will be much better according to what we hear but as far as we are concerned the longevity of the old unit is not in question if you look after it properly, we regularly get cars in for rebuild with milages in excess of 100k and the record is 200k
It makes less sense now than at any point in the MX5's history to fit a Rotary.
My guess? It'll either be an existing Mazda engine, or a variant, not a completely new unit. My guess is the 1.5 Skyactiv unit already in the Mazda 3, where it has 100hp, so it's not unthinkable that c. 130 hp is possible with tweakery.
The Nd is lighter than the car it's replacing, so it should be plenty.
My guess? It'll either be an existing Mazda engine, or a variant, not a completely new unit. My guess is the 1.5 Skyactiv unit already in the Mazda 3, where it has 100hp, so it's not unthinkable that c. 130 hp is possible with tweakery.
The Nd is lighter than the car it's replacing, so it should be plenty.
A new rotary would be the 16X engine which has been worked on for years, should be good for 300bhp without forced induction. I don't see it being remotely possible that they would put that in the new MX5.
Rotary emissions are bad, fuel economy awful so it's no good for mass production in a time of high (tax) petrol prices. It is however, rather good for a low mileage, lightweight sports car which doesn't have to meet current CO2 limits.
That's why I had one custom made, a 240bhp ported rotary from an RX8 into a MK1 MX5.
I'd be surprised if any new rotary car came out of Mazda in the future, RX5, RX7, RX9 or anything else.
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