The Story of Mazda's Wankel Rotary Engine!

It's likely that when you picture a combustion engine, images of a set of pistons in different configurations—such as inline, horizontally opposed, or in a V shape—immediately come to mind. A piston-powered reciprocating engine has been the industry standard for cars for many years. However, not too long ago, it wasn't the only format available.

The Wankel Rotary engine is a high-performance engine that features prominently in the history of Mazda’s sports cars. Its lifespan may not have been particularly long, but the impact that it had on the world of engineering and car enthusiasm was profound.

Mazda made its name in the world of performance cars in part thanks to the rotary engine. At one point, their identity was deeply tied to the engine format. So where did it go? Let’s dive into the history of Mazda’s rotaries, how they built some of the most iconic sports cars in history, and if there is any future for the engine format with the brilliant Japanese automaker.

Backtracking, we find ourselves in the 1960s. The research and development team at Mazda is putting in a lot of effort to make the rotary commercially viable after receiving the necessary licensing. The 10A engine eventually emerged despite some significant flaws, such as shaky apex seals leaving marks on the housing.

Without a place to put it, what use is an engine? As a result, Mazda unveiled the Cosmo 110S in 1967, which was the first mass-produced vehicle to use a dual-rotor Wankel engine. Not only did this two-door coupe have an impressive 110 horsepower, but it also had a stunning appearance.

Even though the Cosmo wasn't exactly Mazda's biggest commercial hit, it was the start of something special. Their goal was to build a practical, sporty car with a rotary engine, and the company would go on to produce some of the most amazing engineering achievements in the years to come.

From the beginning, the Wankel rotary engine generated controversy. The rotary engine was initially created by Felix Wankel as a supercharger for a motorcycle made by the German company NSU in the 1950s. Shortly after, NSU recognized that the rotary had the potential to function as an internal combustion engine and started working with Felix Wankel to develop an engine. Although the initial design was not viable, many, including Mazda, expressed interest in further developing it.

The Wankel rotary engine has some disadvantages. Its design was based on its being a high-performance, high-revving engine, especially in the versions that went into Mazda vehicles. This put the engine under more consistent stress and necessitated strict maintenance by the owners. The little power plant had a lot of benefits, though.

It was more space-efficient and compact, had the highest horsepower-to-displacement ratio of any engine, and had a straightforward design that made it almost impervious to catastrophic failure.

Despite the Wankel Rotary's ups and downs, its poor fuel efficiency ultimately led to its demise. Mazda was the only manufacturer to maintain rotary development over an extended period of time, but as emissions regulations became stricter, they were unable to maintain the power plant's viability. However, there are rumors of its return.

It could be said that Mazda had a rotary engine obsession. No matter the cost, they were going to make it work. Because the rotary engine was the only reason one of the most famous sports cars ever existed, all car enthusiasts should be grateful it persisted.


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