It’s been a number of years since last time Mazda hit the market with a rotary engine. The last one was RX8 which was not turbo enabled. Last time Mazda sold a rotary enabled vehicle in the US was in 1995 – RX7 Model. Due to high emission rates and lesser fuel efficiency, these motors couldn’t make their impression on the market. But there are rumors that Mazda will be introducing a new rotary engine which will be turbo enabled, in 2017.

However, still a rumor, there have been several notable individuals, both from inside the company and outside, who have dropped hints that a new, better engine is in the making. Tetsushi Marutani, the assistant manager at Mazda Drivetrain, recently stated that it would be better if a rotary is turbo enabled as it will assist the engine at low torque.

Current Status
Currently, rotary engines are totally cut from the car world in practical terms. The main reason for this is:
• High emission of pollutants
• High fuel consumption
The proposed design for 2017 is expected be more efficient than any of its predecessors with minimized emission, enabling Mazda to compete more with its fellow rivals like Porsche.

Proposed Design
The alleged patent which Mazda has applied for approval suggest that the vehicle will be large in size to solve the rotary issues.

The patent also reveals that Mazda intends to rotate the engine at 180 degrees about its longitudinal axis. This will allow the engine to be mounted lower in the car providing a much straighter exhaust path which will result in quicker turbo response coupled with improved efficiency in converting exhaust into turbo energy.

This model is inspired by the RX Vision Concept presented in the latest Auto Show held in Tokyo. The aim is to keep the weight lower than 1400kgs which will enhance the ease of handling. To solve the weight problems, end plates will be made of aluminum instead of iron.

Biggest Challenge to Design
If the dream gets realized, it will be a huge leap forward in the world of cars. But it will not be an easy task. The biggest challenge will be to meet the emission restrictions.