What does it mean for an RX8 to be rotory powered?

[FreshPrince]

NE1?

 

[richardycc]

rotary engine, google it.

 

[cressida]

hold on Text

 

[Tetsuo]

It has a rotary engine. Not a conventional inline one

 

[Goosemaster]

It uses a Rotor-based engine istead of a piston engine....



oh wait...

 

[shimsham]

no pistons. just watch the commercial, youll see it.

 

[Goosemaster]

ENJOY!

 

[FreshPrince]

Originally posted by: Synergy
hold on Text

thx!

 

[Chaotic42]

It's the Wankel Engine!

 

[Goosemaster]

Anyone have any video of it besides the commercial and the website.?

The triangle(rotor) also has a gear/cog infront of it right that contrains its range of motion, right?

Everytime someones discusses this thing, I can't help but question the amount of friction this thing is creating.

 

[FreshPrince]

Ok, got done reading that article...looks like it's less efficient than conventional piston engine. Why did Mazda go with this engine?

 

[boyRacer]

Originally posted by: FreshPrince
Ok, got done reading that article...looks like it's less efficient than conventional piston engine. Why did Mazda go with this engine?

Because its lighter and smaller than a piston engine... their philosophy is to build their sportscars light, like Colin Chapman, so that it will kick big heavy asses.

 

[Tom]

You got to define efficient to make a statement like that..

Rotary is very space efficient, for example.

 

[aircooled]

Originally posted by: FreshPrince
Ok, got done reading that article...looks like it's less efficient than conventional piston engine. Why did Mazda go with this engine?

zoom zoom

 

[Eli]

Originally posted by: FreshPrince
Ok, got done reading that article...looks like it's less efficient than conventional piston engine. Why did Mazda go with this engine?

I think you've got that backwards.

It is much more efficient than a piston engine. Read how a conventional 4-cycle auto engine works, then read about 2-cycle engines, then read the rotary articles again.

 

[FreshPrince]

Originally posted by: Dead Parrot Sketch
You got to define efficient to make a statement like that..

Rotary is very space efficient, for example.

Typically, it is more difficult (but not impossible) to make a rotary engine meet U.S. emissions regulations.

The manufacturing costs can be higher, mostly because the number of these engines produced is not as high as the number of piston engines.

They typically consume more fuel than a piston engine because the thermodynamic efficiency of the engine is reduced by the long combustion-chamber shape and low compression ratio.

 

[Excelsior]

Originally posted by: Eli

Originally posted by: FreshPrince
Ok, got done reading that article...looks like it's less efficient than conventional piston engine. Why did Mazda go with this engine?

I think you've got that backwards.

It is much more efficient than a piston engine. Read how a conventional 4-cycle auto engine works, then read about 2-cycle engines, then read the rotary articles again.

Aye.

 

[boyRacer]

Originally posted by: FreshPrince

Originally posted by: Dead Parrot Sketch
You got to define efficient to make a statement like that..

Rotary is very space efficient, for example.

Typically, it is more difficult (but not impossible) to make a rotary engine meet U.S. emissions regulations.

The manufacturing costs can be higher, mostly because the number of these engines produced is not as high as the number of piston engines.

They typically consume more fuel than a piston engine because the thermodynamic efficiency of the engine is reduced by the long combustion-chamber shape and low compression ratio.

I would think thats only because the technological advancement of rotary engines isn't as developed as conventional piston engines...

 

[Eli]

Originally posted by: boyRacer

Originally posted by: FreshPrince

Originally posted by: Dead Parrot Sketch
You got to define efficient to make a statement like that..

Rotary is very space efficient, for example.

Typically, it is more difficult (but not impossible) to make a rotary engine meet U.S. emissions regulations.

The manufacturing costs can be higher, mostly because the number of these engines produced is not as high as the number of piston engines.

They typically consume more fuel than a piston engine because the thermodynamic efficiency of the engine is reduced by the long combustion-chamber shape and low compression ratio.

I would think thats only because the technological advancement of rotary engines isn't as developed as conventional piston engines...

Indeed.

It is really too bad there aren't other manufacturers working with them. R&D would increase incredibly if there were.

 

[StageLeft]

It means that it's fairly nifty, but wishes it was a nissan v6 instead.

 

[FreshPrince]

Originally posted by: Skoorb
It means that it's fairly nifty, but wishes it was a nissan v6 instead.

 

[MangoTBG]

I guess you've never heard of the RX7? Just know it owns you.

 

[StageLeft]

In regards to better or worse I'd say that it's pretty clear that, overall, it's an inferior engine. There has been many years to research and "perfect" (within reason) the rotary engine and mazda remains the only manufacturer to put one in their consumer vehicle. In fact until the new RX8 they weren't even using rotaries for a while (since RX7 had stopped production for a while). There is obviously some novelty marketing going on with the rotary engine. A person can buy an Rx8 and know that nobody else is buying a new car with a rotary, so that's definitely an attractition. Yes, it's lighter than a conventional, but hardly any cars use them, whether you're talking about a commuter car, a race car, or a drag car. They just aren't as good, although they are not CRAP and they do still work decently and can be made at a fairly competitive price, as mazda has done with the RX8. Objectively I still think that the 350z would be a better bang for buck, but the rotary is different which makes it fairly neat.

 

[StageLeft]

Originally posted by: MangoTBG
I guess you've never heard of the RX7? Just know it owns you.

Yeah the highend rx7s of the 90's were definitely capable cars!

 

[CTrain]

On a side note, the RX-8 is absolutely gorgeous in person.
Especially fitted with the factory body kit.