| Mazda Rotary Anniversary | ||
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(Wed 30 May 07) The first twin-rotor rotary-engined car was launched by Mazda forty years ago today.
Cars using single rotors had been available for some time, but the futuristic-looking Cosmo Sport, introduced on 30 May 1967, was the first to use the now universal twin-rotor system. Mazda began using rotary engines in competition cars in 1968, and achieved its best result in 1991 when it became the first (and so far only) Japanese manufacturer to win the Le Mans 24 Hour race. There have always been doubts about the rotary as opposed to conventional piston engines (see our feature, The Engine That Didn't Change The World), but Mazda has remained loyal to the concept in a way that no other manufacturer can match, having so far built just under two million examples. The latest development has been the RENESIS, voted International Engine of the Year in 2003 and fitted ever since to the RX-8 sports car. In addition, RENESIS is the current basis of Mazda's ongoing efforts to produce a viable hydrogen-fuelled car, a process which has been under development since 1991. Mazda Gallery Previous: Mazda MX-5 Special Edition Next: Cheaper Hyundai Getz |
