When Mazda made the shocking announcement that they were putting a halt on the operations of the plant that produces the Renesis engine, the whole automotive community was taken aback as that horrible news might spell the end of the legendary rotary engine. The RX-7 had been one of the iconic sport cars with a rotary powering its way to automotive fame, and it still has a strong fan base and enthusiasts from around the world.
But it seems like their misery is short-lived as during the recent Moscow Motor Show, Mazda had revealed that they are going to continue their work in developing rotary engines, besides of also working on a range-extended vehicle.
“We are still learning. The rotary has a very good dynamic performance, but if you accelerate and brake a lot, there are efficiency and disadvantages. The range extender overcomes that. We can keep it spinning at its most efficient 2000rpm while also taking advantage of its size,” said Mazda CEO Takashi Yamanouchi.
The CEO has been working with Mazda since 1967, and it was his interest on the rotary engine that had fueled his motivation in doing so. And with such deep passion towards the rotary, he is aiming to “continue to explore ways to improve the fuel efficiency and capabilities of the rotary engine so it can be the primary power source of a car again.”
With the CEO having said something as promising as that, it seems like it is just a matter of time before the buzzing rotary machines start filling up the streets and tracks, all ready to re-live the glory days that cars like the RX-7 once had back in its days.
