Autoblog

SEMA 2009: World's only known four-rotor Mazda RX-8

Frank Filipponio — Fri, 06 Nov 2009 09:40:00 EST

Filed under: Aftermarket, Motorsports, SEMA Show, Coupe, Performance, Mazda

BMI Racing Mazda RX-8 four-rotor - Click above for high-res image gallery

We came across this RX-8 at SEMA and it immediately rang a bell. Time Attack, four-rotor, Mazda RX-8? It's the BMI Racing car we saw on Streetfire a while back. It's said to be the only four-rotor RX-8 in the world and it looks and sounds incredible. Don't believe us? You can see a couple of videos after the jump and judge for yourself.

Gallery: SEMA 2009: 4-Rotor Mazda RX-8

Continue reading SEMA 2009: World's only known four-rotor Mazda RX-8

SEMA 2009: World's only known four-rotor Mazda RX-8 originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 06 Nov 2009 09:40:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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SEMA 2009: Turbo rotary Mazda MX-5 begs to be flogged

Damon Lavrinc — Thu, 05 Nov 2009 16:20:00 EST

Filed under: Aftermarket, SEMA Show, Convertible, Coupe, Performance, Mazda

Turbo Rotary Mazda MX-5 - Click above for high-res image gallery

If you get the impression things are all high gloss and dubs in Vegas, you wouldn't be far off. But walk around the SEMA compound long enough and you come across something cool that that speaks to the gearhead, track rat in each of us.

Unfortunately, we don't have a lot of details about this red NA Mazda MX-5, but we do know it's been worked over by Mike Burlas Designs from Rialto, California, and it has a turbocharged 13B rotary underhood. Further, it has been kitted out with an adjustable suspension, upgraded brakes and what appears to be a fiberglass (or Kevlar) blistered fender kit.

But the crowning jewel is the carbon fiber fastback roof which the company is selling in fiberglass form for $1,800. It's not quite as cool as the MX-5 coupe concept from way-back-when, but it's nice to see the Miata getting some S2000-style fixed roof love in Sin City.

Gallery: SEMA 2009: Turbo Rotary Mazda MX5/Miata

SEMA 2009: Turbo rotary Mazda MX-5 begs to be flogged originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 05 Nov 2009 16:20:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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REPORT: Mazda's next-generation rotary needs more work

Jeremy Korzeniewski — Fri, 23 Oct 2009 09:00:00 EST

Filed under: Coupe, Performance, Mazda

2009 Mazda RX-8 - Click above for high-res image gallery

Though the rotary engine certainly has its fair share of detractors, many who find themselves behind the wheel of a Wankel-powered machine from Mazda fall in love with the engine's zippy and rev-happy characteristics... including this particular blogger, who purchased a new RX-8 back in 2004. Regardless, nobody can deny that the rotary has always been a thirsty little bugger, especially when compared to powerplants with similarly rated displacements.

We've been hearing for the last few years - and seemingly every other time a new rendition of the Wankel engine came to market - that the next version of Mazda's rotary would address complaints about its high fuel consumption and emissions. Perhaps the early projections about the so-called 16X engine were a wee bit premature. According to Seita Kanai, head of R&D at Mazda:

The 16X demonstrated the possibility, but that performance is not good enough. We are doing R&D which will incorporate more new technology... The 16X is more a profile of a rotary still in our concept stage. It needs more evolution.

That really doesn't sound all that confidence inspiring to us. At this point, only time will tell if the 16X will actually be ready for prime time when the long-rumored next-gen rotary-powered car from Mazda hits the scene in 2012 or so.

Gallery: 2009 Mazda RX-8 R3

[Source: Automotive News - Sub. Req'd]

REPORT: Mazda's next-generation rotary needs more work originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 23 Oct 2009 09:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Tokyo 2009: Mazda RX-500 still awesome nearly 40 years later

Drew Phillips — Thu, 22 Oct 2009 10:20:00 EST

Filed under: Concept Cars, Coupe, Japan, Tokyo Motor Show, Mazda

1970 Mazda RX-500 Concept - Click above for high-res image gallery

One of the coolest concept cars here at the Tokyo Motor Show isn't even new. In fact, it's almost forty years old. Originally displayed at the Tokyo show in 1970, this Mazda RX-500 Concept features styling similar to the legendary Ferrari 250 GTO Breadvan, gullwing doors that swing forward, and a 491cc rotary engine just behind the seats. Weighing in at just 1873 pounds, the 247-horsepower concept was said to have reached nearly 150 mph on Mazda's test track.

The car was recently restored in partnership with the Hiroshima City Transportation Museum where it has apparently been on display for the last year. Lucky for us, they decided to bring it to the show for us to enjoy as well. Check out this unique bit of retro-conceptual genius in our high-res gallery below.

Gallery: Tokyo 2009: 1970 Mazda RX-500 Concept

Tokyo 2009: Mazda RX-500 still awesome nearly 40 years later originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 22 Oct 2009 10:20:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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VIDEO: Norton NRV588 rotary-powered motorcycle in action

Jeremy Korzeniewski — Tue, 14 Apr 2009 17:20:00 EST

Filed under: Motorsports, Videos, Motorcycle

Norton NRV588 rotary-powered motorcycle - Click above to watch the video

Undoubtedly, the company that's most often associated with rotary engine technology is Mazda. The Japanese automaker has been building Wankel powerplants for decades, with the current RX-8 standing alone as the only new automobile powered by the innovative engine architecture. In reality, though, many firms have experimented with the rotary engine, including Suzuki, which offered a rotary-powered motorcycle in the Seventies. Up until the mid-Nineties, European racetracks were filled with the buzzing sounds of Wankel-engined Norton motorcycles terrorizing their larger four-stoke twin-cylinder competitors and winning races such as the Isle of Man TT in 1992.

That unmistakable buzzsaw sound is set to make a comeback at this year's running at the Isle of Man as the latest Norton revival takes to the track. Click past the break for a video of the rotary-powered NRV588 as it makes a few laps at Donington Park and the dyno. Pay special attention to the exposed exhaust pipes, which reportedly get so hot they need to be made from Inconel.

[Source: Visordown via Asphalt and Rubber]

Continue reading VIDEO: Norton NRV588 rotary-powered motorcycle in action

VIDEO: Norton NRV588 rotary-powered motorcycle in action originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 14 Apr 2009 17:20:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Mazda extends rotary warranty on RX-8 to 100k miles

Jeremy Korzeniewski — Thu, 05 Jun 2008 10:28:00 EST

Filed under: Maintenance, Coupe, Performance, I.C.E., Marketing/Advertising, Recalls, Mazda

Click above for high-res gallery of the 2009 Mazda RX-8.

You've got to hand it to Mazda for its perseverance with the Wankel rotary engine design. Ever since it's engineers managed to make it semi-reliable, the turbine-like smoothness of the quick-spinning lump has seen duty in numerous Mazda-branded vehicles, and even a few others as well. Still, despite constant engineering work and updates to the basic rotary engine design, there is a lingering question about the reliability of the design. Most owners seem happy with the engines in their RX, that is, until a seal blows or they forget to keep the oil supply topped up and it fails to restart. Or it floods in the winter, needing a tow. Alright... so there may be a few problems.

To ease the minds of RX-8 owners and owners-to-be, Mazda has reportedly decided to extend the warranty coverage for the 2004-2008 Renesis rotary engine for a period of eight years or 100,000 miles. Mazda even goes so far as to offer reimbursement to those who've spent money on engine repairs before 100,000 miles. This seems like a nice measure made in good faith on Mazda's part. After all, most educated owners of the rotary-powered cars knew what they were getting when these purchases were made, and the engine was already covered under the same basic warranty that comes standard with all Mazda vehicles. Nice work, Mazda.

In the interest of full disclosure, this particular blogger bought an RX-8 new in 2004, though it was sold two years later.

Gallery: 2009 Mazda RX-8 R3

[Source: RX8Club.com]

Mazda extends rotary warranty on RX-8 to 100k miles originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 05 Jun 2008 10:28:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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2012 Mazda RX-9: Winding Road adds fuel to the fire

Noah Joseph — Mon, 31 Dec 2007 14:03:00 EST

Filed under: Performance, Mazda

The mysterious images of a 2012 Mazda RX-9 that we brought you a few days ago appear to be illustrations cooked up by Winding Road magazine's in-house sketch artist Glenn Poblete, who literally drew on Mazda's current design language from the Kabura concept and other recent Mazda showstoppers to come up with a good guesstimate.

As for the heart of the beast, Winding Road figures on a front-engine/rear-drive layout with a limited-slip diff mated to either a rotary engine, in the grandest Mazda tradition, or ditching the Renesis for a more conventional V6 or V8. If Mazda decides to stick with the Wankel engine, it would have to improve on its gas and oil consumption, and it could benefit from a pair of variable turbochargers like in the latest Porsche 911 Turbo. Displacement on an updated Renesis, if chosen, could increase to 1.8-liters (if you consider the current version to displace 1.3-liters) or 3.5 (if you hold the current one at 2.6).

Like our compatriots, we hope Mazda sticks with a purely two-seat set-up instead of trying to squeeze tiny seats in the back, but the RX-9 could gain a suicide rear door to ease access if rear chairs are added. If that were the case, the RX-9 would effectively replace the quasi-four-door RX-8, which is anticipated for a facelift soon.

[Source: Winding Road]

2012 Mazda RX-9: Winding Road adds fuel to the fire originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 31 Dec 2007 14:03:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Rendered Speculation: Mazda's Taiki-inspired RX-7 revival

Dan Roth — Thu, 06 Dec 2007 19:31:00 EST

Filed under: Spy Photos, Performance, Japan, Mazda

"We've just introduced a special edition of the RX-8" was the response from a Mazda rep when asked when we might get a new RX-7. Not the answer to the question, but we understand that it's all hush-hush when it comes to whatever might be in store on the 2-door, rear wheel drive, not-an-MX-5 tip. A new RX-7 (FE?) will debut within the next three years according to Autocar, and it will be the first production car to carry the design themes presented in Mazda's latest series of concept cars (Nagare, Ryuga, Hakaze, Taiki). The RX-8 will be freed up to evolve into more of a GT if the 7 comes to be. Autocar has had its digital image wizards whip up what they think the car might look like. We hope not, as it looks like what might happen if a Corvette stopped short in front of a Testarossa. In other words, it looks like 1988.

Joining the new "flow"-ing exterior lines will be a thoroughly revised rotary engine. Bumped out to 3.2 liters, the new Wankel will have direct fuel injection and sport forced induction via turbocharging. Reshaped combustion chambers are said to improve thermal efficiency, burn more completely, produce more low end torque, and return better fuel economy (woo-hoo!). We're surprised they didn't switch it's fuel to Unicorn sneezes, as the rest of the improvements seem like a fairy tale outcome for the wimpy, thirsty Wankel we know and love.

[Source: Autocar]

Rendered Speculation: Mazda's Taiki-inspired RX-7 revival originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 06 Dec 2007 19:31:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Mazda debuts new-gen Rotary in Taiki show car

Dan Roth — Sat, 27 Oct 2007 17:52:00 EST

Filed under: Concept Cars, Technology, Tokyo Motor Show, Mazda

Say what you will about the styling of the Mazda Taiki concept that's currently on display in Tokyo. It's quite possible that what's underneath is more interesting, anyway. Under the hood of the Taiki is a new gen rotary engine from Mazda called the 16X Renesis. Of course, the Rotary engine has its share of detractors, but Mazda's sticking with it anyway.

Further refining Felix Wankel's trochoid wonder, the Renesis (known internally as the 13B-MSP) has been massaged and enlarged for the first time in a very long time. Capacity is now 800cc per rotor, bringing total size up to 1.6 liters. Direct injection allows the 16X Renesis to put out more power and torque while running cleaner than a port injection setup would have allowed. Attention was also paid to reducing the oil consumption that Wankels are known for. The size of the engine is still pony-keg compact, and the rotor housing is now aluminum, which should save a little weight. While the new larger chamber design and direct injection offer more efficiency, it still remains to be seen whether or not the Rotary is capable of modern horsepower numbers without turbochargers (difficult with the side-port design) or swilling fuel like a sailor on shore leave. The 16X may show up in a special version of the current RX-8, or Mazda may hold off until a new RX-8 bows in 2011.

[Source: AutoWeek, Photo: Winding Road]

Gallery: Mazda Taiki

Mazda debuts new-gen Rotary in Taiki show car originally appeared on Autoblog on Sat, 27 Oct 2007 17:52:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Frankfurt 2007: Mazda RX-8 Special Edition

Dan Roth — Mon, 17 Sep 2007 13:04:00 EST

Filed under: Frankfurt Motor Show, Coupe, Mazda

Mazda is celebrating 40 years of putting engines inspired by pony kegs in their cars by rolling out a special version of the RX-8 2+2. Mazda's official hyperbole about the RX-8 brags that the car changed customer expectations of what an affordable sports car should be when they launched the four-place coupe in 2003. It sure did; we've now come to expect less than the stated power output from the Renesis Wankel, which also swills oil like a... well, like a Wankel. Now that we've ensured that every single Rotary fan on Autoblog will lambaste us, let's go on to say that we really do like them. Any engine you can mercilessly spin out to 10,000 RPM without aerating the block has significant entertainment value. The fact that there's about three major moving parts is cool, too.

The Special Edition RX-8 has two new colors for its sinewy sheetmetal, Metropolitan Grey and Crystal White Pearl. There's also new ten-spoke wheels, blue tinged foglamps, and the obligatory emblems to dress up the exterior. Open the clamshell doors and the Special Edition greets you with a specially outfitted interior, full of Alcantara, contrast stitching, leather, and silver bits. It's not all just prettying up, either. The suspension crossmembers get shot full of foam for quieter operation, and there are new springs that are held in check by Bilstein dampers. So, while there's been no massive power upgrade to the RX-8, the Special Edition is more than just a glamorization of an affordable, entertaining coupe.

Press release after the jump.

Gallery: Mazda RX-8 Special Edition

Continue reading Frankfurt 2007: Mazda RX-8 Special Edition

Frankfurt 2007: Mazda RX-8 Special Edition originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 17 Sep 2007 13:04:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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For Sale: Mazda Hen's Tooth..err, Cosmo

Dan Roth — Thu, 12 Jul 2007 12:05:00 EST

Filed under: Classics, Coupe, Etc.

click on the pic to see more of Chuck's shots

Autoblog addict Chuck Goolsbee was out in his E-Type last weekend and naturally wanted to avoid the freeway in such a delightful car. Pulling a Clark Griswold, Chuck got lost on an Indian reservation. Rather than have the neighborhood assist in stripping excess mass from his swoopy kitty, Chuck noticed the sun glinting off a vaguely familiar shape off in the distance. The front bumper wrapped tightly around a low nose, and chrome-ringed headlamps were tucked safely behind plexiglass lenses. "Wow," Chuck thought, "another E-Type!" Car people are social creatures, so Chuck's plans changed in an instant. Passenger footwell clogged with grocery bags, ice cream turning into warm milk, he pulled up to the curb and suddenly realized he was in the presence of something even more special than an E-Type.

[Source: Chuck Goolsbee]

Gallery: 1971 Mazda Cosmo Sport

Continue reading For Sale: Mazda Hen's Tooth..err, Cosmo

For Sale: Mazda Hen's Tooth..err, Cosmo originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 12 Jul 2007 12:05:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Celebrate 40 years of rotary power with Mazda

Jeremy Korzeniewski — Wed, 30 May 2007 13:25:00 EST

Filed under: Performance, Japan, Mazda

Click image for a gallery of the Mazda Cosmo Sport

The good old internal combustion engine has been in service since the 17th century when Sir Samuel Morland rather impractically used gunpowder to drive water pumps. It was not until 1876 when Nikolaus Otto invented the modern four stroke engine that the internal combustion engine became practical for automobiles, however. Those same four cycles, intake, compression, combustion and exhaust are used in the Wankel rotary engine, although instead of the strokes of a piston the rotary creates it's cycles as a roughly triangular shaped rotor spins inside its housing. Doesn't make sense? Click here.

2007 marks Mazda's 40th in using the rotary engine. Our favorite application of it would have to be the Cosmo Sport, of course. Many of you will choose the RX-7 as a personal favorite. It's also alive in the current RX-8, which even sports a hydrogen-powered version for the alternative fuel crowd. And we'd be remiss if we forgot to mention the jaw-dropping four-rotor 787B racer that won the 24 Hours of Le Mans. Those of us who own, or have owned, a rotary engined vehicle and loved it can take this moment to say "thanks" to Felix Wankel and to Mazda for its commitment to the rotary. Forty years and going strong!

We've assembled four galleries of famous Mazda rotaries, including the Cosmo Sport gallery below, as well as galleries of the RX-7, RX-8 and 787B Le Mans racer.

[Source: Mazda]

Gallery: Mazda Cosmo Sport

Continue reading Celebrate 40 years of rotary power with Mazda

Celebrate 40 years of rotary power with Mazda originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 30 May 2007 13:25:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Delorean finally gets the engine it should have had all along - 3 rotor Wankel

Sam Abuelsamid — Sun, 20 May 2007 08:11:00 EST

Filed under: Aftermarket, Performance, Etc., Technology, Supercars, Mazda

In the late sixties and early seventies, many car companies were enamored with the power density of Wankel rotary engines, including NSU, Mazda, Mercedes-Benz and General Motors. GM ultimately built at least two mid-engine "Corvette" concepts with Wankels, one with two rotors and the other with four. The four-rotor was eventually replaced by a small block to become the Aerovette. When John Z. Delorean left to create his own car, he envisioned it propelled by a rotary engine as well.

As was the case with every other carmaker save Mazda, the Wankel was ultimately abandoned in favor of a piston engine. But one Delorean owner didn't forget the original vision. Through the 1980s and 1990s the only rotary-powered car sold in the US market was the Mazda RX-7 although Mazda did offer the engine in other Japanese-market models. One of those was a coupe called the Eunos Cosmo. The Cosmo eventually got a 2.0L three-rotor version of the engine that put out 300hp. One of these was sacrificed to provide a new heart for the Delorean you see here.

There's more commentary after the jump, and a video, too.

[Source: EliseUSA.com via CarScoop]

Continue reading Delorean finally gets the engine it should have had all along - 3 rotor Wankel

Delorean finally gets the engine it should have had all along - 3 rotor Wankel originally appeared on Autoblog on Sun, 20 May 2007 08:11:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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RR of the Day: 1993 Mazda RX-7

Damon Lavrinc — Fri, 16 Feb 2007 10:07:00 EST

Filed under: Mazda, RR of the Day

We sure do love us some FDs. Yes, the turbo rotary is a ticking time bomb, just waiting for the slightest hint of ping to send shards of that wonderful Wankel through the hood, and yes, the engine has to be rebuilt every 40-60k miles, but if you had to pick a vehicle from the 90s (hell, even today) to attack a road course or autocross, the RX-7 is it.

Thankfully, there are a few intelligent individuals that understand the volatility of the turbo'd RX-7 and they tend to keep the modifications to a minimum. One of these smart chaps is ebaine1, the owner of this red 1993 example.

Make the jump for a few more details, pics and directions on how to submit your own ride to our Flickr pool.

Continue reading RR of the Day: 1993 Mazda RX-7

RR of the Day: 1993 Mazda RX-7 originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 16 Feb 2007 10:07:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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RR of the Day: 1983 Mazda RX-7 GSL

Dan Roth — Fri, 01 Dec 2006 10:19:00 EST

Filed under: Performance, Mazda, RR of the Day

Ah, the RX-7. The first generation, it could be argued, are the best. They were inexpensive, sharp looking, sharper driving and durable. They burst on the scene looking a little like a cross between the Porsche 930 slantnose and the 924 greenhouse and rear end. Flickr member TacitBlue discovered the ersatz-Porsche goodness and affordable thrills of this 1983 RX-7 GSL and realized that it ticked every box on his "perfect car" list. Once he nabbed it, he did the right thing and went right to taking it apart.

Read on for the full story, a list of modifications and more pictures after the jump.

If you'd like to see your own ride featured here, simply upload photos of your ride into our Flickr group. Next week's theme is forced induction, so be sure to add your own unnaturally aspirated whip to the group. Detailed instructions can be found after the jump.

Continue reading RR of the Day: 1983 Mazda RX-7 GSL

RR of the Day: 1983 Mazda RX-7 GSL originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 01 Dec 2006 10:19:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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SevenStock9 event unites RotorHeads from all over North America

Frank Filipponio — Sun, 29 Oct 2006 20:17:00 EST

Filed under: Motorsports, Classics, Etc., Mazda

The Southern California RX Club held its annual celebration of all things rotary today at Mazda's HQ in Irvine, California. Every conceivable RX vehicle and rotary powered conversion showed up at the 9th annual SevenStock event. According to the organizers, SevenStock is the largest single day Rotary enthusiast gathering in the world. And it would be very hard to argue with them on that. Some 500 RXes had already turned up this morning by the time we had to leave. Last year's crowd was estimated at 5,000, and it wouldn't be too much of a leap to say that this year looked to be at least that big.

Resembling a typical meet with lots of vendors and special displays, the SevenStock event adds a unique twist for Mazda lovers. Showing how dedicated it is to its zoom-zooming enthusiast owners, Mazda not only invited the group onto its campus, but they also brought out examples of their most historical production models and some of their most significant rotary-powered racecars as well.

More info and photos after the jump.

Continue reading SevenStock9 event unites RotorHeads from all over North America

SevenStock9 event unites RotorHeads from all over North America originally appeared on Autoblog on Sun, 29 Oct 2006 20:17:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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