The truth is that the return of the Wankel engine is more than confirmed, not as the heart of a hypothetical Mazda RX-9, successor to the RX-7 and RX-8, but rather as a range extender for electric vehicles — something we'll see in 2020 with the MX-30, Mazda's first electric car.
And that's precisely why the rumors of a Wankel-engined sporting future have returned.
Mazda has again a Wankel engine under its purview, already developed and ready for production, so the justification for investing in the development of a unit to equip a sporting future is much easier, especially in terms of costs.
The Wankel's potential is greater than just serving as an autonomy extender. The expansion of Mazda's electrified portfolio could be accomplished using the compact unit for future hybrids and plug-in hybrids. Without forgetting its flexibility — in addition to gasoline, you can use LPG or hydrogen as fuels.
The leap from this type of use to a sports car is thus easier. That's what Ichiro Hirose, from Mazda's research and development, said in statements to Autocar:
“Rotor motor flexibility is a great solution for electrification technologies. It is compact and lightweight with excellent NVH (noise, vibration and harshness) levels. By using the rotary engine in a variety of ways we can improve its cost efficiency — that means we can reduce the obstacles in putting a rotary engine in a sports car. I really wish we could justify this car. Of course we have this dream.”
In the event of a Mazda RX-9 — let's call it that for now — the combination of Wankel and electrons would be practically a certainty, as it would be the safest and even easy way to guarantee that it would meet all emission requirements.
RWD platform on the way
The pieces of this puzzle seem to be coming together. Half a year ago, we learned that Mazda is developing a new platform for rear-wheel drive and in-line six-cylinder engines — apparently, it will serve as the foundation for the production version of the Vision Coupe (2017) concept, which despite its name , is a four-door saloon.
That same platform could be used for a future sports coupé/roadster with a front longitudinal engine and rear wheel drive — just like the RX-7 — that is, a production version of the RX-Vision concept, presented in 2015, and that left in the air the possibility of the return of the Wankel in a new sports car.
Mazda RX-Vision GT3
The third piece of this puzzle concerns the revelation of the Mazda RX-Vision GT3 which serves as the cover image for this article.
Presented only as an official sketch, it will form part of the FIA-certified championship at Gran Turismo Sport in 2020, the year that coincides with Mazda's centenary, and also marks the beginning of a partnership between the Hiroshima manufacturer and Polyphony Digital .
No specs have been advanced on the new virtual machine, but it is clearly a development of the 2015 RX-Vision. Could it be used as an antechamber to the unveiling of a hypothetical Mazda RX-9, a sports car with a Wankel engine, to coincide with the brand centenary celebrations?
We will have to wait.
Source: Autocar.