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Mazda Rotary-Engined Cars: From Cosmo 110S to RX-8

2021

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Synopsis

An in-depth look at the development history of Mazda’s rotary power plant, and the model timelines of the vehicles these engines powered. You will discover how one small Japanese automaker remained independent and became famous by using a unique and pioneering engine.

Mazda Rotary-engined Cars examines the commercial ups and downs in North America, using rotaries to become a high performance icon and V8 alternative, and charting the racetrack achievements of Mazda rotary racers around the world, including in home-country Japan.

The story also reveals the pollution control and fuel economy challenges facing Mazda as they strove to keep rotary engines in production to satisfy high performance fans globally.

Suggested Reading

Wankel Rotary Engine: A History

Conceived in the 1930s, simplified and successfully tested in the 1950s, the darling of the automotive industry in the early 1970s, then all but abandoned before resurging for a brilliant run as a high-performance powerplant for Mazda, the Wankel rotary engine has long been an object of fascination ...

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RX-7 Mazda’s Rotary Engine Sports Car

Mazda launched its first rotary-engine car--the Cosmo--in 1966, and was the only car manufacturer to solve the problems associated with Wankel's radical engine design and allow the unit's potential to be fully enjoyed. The RX-7 of 1978 provided effortless and uncannily smooth performance, attributes...

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