When Mazda first introduced its Wenkel engine in 1961, the automotive world was set alight it. Soon after, many manufacturers clamored to build their own. This engine was an automotive Gibraltar, no matter the challenges it faced, the Wenkel soldiered on. These challenges came from every angle from new emissions standards in 1970 to an oil crisis three years later, in addition to innumerable engineering issues. Mazda cultivated their Wenkel engine and planted it in their sporty RX-7 and it was an instant hit. Even when the RX-8 emerged as a successor to the RX-7 in 2001, the Wenkel heart beat on. Now as the RX-8’s production run is scheduled to end in 2011, a steady stream of rumors about the current Wenkel engine’s successor have flown past our desks.
First, we are going to ask all Mazda fans to take a deep breath. Okay, now that that is taken care of, we have some bad news according to Ward’s Auto Mazda is considering putting the new engine development on hold. The reason for this cutback was that at this time of economic woe, Mazda was looking for a way to reduce expenses and apparently this new engine program is very expensive.
We hope that even as the bean counters are clamoring about diminishing profit margins, Mazda continues to develop this engine. It provides the RX-8 and it’s successor with fantastic high performance and, in the era of pretty and almost all identical cars, Mazda offered a unique take on a sports car. We all hope that Mazda comes to their senses and keeps this iconic power plant.
The fact that Mazda is well into their plans to terminate the current RX-8 sports car is common knowledge at this point. However, if eliminating their only rotary-powered vehicle is in the works, why is the company still working on their Wankel engine?
There are whispers fluttering around that Mazda may be working on a new sports car model with the help of none other than Audi. Audi just released their A1 hatchback-based e-tron concept, which features a 254cc Wankel range-extender located beneath the trunk floor, so these latest rumors suggest that the two will be getting into bed together on a new rotary sports car featuring similar technology.
Mazda’s next sports car was originally thought to be the RX-9, but recent news has gotten people thinking that Mazda may be working on a successor to the RX-7 instead. Whichever model they choose to roll with, Inside Line is reporting that Mazda’s next rotary sports car will hopefully achieve just 130 g/km of CO2 compared to the 299 g/km of the current RX-8. Other features of the new sports car may include micro-hybrid technology, auto stop/start, lightweight materials, and laser ignition - which eliminates the use of spark plugs, ultimately making it easier to seal the Wankel’s trochoidal combustion chamber for improved efficiency and reduced hydrocarbon emissions.
Now that the clock has finally run out and just hours away from the first showing of Fast Five - the fifth installment of the Fast and Furious franchise - we felt like it’s the right time to give proper respect to the characters that have made this movie franchise as fun as it has been since the first movie came out in 2001.
And if you think that we’re talking about resident leading men, Vin Diesel and Paul Walker, guess again. This list has very little to do with them, or their other co-stars for that matter, but more so about what they were driving during the first four movies. Yes, dear friends. This is a list to honor the Top 10 cars of the Fast and Furious franchise!
Do take note that we compiled this list based on our opinions so if you have any sort of reaction on the cars we chose and the number we gave them, you have the floor in the comments section to let us hear about it.
Garage Revolution has prepared a very cool Mazda RX-7 for the World Time Attack Challenge. Their RX-7 is powered by a 13B turbo engine that has received a 50mm exhaust manifold, 80mm front pipe, 80mm full titanium exhaust, custom airbox, custom cooling ducts for turbine, MoTeC M2R ECU and boost control solenoid. The result is an impressive 600 HP and with a total weight of 2204 lbs you can only imagine the level of performance it will deliver.
For the exterior the car gets a carbon fiber front bumper, rear bumper and quarter panels, front fenders, side skirts, front and rear canards, rear diffuser, rear hatch, doors, hood and GT Wing; Craft Square dry carbon fiber side mirrors. For the interior Garage Revolution added a roll cage for the driver’s safety, carbon fiber dash, center console, transmission tunnel and floor, custom gear selector and linkage, shift knob, reverse selector; AP Racing air jack kit, brake bias selector and adjustable pedal box.
What happens when you put Kawasaki ZX10 against Jim Guthrie and his Corvette-powered Mazda RX-7 drift machine? The answer is as simple as possible: greatest show ever! And by the way, ZX10 piloted by Nicj Brocha. And if we are talking about a drift battle even better!
We don’t know about you, but we watch this video over and over again and we can not decided which one do we prefer better: the moto or the car. So, conclusion, we’ll take both. They seem to be equally fun to drive and they both drift impressive. And now imagine this: the RX-7 is no doubt an impressive car. Now put under the hood a Corvette engine and imagine what it could no next! All we need next is a race track and the two one next to each other!
