Mazda spokeswoman Michiko Terashima confirmed that the company will soon stop producing vehicles equipped with its trademark rotary engine. Poor sales and the high investments required to make it meet today’s standard CO2 emission levels led to a decision that will not take many by surprise. Although research and development on the rotary engine will continue - leaving the door open to a possible comeback - carrying on producing cars with rotary engine at this moment in time is no longer a viable option as consumers prefer green vehicles rather than sporty ones.

Mazda’s first rotary engine appeared in 1967, and since then they have been the only carmaker in the world to produce vehicles with this type of engine, selling nearly 2 millions of them. Nowadays the RX-8 (pictured) is the only model in their line-up still using it, but only 2,896 units were sold worldwide last year. Mazda CEO and President Takashi Yamanouchi highlighted Mazda 787B victory at the Le Mans 24 hours endurance race in 1991 as the highest point in the history of their ‘iconic’ engine, adding that “although R-X production is ending, the rotary engine will always represent the spirits of Mazda, and Mazda remains committed to its ongoing development.”

via | The Washington Post

(no votes)

0 comments