The return of Wankel may "bring" a new Mazda RX-7 or RX-9 in 2024

Ήταν 2020 όταν εδώ, στο Topspeed.gr γράφαμε ότι “ο ρότορας επιστρέφει το 2022”. Τα χρόνια άλλαξαν, οι καιροί άλλαξαν, αυτοί που μας χλεύαζαν τότε εξαφανίστηκαν και εμείς πέσαμε έξω κατά… λίγες μέρες μόνο. Στις 13 Ιανουαρίου 2023, η Mazda, με κάθε επισημότητα θα ανακοινώσει την επιστροφή του περιστροφικού κινητήρα. Αλλά, είναι αυτό όλο το story;

Yes, we knew - and we wrote it since then- that the Mazda θα τοποθετούσε τον κινητήρα wankel ως range extender στο πρώτο της ηλεκτρικό μοντέλο, το ΜΧ-30, όπως και γίνεται. Οι Ιάπωνες επιβεβαιώνουν τους “ψιθύρους” εδώ και τόσα χρόνια ότι ομάδα περίπου 100 ατόμων εργαζόταν στα λεγόμενα “πίσω δωμάτια” της Χιροσίμα στην εξέλιξη του περιστροφικού κινητήρα και στους πιο πρόσφατους ότι “κάτι έχουν βρει”. Κάτι που μειώνει τους ρύπους; Μειώνει την κατανάλωση; Αυξάνει τη διάρκεια ζωής των apex seals; Αυτό είναι κάτι που θα το δούμε στο μέλλον.

Το ζητούμενο, ωστόσο, είναι αλλού. Ότι η ιαπωνική αυτοκινητοβιομηχανία, όσο καιρό αρνείτο ότι υπάρχει οποιαδήποτε εξέλιξη σχετικά με τον περιστροφικό κινητήρα, κατέθετε πατέντες, κατοχύρωνε τα σήματα “RX-7” και “RX-9” και έκανε και άλλες κινήσεις οι οποίες αφήνουν μια ελπίδα ότι το 2024, ενδέχεται να παρουσιάσει το Mazda RX-9. Ας δούμε όλα τα στοιχεία.

The collaboration with Toyota and the new model

Εν αρχή ην το… πλαίσιο. Όσο καιρό διακινούνταν οι φήμες για τη νέα σπορ ναυαρχίδα της Mazda -κρατήστε ότι προς το παρόν αυτό είναι το μόνο μοντέλο που λείπει από την ανανεωμένη γκάμα της μάρκας- δεν μπορούσαμε παρά να αναρωτιόμαστε επάνω σε ποιο πλαίσιο θα “πατούσε” ένα νέο RX-7 ή ένα RX-9. Η απάντηση δόθηκε τώρα.

Toyota recently revealed the Toyota GR GT3 Concept, which looks... devilishly similar to the Mazda RX-Vision GT3 Concept. Now, reports have the Japanese automotive giant working on a production model of the concept. Given that Toyota has bought a 5% stake in Mazda and that the two companies work closely together, reports of them collaborating on a joint halo coupe project don't seem so far-fetched anymore.

The engine

Recently (again) the Japanese Best Car magazine revealed that Toyota is preparing the GR GT with an engine provided by Gazoo Racing, together with Mazda. The engine output of the GR GT is 500 horsepower or 368kW. It's obvious that this is the -output 368kW- engine of the Toyota TS050 LMP1 racer, unless you opt for a hybrid system with a 2.4-litre twin turbo V6, or a 3.5-litre twin turbo V6.

In America, rumours are rife that the model has already received production approval for 2024 at both companies and Toyota's president of race car development, David Wilson, didn't... hold back and told the American edition of Car & Driver that the GR GT3 Concept could be the Lexus GT3. Other reports, however, insist that Toyota will opt for a revival of one of its legendary models, the Toyota 2000GT.

Εντάξει η Toyota. Και η Mazda; Η Χιροσίμα, βάσει των ίδιων πληροφοριών, θα έχει τη δική της εκδοχή, στην οποία θα χρησιμοποιεί ηλεκτρικό κινητήρα και περιστροφικό κινητήρα (κάτι που θα δικαιολογεί και το όνομα “RX”). Έχει άλλωστε πατεντάρει ένα υβριδικό 3ρότορο σύνολο για πρώτη φορά μετά το 20B των 90s ή του concept Furai του 2007.

In the patents we see that the three-rotor turbocharged engine, for reasons of economy, could also use hydrogen as fuel, something that is being studied in cooperation with Mazda, Toyota, Subaru, Yamaha and Kawasaki.

The hints

During the launch of the RX-Vision, Mazda told us that "RX-Vision represents a vision of the future that Mazda hopes to one day make a reality: A front-wheel-drive, rear-wheel-drive sports car with refined, designer-language KODO-based proportions that only Mazda could envision, powered by the next-generation SKYACTIV-R rotor."

Mazda also meaningfully tells us that "mass production is currently on hold (confirming TopSpeed.gr which, unlike others, stressed that Wankel has not been abandoned by the Japanese), Mazda has never stopped research and development efforts on the rotor. The next rotor has been named SKYACTIVE-R, expressing the company's determination to take on challenges with ambitions that defy conditions and the latest technology."

In addition to the SkyActive R patented by Mazda, the brand registered the RX-9 and RX-7 names with the Japanese Trademark Office. Unconfirmed reports wanted Mazda to introduce the new model in 2017, the 50th birthday of the rotary engine, or in 2018, the 40th birthday of the RX-7. 2023, then, is the RX-7's 45th birthday.

The patents

Over the past few years, Mazda has patented a number of designs involving three-door, three-row coupes. Standing out as a key one is application number (U.S. patent) 2016/0084158, filed on March 24, 2016, for the RX Vision Concept; and what do we learn about the former 16X and current SkyActiv-R? First, that it has 23% more displacement than the Renesis and that it has a 400 horsepower capacity. The change in internal geometry (and sizes, of course), and the extensive use of aluminum where the 13B used iron, in addition to improving weight, solves the problem of lack of torque at low rpm.

The patent application is... hopelessly full of technical details. This time, Mazda, has turned the engine about 180 degrees relative to its longitudinal axis, gaining (more) space under the hood with all that this might entail for weight distribution, and the turbocharger is mounted high. In fact, so much grace is left for a beastly turbocharger up high that don't be surprised to see... a bulge on the hood of the production RX.

The rotor is as we know it, but the injectors are now closer (as close as you can get) to the combustion chamber, which shows us that Mazda has found a first solution to what we've been told is the "unsolvable problem", consumption. Not only that, but also torque from low revs, before the turbo kick arrives.

As far as emissions are concerned, Mazda's application states that due to the engine's position, it can be placed very low and the space left under the bonnet can be used to place a catalytic converter close to the engine, "improving performance in terms of tailpipe emissions". In fact, we can see that it leaves room on the right and left for the suspension.