The first commercial Wankel engine was brought by NSU in the 60s. They licensed the technology to other manufacturers, including a consortium (Comotor) of many well known manufacturers, that shared research results between them. Already in the early 1970s, Mercedes Benz solved the apex seal problem, created engines with side ports, and three-rotor racing Wankel engines (see Mercedes Benz C111). They concluded that the Wankel engine had an inherent, fundamental fuel efficiency problem and thus abandoned the project. Mazda realized the same conclusion in the early 2000s, it being the only problem of Wankel engines nowadays.
I'd say Mazda realized the fuel effiency problem much earlier than the early 2000s, but they still wanted to produce a car that was a symbol for the technology and the company's history. It was also unique and sold well enough because of that.
Right. The lack of of a rotary Mazda on the market right now is really more of a success story for politicians and government regulation. It is a good thing, but we are poorer some damn fun cars because of it. That said, you're not really going to truly enjoy it east of the Mississippi anyway...
Not really; they're burning oil all the time because the seals need to be actively lubricated. And to the extent that "low emissions" can be claimed, it's achieved by burning the uncombusted fuel in the exhaust stream, which is cool but horrendously inefficient.
> Right. The lack of of a rotary Mazda on the market right now is really more of a success story for politicians and government regulation.
I've heard that many RX-8s didn't keep factory spec after relatively short period of usage. They require also quite often (every 30-40000 km) the change of apex seals.
