For the past few weeks rumours have been flying on the Internet about Mazda’s next rotary engine model. Sources close to the automaker say that the RX-8 will get the axe, while others believe a hybrid successor to the RX-7 is in the works. Lots of speculation, little confirmation. Now there’s talk of the Japanese firm teaming up with Audi for its next rotary engine car.
Does the recently unveiled A1 e-tron concept ring a bell? If not, allow us to refresh your memory: the sub-compact model featured a small 254-cc Wankel engine located under the trunk floor designed to increase the car’s range.
Coincidently, a Wankel mill is also found under the hood of the RX-8, something that has intrigued several industry observers.
Although a Mazda-Audi partnership could prove quite interesting for auto buffs (after all, who wouldn’t want a contemporary RX-7 built with razor-edge German precision?), let’s just say the chances of it happening are slim to none.
Just because two automakers share components doesn’t mean they share their expertise as well. An excellence case in point: the eight-speed transmission developed by ZF. Audi, BMW, Bentley, Range Rover and Rolls-Royce all use it in their products, but that doesn’t mean they work together.
So the news should be taken with a grain of salt, even though we’d love to see a rotary engine RX-7, a car that ages as nicely as a fine wine.
Source: TopSpeed
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Does the recently unveiled A1 e-tron concept ring a bell? If not, allow us to refresh your memory: the sub-compact model featured a small 254-cc Wankel engine located under the trunk floor designed to increase the car’s range.
Coincidently, a Wankel mill is also found under the hood of the RX-8, something that has intrigued several industry observers.
Although a Mazda-Audi partnership could prove quite interesting for auto buffs (after all, who wouldn’t want a contemporary RX-7 built with razor-edge German precision?), let’s just say the chances of it happening are slim to none.
Just because two automakers share components doesn’t mean they share their expertise as well. An excellence case in point: the eight-speed transmission developed by ZF. Audi, BMW, Bentley, Range Rover and Rolls-Royce all use it in their products, but that doesn’t mean they work together.
So the news should be taken with a grain of salt, even though we’d love to see a rotary engine RX-7, a car that ages as nicely as a fine wine.
Source: TopSpeed