Rotary engines lived on, with General Motors and Mercedes-Benz experimenting with them in the 1970s and Mazda making them a regular feature in its lineup, notably in the RX-7 and RX-8 sports cars.

For those unaware, the rotary is an engine that uses a very unique design. Instead of pistons, a Dorito-like triangle spins inside of an ovoid, providing combustion.

Top speed was about 177 km/h (110 mph). Unfortunately, the Ro80’s rotary engine proved to be its Achilles heel. It soon developed problems, usually failure of the rotor tip seals.

The theory of the Wankel engine goes back to 1954 when Dr. Felix Wankel of Germany patented the epitrochoid principle of using a three-pointed rotor inside a two-lobe casing, thereby using rotary ...

Mazda has a dedicated rotary engine development group with engineers who worked on the RX-7 and RX-8. Fans have called for a RX-8 successor, itself a somewhat oddly laid-out (but rotary powered ...