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Mazda ends rotary production

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Old Jun 26, 2012 | 07:29 AM
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Default Mazda ends rotary production

http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2012-0...ells-cars.html


Finally.
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Old Jun 26, 2012 | 07:40 AM
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Sad but really, the engine had so many things stacked against it, mileage being the worst. I would almost love an RX-8. Great to drive... not so great to look at. I couldn't stomach that kind of mileage.
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Old Jun 26, 2012 | 07:48 AM
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Gone but never forgotten...
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Old Jun 26, 2012 | 07:51 AM
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Sad indeed... too bad they couldn't make this work.
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Old Jun 26, 2012 | 08:47 AM
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Maybe someday, but mpg constraints have been an issue for decades now.

Sad to see it go, as it was such a great design otherwise. Mazda won LeMans with a rotary, only Japanese automaker to win.
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Old Jun 26, 2012 | 08:58 AM
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Would love to do a 20B swap into an S30. Sad to see it go.

GM did a rotary Corvette concept once upon a time.. Would have been awesome to see executed.
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Old Jun 26, 2012 | 09:02 AM
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Always thought an RX-8 would be cool, but the mpg was just too big of a downside. I can't believe they were still making them as if people were still buying them. Once in a while I do an autotrader search for the top of the line R3 package ones to see if they are doing a firesale anytime soon.....

if it was 15k brand new it would be impossible to pass on!
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Old Jun 26, 2012 | 09:05 AM
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Originally Posted by rnye
Would love to do a 20B swap into an S30. Sad to see it go.

GM did a rotary Corvette concept once upon a time.. Would have been awesome to see executed.
Mid engine and AWD to boot.
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Old Jun 26, 2012 | 10:38 AM
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It's way past time for Felix Wankel's wanker of an engine to take its place in the dustbin of history. Mazda farted around with this oddity for more than 50 years. They never overcame the inherent reliability issues (apex seals) or it's dismal fuel efficiency. But what really did the wanker in was its inability to meet increasingly stringent global emission standards. It was innovative thinking but was never quite able to compete with reciprocating piston engines in some key areas. RIP Wankel.
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Old Jun 26, 2012 | 10:46 AM
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+1 Gotta agree with you 100%. Great concept let down by the realities of the world we live in.
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