Tag Archives: rotary engine
NEWS: Mazda teases rotary engine announcement
It seems that Mazda is about to reveal some news about the rotary engine. The company published the above graphic of a 1967 Cosmo Sport, Mazda’s first rotary-powered car, along with a countdown indicating that there was some rotary goodness … Continue reading
NEWS: Mazda still testing rotary engine in RX-8 mule
Last year we reported that Mazda appeared to be running an RX-8 test mule in Europe. The RX-8, as you know, has been out of production since 2012, and a rotary engine successor has gone through more cycles of rumor … Continue reading
VIDEO: RE Amemiya’s rotary-powered Mazda kei car
One of our favorite tuner specials in recent Tokyo Auto Salon memory was RE Amemiya’s rotary-powered Mazda Chantez. As Ricky Silverio explained back when the car debuted in 2016, the car hearkens back to the legendary rotary tuning house’s roots, … Continue reading
Posted in Video
Tagged chantez, mazda, Nob Tanaguchi, Option Video, re amemiya, rotary engine, Tsukuba Circuit
2 Comments
NEWS: Mazda announces the official return of the rotary engine
The rotary engine is officially back. Mazda issued a press release this morning laying out is plans for electric and hybrid vehicles for the coming decade, and the rotary engine is a integral part of those plans, serving as a … Continue reading
EVENTS: 2018 Japanese Classic Car Show, Part 06 — Mazdas
Vintage rotaries took a prime position at this year’s JCCS, thanks to a classy display by Mazda. Imagine a hillside blooming with brightly colored pistonless wonders from Hiroshima, and you’ll have a pretty good idea of what the Mazda section … Continue reading
MINICARS: Japan Post honors Mazda RX-7 with commemorative stamp set
Japan Post has issued another commemorative postage stamp set, this time honoring the first-generation Mazda RX-7. The set consists of 10 standard ¥62 stamps, each with an image depicting the SA22 Savanna RX-7. Notably, the set includes a shot of … Continue reading
NEWS: Mazda was likely testing a rotary sports car as recently as eight months ago
Somehow this slipped past our radar, but it seems that Mazda was testing what is likely a rotary powered sports car as recently as December 2017. Spy photos captured a prototype based on a Mazda RX-8, a car that has … Continue reading
MOTORSPORT: The Mazda Cosmo Sport and the most grueling race of all time
This article was originally published May 31, 2016. In honor of the 50th anniversary of the 1968 Marathon de la Route today, we are re-publishing this story. The Mazda Cosmo Sport. This space age sports car from the spunky little … Continue reading
Posted in motorsport, racing
Tagged 84 Hours of Nurburgring, cosmo sport, Endurance Racing, marathon de la route, mazda, rotary engine
11 Comments
NEWS: Mazda completes restoration of a 1969 Luce Rotary Coupé
Over three years ago, Mazda began restoring some of its landmark vehicles, starting with a 1967 Cosmo Sport. The Restore Program was geared in part towards passing down Mazda’s philosophy and spirit to the next generation of craftsmen and engineers, … Continue reading
COLLECTIONS: The oldest surviving Mazda rotary car in the world, and its nod to Hiroshima’s nuclear past
What comes to mind when you hear the words “priceless artifact”? Ru ware of Imperial China? Paleolithic paintings of the Chauvet Cave? In the automotive realm it’s historically significant race cars, unique or outstanding examples of production cars, and serendipitously preserved … Continue reading
Posted in Collections, Uncategorized
Tagged cosmo sport, mazda, prototype, rotary engine
20 Comments
RIP Kenichi Yamamoto, Father of the Mazda Rotary Engine, 1922-2017
Kenichi Yamamoto, who famously led Mazda’s “47 Ronin” team that brought the rotary engine into reality, passed away on December 20, 2017. His family made public his passing to the Japanese press on Christmas Day. Yamamoto was 95. A bona fide legend in … Continue reading
Posted in Legends
Tagged cosmo sport, fc3s, fd3s, k360, Kenichi Yamamoto, mazda, r100, r360, rotary engine, rx-2, rx-3, rx-4, rx-5, rx-7, RX-Vision, sa22, Tsuneji Matsuda
11 Comments
EVENTS: Automobile Council 2017, Part 02 – Mazda, with heritage guns blazing
Now in its second year, Automobile Council gives car companies a chance to flex their heritage a bit. Some seized the opportunity better than others, but none came out with more guns blazing than Mazda.
Posted in events
Tagged 787b, Automobile Council, cosmo, cosmo sport, eunos roadster, familia, familia rotary coupe, le mans, mazda, miata, motorsport, mx-5, r100, rotary engine, rx-5, rx-7, sa22
12 Comments
MOTORSPORT: Team Highball IMSA RX-7, the most successful endurance racer of all time
It is often said that rotary engines are unreliable. And yet, some of the greatest long-distance racers have been pistonless Mazdas, including what has been called the most successful endurance racer of all time: the Team Highball 1985 IMSA GTU RX-7.
Posted in motorsport
Tagged fc3s, imsa, mazda, Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca, Rolex Monterey Motorsports Reunion, rotary engine, rx-7, sa22, Team Highball
18 Comments
MOTORSPORT: IMSA Mazda RX-3 at the Rolex Monterey Motorsports Reunion
Mazda continued to flex its racing heritage muscle at this year’s Rolex Monterey Motorsports Reunion. In addition to its usual usual cadre of booming (and zooming) rotary racers, four new participants ripped around the renowned Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca for the … Continue reading
KIDNEY, ANYONE? The most complete and original Group B RX-7 on Earth
There have been numerous legendary Japanese rally cars (and trucks) throughout history — Toyota Celica GT-FOUR, Mitsubishi Pajero and Lancer Evolution, Subaru Impreza WRX, to name a few. However, the iconic Group B tends to not be associated with JNCs, … Continue reading
BACKROADS: 1988 was Mazda’s Year of the Turbo
It’s an old trope among JNC enthusiasts in North America: we never get the good stuff like they do in Japan. From the obvious to the obscure — the Skylines, the City Turbo, the AZ-1 — the list never ends. But … Continue reading
EVENTS: 3rd Touge California, 2017
Because we, along with title sponsor Mazda, were celebrating the 50th anniversary of the rotary engine this year, a large contingent of piston-less cars were lined up at the starting grid of the 2017 Touge California. Joining them were decades-old twin-cam Toyota … Continue reading
Posted in Touge California
Tagged 240z, 510, a10, a20, a40, bluebird, Bluebird Coupe, c10, carina, celica, century, corolla, corolla levin, cosmo, cosmo sport, CX-3, cx-5, CX-9, daruma, datsun, dodge colt, eunos, fairlady roadster, fc3s, fd3s, galant, Hakosuka, kgc10, mazda, mazda 3, mazda 6, miata, mitsubishi, MX-5 RF, nissan, repu, rotary engine, rx-2, rx-3, rx-3 sp, rx-7, rx-8, S30Z, sa22, skyline, sprinter trueno, sunchaser, te27, Touge California, toyota, VG40
17 Comments
KIDNEY, ANYONE?: Never-titled Suzuki RE5 rotary motorcycle
Given the strengths of the rotary engine, you would imagine that they would be a natural fit for motorcycles. Small displacement, high power and high revving, these are all prerequisites for a motorcycle engine. Surprisingly only a handful of motorcycle … Continue reading
Touge California: Honoring 50 years of the rotary engine
Our commemorative poster for this year’s Touge California commemorates the calling card of our title sponsor, Mazda. It has been 50 years since the world’s first production dual-rotor engine debuted on the 1967 Cosmo Sport. Our poster honors the historic achievement with … Continue reading
Posted in Touge California
Tagged cosmo sport, familia, mazda, r100, rotary engine, Touge California
6 Comments
TOUGE CALIFORNIA: Roundels not round this year
Touge California has a tradition of using large magnetic roundels to identify cars participating in the rally. They are not for sale and only available to participants of the event. For this year’s event, which will take place July 15, the … Continue reading
