On July 7, 1958, Felix Wankel conducted the first successful tests of the rotary engine he had invented. To achieve his dream it took the inventor long 39 years. A rotary engine has a number of obvious advantages over a traditional ICE: low vibration level, excellent dynamic characteristics, high specific power, the ability to develop much higher revs with smaller dimensions and fewer parts. The main disadvantages include difficulty in production, a tendency to overheat, increased wear and oil consumption, low efficiency and the associated increased toxicity of the exhaust. Mazda engineers have managed to create an improved model, having reduced fuel, oil consumption and brought the exhaust level to Euro IV standards. Currently, this Japanese company remains the world’s only adherent of a rotary engine (Mazda RX-8).
Cover: zewerok.ru
