Went to Fresno this weekend to see my brother's new car. He got an '06 Mazda Rx 8 Shinka. According to my research, this car was the Car and Driver best pick for the sport coup class. I have to admit that initially I wasn't to sure about him getting this new car, but having seen it, I am very impressed. It handles like I imagine an open-wheel racecar must handle. Perhaps the most distinctive thing about the car is that it has a rotary engine. Thats right no pistons driving this baby! This amazing little 1.3 liter rotary engine puts out the horses of a big V-8 with much less weight and bulk. I am amazed!
Heres some more info on the rotary engine in this car:
Renesis Rotary Engine
(From rssportscars.com)
Forty years of rotary-engine racing success went into the design of the RX-8’s advanced RENESIS (Rotary Engine genesis – or rebirth of the rotary engine) engine. Incorporating many elements that made the RX-7 the most successful model in International Motor Sports Association (IMSA) history and brought Mazda the 1991 24-Hours of Le Mans overall win, the RENESIS engine is exceptionally well-built and capable. This racing pedigree is evident through the various motorsports series employing the RX-8, including Pro Formula Mazda and the Grand Am Cup.
By turning a triangular rotor in a cocoon-shaped combustion chamber, the RX-8’s rotary engine efficiently performs the four processes of intake, compression, combustion and exhaust. The RENESIS engine is remarkably smooth and high revving — all the way to 9000 rpm — and offers a smaller engine footprint than traditional internal combustion engines (some 60 percent smaller than a comparably powered V-6, and 40 percent smaller than a four-cylinder).
Improving upon 40 years of rotary designs, the RENESIS engine boasts side intake and exhaust ports with nearly 30 percent more intake area and twice as much exhaust area than previous rotary engines. The efficiencies gained through larger intake and exhaust ports exclude the need for forced induction, a feature found on the last rotary-powered sports car from Mazda, the vaunted third generation RX-7.
The RX-8’s normally aspirated 1.3-liter engine might appear diminutive to the untrained eye when compared to large-displacement V-8s or heavyweight V-10s or V-12s. However, through the incredible efficiencies of a rotary powerplant, an advanced three-stage intake system and an electronic throttle, the RENESIS engine delivers smooth, linear power on a grand scale.
The RX-8 benefits from placing the powerplant low and far back in the engine bay in what Mazda calls an advanced front-midship layout, which lowers the center of gravity and improves vehicle balance. In addition, the fuel tank is placed ahead of the rear axle, and all seating is within the wheelbase and track of the car. Combined, these factors contribute to a perfect 50/50 vehicle weight distribution, low yaw-inertia movement and superb handling characteristics. With such excellent balance, it is little wonder the RX-8 feels right at home on even the most challenging race tracks or negotiating a tight freeway onramp.
4 comments:
Sweeeeeet. Congratulations Derek. That's nice.
awww. Thanks Dana and adam. Don't know if you've seen this but here is what Top gear had to say when it first came out a few years back. This comming from a guy who I've seen totally slam $300k fararris. I was impressed.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3I1h8LrVO0Q
rotary engines kick assh. one of my dorm-mates (module "a" for life foo!) had an old rx with the rotary. good stuff.
Some friends of ours have this car. Nice!
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