Rotaries do have their limits of rpms. If you spin them too fast, seals start giving out, and the eccentric shaft'* gears can be damaged.

I think they are a superior design to piston engines, but they never got the R&D that piston engines got, because it was basically only Mazda developing them.
A rotary engine has far, far more potential for performance than a piston engine.

Imagine if GM, Ford, Chrysler, Toyota, Honda, BMW, and Mercedes were all trying to compete with Mazda to build a better rotary engine...
If that had happened 35 years ago, we would all look at the piston engine like an antique steam engine. It would be obsolete.

it does have downsides, the linked article on here talks about how inefficient they are, thermodynamically.

Sorry for dumbing it down MachoMan

But reminds me of Homer..."Lisssa???" In this house we obey THE LAWS OF THERMODYNAMICS"

this may have been asked or told earlyer but werent the old rx7 not very dependable and they were proned to oil leaks?

[quote="89BonnieSE89"]Yes, that'* true, but Mazda'* been able to overcome the downsides to a large degree. And they're only a small car company. Imagine what the large companies (GM, Ford, Toyota) could have done with their resources.

Exactly!! Thus the word "theoretically". The piston has far less rpm capabilities because of violently changing directions on each turn, whereas the rotary engine'* flywheel works with it'* own perpetual motion, and reduces the resistance experienced with a piston. It is obviously a much more superior design than the piston. As far as the R&D, it'* just a little delayed. Looks like it may be going now, unless GM'* hydro-cell design catches on more than it looks like it will.

The old rotaries did indeed have these kind of problems.

It is said, however, that the new motor in the RX-8 has been cured of such problems.

either the hydrogen or the hybrid cars would be neat, as long as they remember to keep power. Thats one reason why I wouldnt buy one. That, and maybe make them look like a normal car...

I just read an article today that the car companies are realizing that their hybrid and hydrogen cars have to have enough power if people are going to buy them.
More powah!

whats the smallest engine ever put in a mass-produced car? I was j\w...

If you really want fuel efficiency, strap that chainsaw motor in there