Mazda willing to give up on the rotary engine

The most fervent defender of the rotary engine, Mazda, would be prepared to set aside the Wankel technology that has sustained for more than 40 years, in favour of its engines with Sky technology. These days the discussion at the brand’s headquarters in Japan is whether to continue developing future models with a rotary engine or to discard them definitively.

SkyActive technology arrived in response to the Wankel’s lack of aptitude for passing Euro 6 regulations. From then on, rumours that the Wankel would disappear from the brand’s vehicles alternated with news of the future development of a new Wankel, although this would not arrive before 2017.

Besides the emissions problem, the rotary has proved to be an expensive engine to keep perfecting. Mazda has invested heavily in the new SkyActive engines to turn back now; the new technology certifies savings in consumption and a reduction in emissions that is quite significant when compared with those of Wankel engines.

Financially, the arrival of the Sky engines would open the door to continuing to indulge the passion for rotary engines, although for the moment this technology will enter a hibernation phase. According to the brand’s executives, sales of the SkyDrive models will fund the subsequent development of more rotary engines. Because without them, Mazda would not be what it is today.