Perfected rotary engine powers Mazda’s RX-8

It was called the Mazda Cosmo Sport and it was a landmark vehicle in the innovative history of the Japanese auto manufacturer. If it means nothing to you, that’s perfectly understandable.

Introduced in 1967, the two-seat Cosmo Sport was never sold in the United States but it secured its place in the automotive industry as the first production car from Mazda that was powered by the unique rotary engine.

Its significance to American enthusiasts became apparent 11 years later when the rotary-powered Mazda RX-7 sports car was introduced in the United States and quickly captured their attention because of its rev-happy engine, light weight and excellent balance.

To celebrate the successful application of the rotary engine to its sports cars, Mazda - now a part of the Ford Motor Co. - has introduced a special 40th anniversary edition of its unique RX-8.

To be fair, the rotary engine was the invention of Felix Wankel, a German mechanical engineer who worked for many years to perfect the powerplant but never was able to achieve the required reliability. Mazda acquired the rights to it in 1961, solved the inherent problems with rotary power and has been producing and perfecting the engine for use in its sports cars ever since.

Upgrades to the RX-8 anniversary edition are mostly cosmetic - badges, high-gloss 18-inch wheels, dark gray exterior paint, red leather upholstery - but Mazda has tweaked the car slightly to improve ride and handling.

Even a short drive in this RX-8 shows the original thrill has survived and thrives in a uniquely styled car that is considerably more practical than the original.

With its somewhat bulbous roof, sharply arched fenders and two forward-opening small rear doors, it cuts a figure like no other sports car.

But there’s a method behind this seeming eccentricity.

Not only is it possible for two adults to gain relatively easy entry to the rear seats, they will actually be reasonably comfortable over the short haul if front-seat passengers cooperate by keeping their seats forward a bit.

In addition, it’s easy to put awkwardly shaped packages on those seats and the RX-8 has a real trunk that’s big enough to hold two golf bags.

The star of the show, of course, is the 1.3-liter twin-rotor engine. It generates 232 horsepower and 159 pounds-feet of torque.

Teamed with a slick-shifting, close-ratio, six-speed manual transmission, it can catapult the RX-8 from a stop to 60 mph in less than six seconds.

But this engine has charms far beyond raw power. Compact and lightweight, it can be mounted low and rearward in the engine bay to give the rear-wheel-drive RX-8 that perfect 50/50 front-to-rear weight distribution.

In addition, the triangular rotors, which perform the functions of pistons in a conventional engine, can spin easily to a maximum 9,000 rpm, giving the engine a wonderful flexibility that allows high-speed downshifts that would put serious strain - or worse - on a piston-driven powerplant.

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