A very suspicious-looking Mazda RX-8 was spotted around the Nurburgring, with our spies telling us that this is a mule powered by the company’s upcoming two-rotor turbo engine.
2019 will mark the 60th anniversary of the Wankel engine as well as the 50th anniversary of Mazda’s first application of the piston-less engine in Cosmo II, making it a good year for the company to bring the beloved spinning-dorito engine back to production.
However, the main question is which form will Mazda choose for the wankel engine in order to return. The company’s executives have said in the past that the specific technology will return in the role of a range-extender generator as part of a new electrified powertrain.
Our spies however saw Mazda engineers benchmarking a Porsche Cayman against their test mule on the Nurburgring, indicating at a much sportier reincarnation of the rotary technology.
Some reports say that the new rotary engine will be a turbocharged 1.6-liter two-rotor unit with around 400hp, while others talk about a hybrid rotary powertrain with as much as 450hp.
The final production car is expected to tip the scales at around 1,300kg, making use of Mazda’s expertise in lightweight vehicles while the design will be inspired by the jaw-dropping RX-Vision concept.
Is this real? Are we finally going to get a new rotary sports car? Stay tuned for more info as we have them.
Photo Credits: CarPix for CarScoops
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