Which cars are equipped with Mazda's rotary engine?

[McKaleb]

Mazda RX7 and Mazda RX8 are equipped with rotary engines. The working principle of a rotary engine is to directly convert the combustion expansion force of the fuel-air mixture into driving torque. Compared to reciprocating engines, rotary engines eliminate useless linear motion. Rotary engines are smaller in size, lighter in weight, and have lower vibration and noise levels, offering significant advantages. Compared to traditional engines, both rotary engines and conventional engines rely on the expansion pressure generated by the combustion of the air-fuel mixture to power the vehicle. The difference lies in how the expansion pressure is utilized. Traditional engines transmit the pressure from the top of the piston downward, with the piston transferring mechanical force to the connecting rod, which then drives the crankshaft to rotate. In contrast, rotary engines apply the expansion pressure to the side of the rotor. With a rotary engine, higher rotational speeds can be achieved without the need for precise crankshaft balancing. Additionally, rotary engines are more compact, lighter in weight, and have a significantly simplified structure. Rotary engines eliminate the reciprocating motion effect of pistons within the cylinders of traditional engines, instead directly converting the combustion expansion force of fuel and the gas mixture into driving torque. As a result, rotary engines are smaller in size compared to traditional engines. Furthermore, rotary engines feature a low center of gravity and lightweight characteristics, which can enhance vehicle handling to a certain extent.