New images have emerged of a patent recently filed by Mazda, suggesting that the company is preparing to work on a new turbocharged rotary engine to use in its vehicles. The images, contained in a patent document titled rotary piston engine mounted on vehicle , appear to show a revised layout of the manufacturers existing Wankel rotary engine.
The small but high powered Wankel engine arguably contributed to Mazda becoming a major global force in the automotive market from the 1960 s onward. However, in recent years the company has all but phased out rotary equipment in its commercial vehicles in favour of engines that provide greater fuel economy.
However, the RX-Vision concept released at last year s Tokyo motor show, alongside the filing of this patent, suggest that Mazda may be looking to reintroduce the rotary engine into upcoming models. This was confirmed by Kiyoshi Fujiwara, Mazda s Managing Executive Officer, who stated that the manufacturer is considering several possibilities for the rotary engine s return.