Rotary engine for Elise?
Discussion
Ok this may sound a bizarre question, but what do you guys think?
I know its not all about bhp but i keeps hearing about the small rotary engine currently being used in the new Mazda RX8, as far as im aware (correct me if im wrong!) its a 1.3 wankel rotary engine which is lightweight due to its size and produces 230bhp.
Food for thought hey?
I know its not all about bhp but i keeps hearing about the small rotary engine currently being used in the new Mazda RX8, as far as im aware (correct me if im wrong!) its a 1.3 wankel rotary engine which is lightweight due to its size and produces 230bhp.
Food for thought hey?
yup...but if you can get hold of one (and they arnt cheap) you'll be looking at big dollars and lots of development time - maybe £15K by the time youve finished ...so why bother when you can have a 220bhp Honda, 300bhp Audi or 230bhp Supercharged K series all for £10K or less? ...they are pretty gutless too - Id sooner have 300bhp/300lb ft from a 1.8 Turbo myself for £10K ! 
Understand what your saying, didnt realise they were so expensive as the rx-8 is reasonably priced.
With it being 230bhp standard you wouldnt need aftermarket mods + with the engine being so light it wouldnt hinder the elise power to weight ratio it might even improve it over the current toyota lump.
With it being 230bhp standard you wouldnt need aftermarket mods + with the engine being so light it wouldnt hinder the elise power to weight ratio it might even improve it over the current toyota lump.
Given the choice between my K Series TT230 or a similarly priced RX8 engine in the back, I would go for the rotary. Don't get me wrong I love the conversion I've got, but 230bhp in standard tune has to be more reliable. It will probably use less fuel, is probably lighter and has less vibration not being recyprical. It will pass MOTs as the cat can stay on. The relatively low torque is not a problem as it revs so high so you just keep it in lower gears for longer. Plus you get a six speed box.
As has already been stated, there would be quite a development job, too.
AFAIK, the Mazda Rotary has only ever been fitted with in an inline, front engine/RWD installation.
You would need to sort the gearbox installation (with gearing to suit the Rotary's torque characteristics), exhaust system (critical on rotaries, if you don't want to end up with even less torque!) and possibly sump.
Would make a fabulous noise though - even in a front engine installation, Wankels pop and spit flame at every opportunity when tuned a little!
AFAIK, the Mazda Rotary has only ever been fitted with in an inline, front engine/RWD installation.
You would need to sort the gearbox installation (with gearing to suit the Rotary's torque characteristics), exhaust system (critical on rotaries, if you don't want to end up with even less torque!) and possibly sump.
Would make a fabulous noise though - even in a front engine installation, Wankels pop and spit flame at every opportunity when tuned a little!
The RX8 Rotory will not get as good a gas milage as a 4 banger, even with the Elise's light weight.
(maybe the next generation of rotory will be better ?)
But the lighter weight of the rotory will help the Elise in cornering.
Mazda will be adding an electronicaly boosted turbocharger to the RX8, starts the turbo spinning
at lower rpms, So a 300HP(?), 225-250 torque (?)
rotory in the back of a Elise sounds really good.
If you could find a transmission that would take the HP/Torque ?
(maybe the next generation of rotory will be better ?)
But the lighter weight of the rotory will help the Elise in cornering.
Mazda will be adding an electronicaly boosted turbocharger to the RX8, starts the turbo spinning
at lower rpms, So a 300HP(?), 225-250 torque (?)
rotory in the back of a Elise sounds really good.
If you could find a transmission that would take the HP/Torque ?
The RX-8 engine is wierd though, I took one out when looking for the elise replacement, the engine noise is strange (very quiet, think more hum) and consequently ended up going very fast cos I couldn't hear the engine!
I'd have one if it wasn't for the fuel & oil consumption issues that they seem to be plagued with at the mo.
CH
on topic, yeah probably be a hoot in the Liz, also less complaints from (mainly female) passengers that "it's too noisy"!
I'd have one if it wasn't for the fuel & oil consumption issues that they seem to be plagued with at the mo.
CH
on topic, yeah probably be a hoot in the Liz, also less complaints from (mainly female) passengers that "it's too noisy"!
bogie said:
I cant see the Rotary being lighter than a K series surely? - I think a fully dressed k series with ancillaries is sub 100Kg
145kg actually...
The RX-8 rotary engine is about the size of a beer crate and doesn't have four cylinders, drive shafts, a crank and other stuff to move around, only two rotors...
I think the weight would actually surprise you...
hmmm, as little as i actually know about engines, have a look maybe at the pre-rx8 wankels. back in oz, they'll stuff them into anything. the rotary scene is huge back home, and you can get a 13b, or 13b twinturbo quite cheap, will still get your massive power, small size, and they certainly had noise back in those days.
i always thought a rotary would be perfect for the elise, but i think you may find the power delivery quite peaky (however the thought of an elise revving round to 12000 is nice!!)
i always thought a rotary would be perfect for the elise, but i think you may find the power delivery quite peaky (however the thought of an elise revving round to 12000 is nice!!)
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