Mazda rotary, MPS safe

Mazda intends keeping its rotary engine on the boil, despite industry pressures to create more economical engines.

The relatively thirsty powerplant will remain at the "technology core of the Mazda brand", according to company executives.

"In the future the rotary will continue to be the symbol of Mazda," said Mazda's Director and Senior Managing Executive Officer, Masazumi Wakayama at this week's Tokyo motor show.

"We are also envisaging the next generation rotary engine as part of our product development plan.

"So at this moment we don't plan to discontinue the rotary engine."

Mazda has also applied eco-friendly development to its rotary by way of hydrogen fuel.

Currently used by the RX-8 and Premacy models for test purposes in Norway and Tokyo, the rotary engine boasts advantages over a conventional reciprocating engine, because the combustion chamber is separated from the intake chamber, preventing incidence of pre-ignition of the highly flammable hydrogen fuel.

"There are still lots of evolution possibilities for the rotary engine in the future.

As far as the brand's performance edge goes, its Zoom-Zoom -- fun to drive -- philosophy will remain, as too models like the sports-oriented MPS.

In fact, Mazda wants to expand MPS offerings in the future, however Wakayama could not elaborate on Mazda's future product details.

"We will keep producing products that embody Zoom-Zoom. That's the commitment we have made," said Wakayama. "MPS is one of the symbolic models of the Zoom-Zoom strategy."

"Zoom-Zoom is not an advertising campaign," said Wakayama.

Wakayama can speak with some authority on the subject of rotary engines, having joined Mazda two years after the introduction of the powerplant in 1967 via the Cosmo Sport grand tourer -- the Japanese company's original 'halo' model.

"I joined Mazda just because of my passion to work with someone who'd developed such an engine," Wakayama reminisced.

"Many employees like myself feel that way. It's a very strong feeling ingrained in the heart and spirit of Mazda."

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